Son of a Preacher Man at the Ipswich Regent until Saturday
Over the last 20 years there has been a rush of “Jukebox musicals” vying for the attention of theatre-goers who want to enjoy a night out based on music they already know and love.
This week one of the newest – based on the hits of Dusty Springfield – comes to life at the Regent, bringing the sight and sounds of the sixties bursting back to life.
The audience all knew the vast majority of the songs, and if you simply look on this as a song and dance show then it certainly delivers.
There is a very accomplished cast and with Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood as its director and choreographer it should come as no surprise that these are top-notch.
However the plot that seeks to tie the musical numbers together doesn’t really merit close inspection – it’s something of a hotch-potch that is frankly pretty inconsequential.
But by the end of the first half I’d decided to give up on this and just enjoy the song and dance for what it is.
And stars Michelle Gayle, Alice Barlow, Nigel Richards and Michael Howe really do belt out the songs and lead the dance routines superbly.
It is great fun and the large audience at the Regent lapped up the show. Just don’t worry too much about the plot!
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