Paul Monkhouse
How many real friends do we have in our lifetime? What brings and keeps us together? A shared sense of humour and a love of music must be top of a lot of people’s lists and so it is with the five protagonists of ‘Up On The Roof’.
We first meet the friends in 1975 at a party to celebrate their graduation from Hull University. Whilst Scott, Tim, Keith, Angela and Bryony seem at first totally different personalities it soon emerges that they met whilst forming an acapella singing group. Over the course of the evening they discuss their hopes and dreams for the future and we catch up with them in 1980 and again in 1985 to find out how their lives have changed. In a script peppered with great one-liners there are some moments of real poignancy and that is part of the great charm of the piece. Although the characters are at times larger than life we can identify with them and really do care about their fates.
The musical numbers performed by the group are utterly superb, with songs like ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’, ‘When Will I See You Again’ and ‘My Eyes Adored You’ bringing the house down. ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’ was particularly stunning and had the almost physically impossible feat of having me grinning with pleasure and slack-jawed in admiration at the same time. This production doesn’t put a foot wrong and is graced with truly outstanding performances by the cast and some of the most sublime vocal arrangements you could hope to hear, matched with terrific choreography.
Simon Moore and Jane Prowse have written a timeless musical drama that is filled with laughter and tears, perfectly capturing the highs and lows of their characters relationships. Peter Rowe’s terrific direction ensures that the plot moves quickly and smoothly along whilst giving real space to let the more emotional moments breathe. The evening seems to truly fly by, something we find when we’re spending time with our own best friends.
Despite being such close friends all the characters are not always as they seem, each revealing new and surprising layers and traits in unguarded moments. Stephen Fletcher, Christopher Pizzey, Gavin Spokes, Gemma Wardle and Georgina White are perfectly cast and all are superb at bringing their characters to life. All five mix perfect comic timing, heartfelt drama and wonderful voices to such great effect that you can’t help but become involved and enjoy their company. There is real chemistry amongst them onstage and you couldn’t really ask for anything more.
Genuinely, one of the most enjoyable evenings I’ve ever had at the theatre. A musical with real heart and soul. Do see it!
‘Up On The Roof’ continues its run at the New Wolsey until Saturday 22nd May