Review: Once Upon A Time at the Adelphi

Jul 6 2008 Chester Chronicle

ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE ADELPHI/Liverpool Playhouse, until August 2

REVIEW/by Peggy Woodcock

THERE is something stylish going on at the Liverpool Playhouse right now and they are making a right song and dance about it!

Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi ticks so many boxes: a first tailor made musical about the city, and in its 1930s hey day, a splendid addition to its current Capital of Culture Year programme - and an ensemble of young home-grown talent.

Writer and director Phil Willmott has risen well to the challenge. He has produced a show to warm Liverpool hearts and last Wednesday’s performance raised a storm of approval from a packed house.

It was well deserved. This was an ambitious production in terms of set, score and drama and by and large the multi-tasking 14-strong energetic cast had it licked.

The start was dramatic. There was a lone woman on the Adelphi roof. It led us into a love story, no, two love stories, with all the right ingredients, laughter, tears, what ifs and if onlys. With songs to match, that packed a punch.

Action flitted between today and the 1930s when Hollywood glamour poured off the ocean liners into the classy Adelphi. It gave designer Christopher Woods the chance to dress the ladies in gorgeous frocks and the men in natty suits. Along with an impressive circular moving set, it made quite a spectacle.

For me there were first half issues - loud singing that lost the words, a little plodding here and some confusion there. But it sorted itself and the second half was immensely enjoyable, due in no short measure to the two, no, three leads.

Julie Atherton attached your affection as the elegant Jo, housekeeper going places, and the young Alice from another era. Both were in love. For Jo it was that handsome blighter, Thompson, a scallywag she was busy reforming, and Simon Bailey had great charm and voice in the role.

Then there was Helen Carter’s brassy, scouse Babs, waitress on the make for a Hollywood husband, a scene-stealing performance. There were other vignettes, Nick Smithers’s Roy Rogers, Neil McCaul’s sleazy Hollywood producer, Carter again as his gin-soaked wife, all good fun.

And well done to the ensemble, graduates of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, for excellent support.

For booking information, ring the box office on 0151 709 4776.