Mancunians will be hoping Carnaby Street The Musical makes a swift return to the Opera House as Carl Leighton-Pope’s creation proves a must see for wannabe sirens, mods and rockers – a story of boutiques and big dreams set in the heart of London’s swinging 60s.
Leighton-Pope admitted the musical took 16 years in the making, but it was 16 years well spent as this mildly autobiographical piece tells a captivating story, superbly entwined with classic hits and vintage costumes.
Jude, gambling on his raw talent and genius with a guitar, arrives in London from Liverpool accompanied by friend and former fling Penny Lane in search of fun, fame and fortune.
But this is the story of Jack ‘the lad’ Sprat, brilliantly performed by Aaron Sidwell, formerly Steven Beale in Eastenders, the plucky cockney who is juggling jobs at Lilly’s boutique, the Marquee Club and as a self-taught band manager.
Jude, Matthew Wycliffe, and Penny, Verity Rushworth well known as Heartbeat’s Lucy Keen, inevitably cross paths with happy-go-lucky Jack who, of course, promises to make the artist a star.
The audience are spoilt with classic hits from The Who, Chuck Berry and The Hollies from the start, beamed live from the legendary Marquee Club on pirate radio, by a cast blessed with a versatile range of powerful vocals.
From softly spoken Jude’s comforting tones with hit single Transistor Radio to band mate Wild Thing, Jack’s one client whose rocker roots clash with London’s emerging mod culture, and his rigorous delivery of Mustang Sally and a unique performance of Son of a Preacher Man.
Wild Thing, the talented Mark Pearce, is by his very nature a loose cannon, and his frequent hitting the bottle threatens the increasingly-popular Jude’s rise to the top.
Jude and Jack are quick to shrug off the drunken Welshman as music magnet Arnold Lane, Hugo Harrold-Harrison, vows the Liverpudlian songsmith can end the Beatles’ supremacy across the pond.
But, with the hits still coming thick and fast, as promised by Leighton-Pope this is much more than just a musical and the sub-plots are intriguingly executed.
Penny is left behind, as is Wild Thing and Jude’s London lover Lady Jane, Tricia Adele-Turner, along with the extravagant boutique owner Lilly – whose witty one liners, psychedelic costumes and elaborate dance moves entertained throughout.
Cameos from a young Tom Jones and sarcastic paper boy Al, Gregory Clarke – whose comic news updates include reference to the youthful David Bowie going nowhere and man on the moon, as if – provide subtle snippets of humour, satisfyingly soaked up by the crowd.
For those who remember Carnaby Street in its prime, and those who wish they did, the musical offers a priceless throwback to paisley prints, coffee shops and the fascinating hype of the swinging 60s.
A superb encore allows Penny to show off her impressive vocals, climaxing with the whole audience on their feet, twisting, shaking and jiving away to the legendary Marquee Club live band.
In Carnaby Street The Musical, Leighton-Pope has developed what is surely to become a much-loved classic.
Image courtesy of ATGTickets via YouTube, with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
