Boogie Nights

Take a young cast featuring Gareth Gates, Andy Abraham, Chico and Shane Ritchie Jr. Combine them with show business veterans The Osmonds (Jimmy, Merrill and Jay) and you have Boogie Nights. There is a lot more to the show’s formula – a lot of it worked – some not so much. So, on with the good:

The music was first class, and a better show all round by the second act. Gareth Gates was like a young member of the Jackson family and he nailed Donny Osmond’s ‘Puppy Love’ alongside his ‘brothers’. When I heard Chico was starring I was nervous but he was fantastic – providing great comic moments and strong vocals. Shane Ritchie Jr came into his own at the end of the show but Andy Abraham was the one consistent throughout – nailing ’70s hits in true Boogie Nights style. The Osmonds meanwhile, were pure entertainment, proving to the crowd why they are still in the business today. Videos of ’70s Osmond mania played behind them (I wonder if One Direction will be around doing shows like this in 40 or 50 years!).

I expected more from the theatrical story though (billed as a bit like Grease) and a better flow between the music and the narrative in the first half. The lighting and stage were purely set for the music too, so the theatrical side of things fell by the wayside a little in terms of an atmospheric set. A few laughter fits from the female cast hampered proceedings a little too.

That said, a great singalong by the end had everyone smiling.The show comes to Eastbourne Theatres later this week and I can’t help but think the story of ‘Boogie Nights’ will go down better there in a more theatrical setting. As my friend put it best, this show was full of ‘cheese’ but we loved every track, and it was fun every step of the way.

Brighton Centre, 17 February 2013

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