The Big Life

Synopsis

On the Windrush over from the Caribbean to England, a pact is made by a group of men not to get involved with women for three years whilst they 'institute a regime of work and betterment'. Each man's resolve is tested as one by one they fall prey to Cupid's arrow.

Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.253.64.6) - 15 May 2004:

It's hard not to enjoy this show with such a fresh talented cast, excellent ensemble work and the Theatre Royal's boisturous enthusiastic audience. The Ska music which is used throughout is uplifting and infectious, the actors sing and dance well and you feel that you are watching something fresh and original. Author Paul Sirett and Composer Paul Joseph have created a unique home grown musical which is rooted in the traditions of Stratford East - something for the local community with a nod to the theatre's past successful London musicals such as "Fings Aint What They Used to Be" with a Barbara Windsor like good time girl to boot (Amanda Horlock who has played Barbara in "Cleo Camping Emanuelle and Dick"). Out of a strong cast I would single out the great Tameka Empson (you might recognise her from the tv series "Four Non Blondes" or Jonathan Harvey's film "Beautiful Thing") as Mrs Aphrodite who comments on the action from the theatre's boxes, and the talented Victor Romero Evans as the intellectual Ferdy. Jason Pennycooke (last seen in "Simply Heavenly")sings sweetly as Admiral/Eros and Marcus Powell is a touching Dennis. However it seems almost unfair to mention just a few names as they were all great. In his programme notes the Theatre Royal's Artistic Director Philip Hedley says that Stratford's Musical Theatre Project which developed this play is struggling for survival. He mentions that West End managements have shown little interest in the theatre's mainly Black musical output. How shortsighted West End Managements are! The success of "Jerry Springer" shows that audiences want something new and original and are bored with the sub standard "Les Miserables" copycat musicals which are trotted out as regularly as clockwork (and usually only last a couple of weeks!). Let's hope The Big Life gets a further life so that a wider audience can see a show that the discerning citizens of Stratford East have made a sell-out over the past few weeks....

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