THEATRE REVIEW: Around The World In 80s Days - The Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

To mark their 125th birthday, Blackpool’s Grand Theatre’s own company presented a newly adapted show, written and directed by Ian McFarlane, in celebration. The concept was an innovative version of the classic novel by Jules Verne, Around The World In 80 Days, but set to 1980's tunes, with costumes that pushed the boundaries between the two centuries..the result, Around The World In 80s Days.

With Andrew Bentley at the helm, in the iconic role of Phil Fogg, played with such bounce and enthusiasm, almost immediately jumping into pantomime mode with audience participation (something that was odd and extremely unexpected and was, in my opinion, misplaced despite adding some humour and fun to the evening), it was disappointing that many of the songs felt rather flat, lacking the power and impact that the '80s embodies. The thing that holds this show up, as well as the cast, is the clever way in which the lyrics are used to form the script, as the set (and elements used to suggest the setting) certainly didn't seem to be of a particularly high budget.

With multiple-playing by most of the cast (Daniel Cane and Christina Meehan completing the line-up), there are periods of high energy but this show is to be commended for its fun element, with a focus on pomp, camp, romance and even a nice inclusion of an LGBT member of the Old Boys ‘Reform’ Club, almost Hamilton-esque. The story follows Fogg as he takes a journey from richness, to being confronted with losing his fortune unless he wins a bet to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. Taking along French bank representative Passepartout (Oliver Mawdesley), and picking up love interest Akilah (Justina Kehinde) on the way, we take a trip across the various continents, narrated by TV presenter and Musical Director, Laurie Denman.

With such songs as 'Don’t You Want Me', 'We Ain’t Never Gonna Be Respectable', 'Eye Of The Tiger', 'The Locomotion', 'Sail Away', 'You Spin Me Around', 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', 'Walk Like An Egyptian', 'Take On Me', '500 Miles', 'Love Shack', 'The Power Of Love', 'Gold', 'Physical', 'Never Gonna Give You Up', 'I Want To Know What Love Is', 'Every Loser Wins', 'Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now', 'Jump' and the formidable 'Come On Eileen' (involving a boat), many of the songs followed a "Phil-osophical".

A thoroughly enjoyable night out for anyone who admires the '80s (the 1980s not 1880s, when Judy Dench played Queen Victoria, not when your local accountant was Ebenezer Scrooge and your Dr a cross between a Jekyll and Mr Hyde), this show is great but there was just something missing for me, perhaps a live orchestra rather than piped backing?

The marketing team, led by Andrew Howard, and everyone involved with the production and theatre should be very proud and we join everyone in wishing you well on a milestone year.

Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 8/8/19