REVIEWS - SPEND SPEND SPEND 2010

The Public Reviews - October 13th, 2010
Lowry Theatre, Salford
Reviewer: John Roberts
The Public Reviews Rating: 4 stars

We always hear people say that money wouldn't change them, that they would still be the same person they always were but when Viv Nicholson and her 2nd husband Keith won £150,000 (£5 million in modern day terms) on the Football Pools on the 23rd September 1961 the touch paper was lit. Viv and Keith were rocketed to national fame and like many before them they succumbed to the hedonistic lifestyle that money could afford them. Unfortunately within 15 years Viv had remarried another four times and had lost every single penny of their massive fortune.

The Watermill Theatre has a long standing relationship with Strictly Come Dancing Judge Craig Revel Horwood, and it is easy to see why they keep working with him. Following on from last year's stunning production of The Hot Mikado, (personally my favourite show of 2009,) Horwood returns with another artistically brilliant and engrossing production. His now trademarked Actor/Musician stamp is all over this production, cleverly combining the instruments into the action of the piece we are never detracted by them being on stage and used throughout. This is helped by Revel Horwood's energetic and well thought out Choreography and as the man himself puts it ‘These are not triple threat performers, they are Quadruple Threat' and that is a sure sight to behold.

Designer Diego Pitarch has designed a functional set which through subtle changes with picture frames and chalk boards, we are transported from New York hotels, Yorkshire Pubs and Beauty Salons, whilst Sarah Travis' stunning orchestrations shine as one of the shows strongest elements.

The cast are uniformly strong with excellent performances from all; Graham Kent as Viv's father George is a strong minded Yorkshire man, and has plenty of gravitas on stage to make a menacing presence and Neil Ditt is splendid in his array of smaller cameo characters from Bruce Forsythe, Bank Mangers and Lover. Susannah van den Berg as Mrs Waterman/Florrie brings plenty of laughs on stage.

Greg Barnett as husband Keith gives a well tuned performance and his transition from Mr. Nice to heavy drinker is wonderfully explored. Karen Mann is beautifully cast as the older Viv, with her deliciously warm vocals and expressive nature you can't help but be heartbroken and sympathise with what her character has gone through. But it is the sensational turn from Kirsty Hoiles as the Young Viv that really steals the show with a performance that balances a careful and subtle mix of sexual predator and a lonely woman desperate to be loved.

This is a highly polished production however one feels that the songs and material written by Steve Brown and Justin Greene lack a certain level of depth which can really pull you into the production, and this may account for the slightly sluggish feel of the second act.

However Revel Horwood's production is slick and stylish and makes for a fantastic night out at the theatre…you won't be disappointed.