Reasons To Be Cheerful (UK Touring)
For those that grew up with the music of the 1970s and early 1980s you couldn't fail to remember some of the meaningful lyrics and memorable melodies of Ian Dury and the Blockheads and this production manages to intertwine these with a touching story of life with a father dying from cancer.
Valiantly leading the cast (on crutches) in the role of the central character Vinnie is Stephen Lloyd walking the fine line between narration from the outside in contrast to being a character on the inside and doing it well. His role is complimented by his friend and resident Ian Dury Expert in the form of Stephen Collins as Colin. Both drive the story along at pace and with great music and comic effect, no mean feat in and around quite a crowded but, effective stage area.
Taking as one of his roles the part of the dying father Bobby is Gerard McDermott with impressive character play of a man slowly fading, already blind but, desperate not to lose his love for life and importantly music. As a fan of Gene Vincent he feels a connection to Dury through the track 'Sweet Gene Vincent' and there is that continuous link of pain between the character of Bobby, Dury having been crippled with childhood polio and Gene Vincent who had shattered his leg in a motorbike accident.
Trying desperately to hold the family together is the mother figure Pat, played indefatigably by Karen Spicer always wanting to do the right thing for her ailing husband but, conscious that he has little time left and wanting him to enjoy life as much as he can.
Whilst the story is engaging and at times emotional it is ultimately the insightful and challenging lyrics of Dury along with music predominantly by Chaz Jankel that enthuses the audience. Lead Vocals on virtually all of the songs are provided by John Kelly with a gravelly yet powerful tone much in the vein of Dury himself, although a mention must go to Beth Hinton-Lever as Janine and her part in the rendition of the classic 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'.
There is no doubt that many of the lyrics penned by Dury were a backlash against society and the patronising view he felt it had of disability which makes this production by Graeae Theatre, who aim to put deaf and disabled actors centre stage, even more significant. In particular a dominant performance of the highly controversial (denied airplay by the BBC and other radio stations at the time) 'Spasticus Autisticus'. However it is a sign of changing times that this song was used as part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
With Direction by Jenny Sealey, Musical Direction by Joey Hickman, Writing by Paul Sirett and some innovative use of video technology by Mark Haig this is a production that really deserves a wider audience for so many reasons but, unfortunately sees out the remainder of a limited run until 4th November 2017 only at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, if you can get there I suggest you do.
Book Here
Valiantly leading the cast (on crutches) in the role of the central character Vinnie is Stephen Lloyd walking the fine line between narration from the outside in contrast to being a character on the inside and doing it well. His role is complimented by his friend and resident Ian Dury Expert in the form of Stephen Collins as Colin. Both drive the story along at pace and with great music and comic effect, no mean feat in and around quite a crowded but, effective stage area.
Taking as one of his roles the part of the dying father Bobby is Gerard McDermott with impressive character play of a man slowly fading, already blind but, desperate not to lose his love for life and importantly music. As a fan of Gene Vincent he feels a connection to Dury through the track 'Sweet Gene Vincent' and there is that continuous link of pain between the character of Bobby, Dury having been crippled with childhood polio and Gene Vincent who had shattered his leg in a motorbike accident.
Trying desperately to hold the family together is the mother figure Pat, played indefatigably by Karen Spicer always wanting to do the right thing for her ailing husband but, conscious that he has little time left and wanting him to enjoy life as much as he can.
Whilst the story is engaging and at times emotional it is ultimately the insightful and challenging lyrics of Dury along with music predominantly by Chaz Jankel that enthuses the audience. Lead Vocals on virtually all of the songs are provided by John Kelly with a gravelly yet powerful tone much in the vein of Dury himself, although a mention must go to Beth Hinton-Lever as Janine and her part in the rendition of the classic 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'.
There is no doubt that many of the lyrics penned by Dury were a backlash against society and the patronising view he felt it had of disability which makes this production by Graeae Theatre, who aim to put deaf and disabled actors centre stage, even more significant. In particular a dominant performance of the highly controversial (denied airplay by the BBC and other radio stations at the time) 'Spasticus Autisticus'. However it is a sign of changing times that this song was used as part of the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
With Direction by Jenny Sealey, Musical Direction by Joey Hickman, Writing by Paul Sirett and some innovative use of video technology by Mark Haig this is a production that really deserves a wider audience for so many reasons but, unfortunately sees out the remainder of a limited run until 4th November 2017 only at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, if you can get there I suggest you do.
Book Here
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