Review – Our House
Venue: The Lowry
Date reviewed: 16th September, 2008
If any musical is deserving of a second attempt at attaining success in the West End, it’s this one. Five years on from its premature closure in London after a disappointing ten month run, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company have produced a top class revival of Our House and brought it out on tour giving regional audiences the opportunity to experience this smart and clever musical.
Using songs by 80’s iconic band Madness as the source and with additional musical material by Phil Bateman, writer Tim Firth has created an intelligent Sliding Doors type story concerning young Joe Casey played brilliantly by Chris Carswell in his professional debut. Desperate not to emulate his deceased fathers’ mistakes in life the teenage Joe makes one fatal error, in a bid to impress his girlfriend Sarah and at that moment, the story splits in two and explores two starkly different choices.
Firth avoids the pitfalls of creating an out and out good and bad Joe, instead keeping both sides of the character human and real, and whilst one conclusion is desperately sad the other plot line gives Joe he happy ending he deserves. The script is sharp and witty and Firth’s decision to revisit the catalyst for the two plot lines at the conclusion of the show is extremely satisfying.
Complimenting Carswell in the outstanding cast is excellent actress Miria Parvin as Sarah. Carswell and Parvin’s rendition of It Must Be Love is a real highlight. Jenny Fitzpatrick and Sophia Nomvete as Sarah’s best friends Billie and Angie score huge success with their amusing characterisations and great singing voices and work beautifully opposite Jack Shalloo and Michael Everest as Joe’s best friends Lewis and Emmo.
Despite struggling with her Irish accent Gwyneth Strong plays Joe’s mum affectionately. It’s only 2004 X-Factor winner Steve Brookstein as Joe’s Dad and conscience who is weak. He looks uncomfortable on the stage and displays less than impressive acting skills.
It’s the ensemble cast, however, who really make this show soar. Playing a multitude of characters the ensemble are slick in their performance of Peter Darling’s striking and impressive choreography with energy levels that are breathtakingly high. It’s a sheer joy to see a cast clearly having a brilliant time and thoroughly enjoying their own performance.
The songs by Madness are infinitely musical and pleasing to the ear and the seven piece band under the direction of Robert Chalmers is terrific. Robert Howell’s inventive set makes resourceful use of black and white moving doors which serve to clearly differentiate between the two co-existing storylines. Projection designs by Jon Driscoll enhance the set and are used to great effect when the Joe and friends go Driving in My Car.
Director Matthew Warchus is to be commended for this tremendous production, which is fully deserving of the ecstatic ovation the show received on opening night in Salford.
With the tour set to continue into the autumn, Our House is definitely one show not to be missed under any circumstances!
-Malcolm Wallace