Review: Can’t Smile Without You at Liverpool Empire

Sep 16 2008 Chester Chronicle

CAN’T SMILE WITHOUT YOU/Empire Theatre, Liverpool, until September 20

REVIEW/by Peggy Woodcock

THEATRE audiences come in all shapes and sizes and we were a mixed bunch at the Liverpool Empire on Monday night.

Pop fans, reality show followers and Barry Manilow lovers, there we were gathered to enjoy Can’t Smile Without You, the new touring musical celebrating the music of the spike-haired singer songwriter.

And enjoy we did, with just a few quibbles. Why was the on-stage band so loud was a major one and maybe that’s an age thing. But it was still patently true that the lead characters, talented singers all, spent the evening straining to be heard!

These were Chesney Hawkes, pop singer songwriter, veteran tourer and judge on Britain’s Got Talent, and Siobhan Dillon and Francesca Jackson, both finalists from BBC talent spotting shows, Siobhan from How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria and Francesca from I’d Do Anything.

Producer Bill Kenwright is making a habit of picking off these nearly made-its for his touring shows and Can’t Smile Without You proved what a good idea it is - using obvious talent and bringing in whole new audiences.

The show used the tried and tested storyline of young hopeful pop band seeking success, spiced with a larger-than-life showbiz producer and complicated love triangle. It gave a sometimes shaky peg to hang all those smaltzy songs on but, hey, no-one was bothered.

All part of the fun, spotting when Mandy, Copacabana, Somewhere in the Night, It’s a Miracle etc were about to break out!

Hawkes was the main man Tony, and he’s a slight figure who needs a more confident stage presence. But he had charm and sang well, doing justice to some of the great Manilow numbers.

As girlfriend Lucy, Jackson also had a cheeky charm but it was Dillon, as the would-be love interest, who had the glamour, confidence and great voice. She has huge promise.

Hawkes had strong support from his on-stage band and the ensemble cast did a great job with an encore rendition of One Voice.

Robin Johnson also deserves mention as the camp, outrageous, straight out of Hollywood Pat. He caught the mood of this show: let’s just have fun.