Love Midlands Theatre

Buddy Holly - New Alexandra Theatre

29/3/2017

 
Picture
Don McLean famously referred to Buddy Holly’s tragic death in an airplane accident in 1959 as ‘the day the music died’ in his hit American Pie. But nearly 60 years later thanks to shows like Buddy, which opens at the New Alexandra Theatre this week, the iconic rock and roll star’s music is still very much alive.

The show charts the story of Holly’s meteoric rise from country life in Lubbock, Texas to international rock and roll stardom - staggeringly all achieved in the 18 months before his tragic death at just 22.
And this cracking show has everything a good Buddy Holly number had – pace, rhythm, energy and bags of natural talent.

It’s amazing just how many of Holly’s songs remain in the public consciousness - hits like That’ll Be the Day and Peggy Sue which helped to propel Holly and his band The Crickets to stardom. The last 45 minutes of the show may as well be a concert and features another tranche of iconic Holly hits like Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Hearbeat and Johnny B Goode.

Alex Fobbester delivers a memorable performance as Holly, capturing his mannerisms and hiccoughing voice quite brilliantly.

It’s difficult to think of a show that could be more exacting for a cast which has to act, sing and provide the music. And there isn’t a weak link in this line up.

Joe Butcher and Josh Haberfield support Holly well as his Crickets and Jordan Cunningham dazzles as Richie Valens, particularly in his performance of yet another iconic song – La Bamba.

Elsewhere Thomas Mitchells is brash and brilliant as The Big Bopper and Matthew Quinn impresses as Texan radio DJ Hipockets Duncan and in a rather hilarious skit as a camp club MC.

The latter is an example of some neat touches which make this production truly immersive for the audience. One minute we’re given a glimpse backstage as The Crickets nervously prepare for a concert in Harlem, the next the curtain comes down and we’re treated to the sense of anticipation that must have gripped crowds waiting to see the great star back in the 50s.

By the end Fobbester and this small but brilliant cast had the audience in the palm of their hands and they were left, quite literally, begging for more.

Buddy is a rocking and rolling tribute to an icon lost all too soon. A reminder, if one was needed, of just how influential and enduring this immensely talented young man’s music is and a poignant glimpse into what could have been.

The show runs at the New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 1 April.

Comments are closed.

    Love Midlands Theatre

    Sharing the latest theatre news and reviews around the Midlands.

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Categories

    All
    Amateur Theatre
    Birmingham
    Coventry
    Love Midlands Theatre
    Professional
    Review
    Solihull
    Stafford
    Tamworth
    Theatre
    Wolverhampton

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Contact