3 STARS, May 25-28. You may not yet be sure if summer has actually arrived but it’s always fine weather in this sunniest of musicals, says Amanda Hodges
The film of Summer Holiday first appeared in 1963 as the perfect vehicle for Cliff Richard and has since established itself an an iconic musical of the period, possessing infectious good cheer and timeless appeal. Adapted into its present stage form in 1996 by Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan it’s now been revived as a touring production with likeable all-rounder Ray Quinn taking on Cliff’s role, ably supported by an enthusiastic ensemble.
Quinn plays Don, a London bus mechanic who, with his friends renovates an old bus so that they can tour the South of France and enjoy a summer break. Their plans are swiftly scuppered though by the help they kindly give a stranded group of girl singers bound for Athens and by a stowaway called Bobby who is actually Barbara, a famous singer trying to escape the clutches of Stella, her overbearing mother.
The plot is slight but charming, and works best on film but of course the stage limits fluidity in this respect and to their credit the cast give every scene their all, one of the really enjoyable aspects of this production being the sheer energy that oozes from the stage, irrespective of the script. The bus too is a triumph and William Beckerleg’s humorous appearance as different foreign officials lends a sense of place to each different location.
For some unfathomable reason Quinn’s Don speaks with a strange “RP” accent that just doesn’t work. If it’s meant to be reminiscent of Cliff it isn’t and it’s a shame because it gets in the way of a natural flow, making his acting stilted, so a rethink here would be really welcome. This aside, as a terrific dancer and singer, Quinn anchors the show effortlessly and is always a pleasure to watch, his easy charm and bonhomie just the right match for the show’s sunny feel.
Billy Roberts, Joe Goldie and Rory Maguire are endearing too as his trio of compatriots whilst amongst the girls Sophie Matthew is a persuasive Barbara and Gabby Antrobus, Alice Baker and Laura Marie Benson are clearly having lots of fun playing singers Do-Re-Mi. Elsewhere Taryn Sudding is a blast as the scheming and manipulative Stella and entertainer Bobby Crush maximises his sidekick role of the downtrodden Jerry.
The show’s affable songs have certainly stood the test of time and are a nostalgic delight, now boosted by others from Cliff’s back catalogue. Some are staged better than others but “I’ve Got a Funny Feeling” is enormous fun, likewise the crowd-pleasing “We Say Yeah” and “Big News”. A few tweaks here and there could make things more fluid but, nonetheless, for a mood-lifting slice of seasonal fun Summer Holiday is in many ways the ideal tonic.
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