Manchester's arches are alive with the sound of music.... no, not THAT music! But there is a brand new musical being premiered at 53Two this Christmas. Forget pantomimes, and all the various 'Christmas Carols' that get churned out year in year out without much thought; here, Manchester theatre company, Imaginality, have teamed up with the chaps at 53Two to present a piece of original music-drama with historical background, a heartwarming storyline, and a Christmas theme.
Before writing this review, I needed to do a little research myself, and I have learned something about my adopted home city of which I was previously unaware. During the Second World War, Manchester did suffer two full days of heaving bombing from the air; it was December 1940, and was known as 'The Christmas Blitz'. Our musical this evening, 'Realms Of Glory' is set during this time.
Amelia Simpson plays a young newly-wed Lizzie, who gets caught up in a fireball bomb hitting her neighbourhood, and is trapped in her home. Whilst waiting for help, she starts to recount her recent past remembering the close friendships she enjoyed, the loves she had known, the losses she has had to endure, and most of all, the yearning to be able to start a family of her own. We meet her husband, Bob (Alex Cosgriff), her best friend Mavis (Rebecca McAuley), her husband Jim (Ben Kawalec), and the friendly, gossipy, neighboorhood ARP, Ida (Ella Heywood). We are taken on an undulating journey through her losing her brother in the First World War, to a chance meeting with Bob and her whirlwind romance; to her being married on the same day as Mavis, and to the loss of all of those around her, until (spoiler alert) Ida finds a way down to her and is freed from the rubble.
Musically the piece is more than secure, (Ollie Mills), and the tunes are all written with a firm hat-nod in the direction of the popular music of the era. The singing, especially the harmonies, are lovely, and the opening song in particular, was especially pleasing. The dialogue however (Ollie Mills and Rachel Mann), does lack dramatic drive and dynamicism, and without a truly linear timeline, it can get a little confusing too. Perhaps a little reworking with the help of a dramaturg would give the story more power and electricity.
The set was minimal, just a few crates, sandbags, and little else which represented all the various locations that Lizzie conjurs, and sadly this sets the musical very firmly in 'Fringe' territory, which does little to lift the scenarios from the stage. Much is required on the part of the audience to visualise the settings. Lighting was creative, but on this, the opening night of the musical, there were some annoying mic crackles which can hopefully be rectified for future shows.
It's a very 'nice' story, but hugely predictable, but it does have the 'ah' factor. The cast would certainly have benefitted from a little more rehearsal time, so given time for the show to 'bed-in' a little, the pace will hopefully shift out of what was this evening perpetual second gear. However, saying all of that, it was great to be able to watch original Manchester-made theatre for Christmas that didn't revert to the twee and the banal, as most Christmas-tide events seem to do these days.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 14.12.22
on - 14.12.22
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