BECOMING Nancy at the Birmingham Rep has all the glitz and glamour of the late 1970s, when the story is set, but is also thought-provoking theatre, raising issues which nostalgia tends to gloss over.
The story centres on David (a popular name choice of parents in the 1970s) whose battle to come out as gay is made a lot harder by the – what would be considered narrow-minded – views of the time.
He gets cast as ‘Nancy’ in Oliver Twist – a boy playing a girl (accepted in an over-exaggerated way in panto 50 years ago but nowhere else). While he is dealing with homophobia, as well as teenage angst, his close friend Frances is dealing with racism, equally prominent in the 1970s, and the ‘fight to change views’ story unfolds.
From the off, there is everything a good musical needs – catchy songs, great choreography and a thought-provoking story with a feelgood ending.
It is great the Birmingham Rep is bringing new theatre to the forefront and this certainly has the potential to go further afield – maybe even to the West End or at least on a national tour.
Most of this musical was light-hearted with plenty of laughs – there were quick-fire comedic lines in speech and lyrics and the main character David breaking the fourth wall to share his thoughts and feelings with the audience provided plenty of humorous moments. You felt you were being taken into his confidence each time.
There was plenty of nostalgia and ‘life situations and events’, from the 1970s home and secondary school scenes (for those old enough to remember what they were like) – birthday parties with cheese and pineapple and sausages on sticks and other culinary delights.
But among all that there was the serious message. Watching this in 2024 when – whatever issues we have in the UK and around the world – things have moved on. The balaclava-clad masked attackers at the Rock against Racism disco and the views of David’s dad made you wince, gasp and struggle to comprehend how those views were even valid. Real powerful moments in this overall feelgood extravaganza.
Matthew Craig was solid as Eddie Starr – David’s ‘narrow-minded’ dad – expressing his now incomprehensible views and likewise, Genevieve Nicole (as Aunt Yai) and Rebecca Trehearn (as mum Kath Starr). The latter’s on About Six Inches From Your Heart solo was one of the musical highlights of the night – she hit every note. This number perfectly shone a light on how you feel when becoming a parent and she delivered it well.
Picture by Mark Senior. s
Daisy Greenwood was delightful as Abigal Henson (complete with her own self-titled song about her being one of the catchiest on the night). She, with elements of the teenagers in Eastenders and Lily Allen-style approach to songs, conjured up a great portrayal of teenage girls of the time, looking for a boyfriend (long before it was shortened to ‘a bf’).
Stephen Ashfield was fantastic as camp Scottish drama teacher Hamish McClarnon, mincing about the stage as he handed out roles and offered advice on playing them to his Oliver cast, along with reflecting on his own journey.
Joseph Vella, as Maxie Boswell, played his lovable character well and you were with him and David all the way.
Paige Peddie, along with the main role, had the joint-most-powerful part, as Frances – shouting down the haters and speaking up for what was right. She got plenty of applause from the raucous crowd as she took her stand and was pitch-perfect on her solo numbers.
But, stealing the show was Joseph Peacock as David – he struck a chord with the audience from the moment he first broke the fourth wall and confided in them. Such was his performance that they tittered and giggled with his light-hearted observations when he made them and cheered him whenever he reached milestones in his ‘coming out’ journey.
Picture by Mark Senior. s
Another of many highlights of this show was the arrival of three very famous popstars, coming to life out of posters and popping up throughout (I don’t want to give too much away for those who have not seen it yet but intend to). Full credit to all three actors who ‘doubled up’ in these roles – you had your designated artist down to a tee.
The set was functional, enabling the action to switch from David’s bedroom to the family kitchen, the classroom and school hall, outside David’s house, Brighton, a nightclub and countless other venues.
Becoming Nancy runs at the Birmingham Rep until November 2. This is feelgood and thought-provoking theatre with plenty of laughs along the way.
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