This show certainly starts with a bang. A Peckham outside market with a variety of stalls and plenty of bustle with the cast bursting into a group number, getting you in the mood. While the story is well performed and presented, the 20 musical numbers add variety, humour and jollity to the flow of the evening, showing aspirations many share.
The many devotees of the show will recognise numerous iconic scenes in the story, which mainly centres around the upcoming marriage of Rodney (Tom Major) to Cassandra (Nicola Munns) and Del Boy's (Sam Lupton, a Durham lad) romantic endeavours resulting in meeting Raquel (Georgina Hagen). The sense of family is well established by Lupton, Major and Philip Childs playing Grandad; their accents even remind one of the TV productions. Small touches like Boycie’s (Craig Berry) distinctive laugh evoke many memories and instant audience response.
The entire cast give sterling performances, several playing more than one character, with their enjoyment coming through, greatly supported by the five-piece live band. The well-designed, multi-locational set (Alice Power) moves seamlessly from market to flat to pub to station. These scenes are greatly enhanced by superb video projections (Leo Flint) adding to the locations. The cast are also well directed and choreographed by Caroline Jay Ranger as they move effortlessly from one location to another.
While some may say it is dated, of course it is set in the '80s, who would set Coward in the 21st century? This show has nostalgia, fun, wonderful characters, humour, family, pathos, relationships and a story. While not Chekhov, from the 1880s, it is great to see a packed house laughing out loud, rare these days, nothing like a good laugh to raise the spirits. Although the general lighting design (Ian Scott) is good, as there is much activity and change of scene, lack of it sometimes distracts from the action, being extremely low in smaller musical numbers; often an actor moves from a spot with none following them.
The saying 'only fools and horses', credited as an old cockney saying meaning any sensible person does not slave to earn a living, actually was an American saying from Vaudeville theatre days, ironic really as Del slaves away all hours with no financial gain. The show is based on John Sullivan’s legendary record-breaking television show, a script and original score written by John’s son, Jim Sullivan, and Paul Whitehouse’s funny songs.
It ran on the BBC from 1981–2003 with seven series, 19 Christmas specials plus spin-off series, so could be called a TV staple. Anyone, devotee or not, who enjoys a good night’s entertainment well performed would be a ‘fool’ not to go and see this show—wild ‘horses’ will not drag you away from it.