Only Fools and Horses - The Musical
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Review by Martine Silkstone
Taking a much-loved TV show and transferring it to stage is no easy task, especially when it’s something as iconic as Only Fools and Horses. The classic BBC series has long established its rightful place in hearts and minds, and its characters are legendary, so the pressure to get it right - and the likelihood of getting it wrong - is immense.
Which makes it all the more impressive that with this production of The Musical, they have absolutely nailed it.
Charming, familiar and full of heart, they have taken all the best qualities from the source material and added a wealth of witty, wonderful songs which manage to match both the tone and humour required - so clever!
It shouldn’t work, but it really does.
Great staging sets the scene perfectly, and from the start we find ourselves transported to busy Peckham, with the market stalls and Nags Head set against a backdrop of tower blocks, all under a blue sky.
Then it’s straight in with the well-known theme song and by the time Del Boy appears in his sheepskin coat and flat cap, I’m already fully on board.
And it just keeps getting better.
Seriously, hats off to the whole cast. Each and every one is superb and vocally right on the money - both in matching their TV counterpart and singing where required.
Of course, to pull everything together you need a strong Del Boy and Sam Lupton is everything you want him to be. Sounding uncannily like David Jason, with all the same mannerisms and natural stage presence, he is cheeky, playful and suitably cocky, all while adding a huge amount of heart and great physicality to proceedings (and at one point wearing small, leopard print pants).
Other highlights for me came from talented understudy Amanda Coutts and the fabulous Richard J Hunt, both of whom played various roles on press night and managed to be amazing in all of them.
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Now, don’t go expecting a new and exciting narrative arc. This is like watching all your favourite episodes in one, with each of your favourite characters having a little piece of the story pie.
Rodney and Cassandra get married, Del meets the lovely Raquel, Uncle Albert shares war stories, Boycie and Marlene try for a baby and Trigger is…well…Trigger.
There’s also lots of fabulous ‘Easter eggs’ - but included in a loving way, not shoehorned and clunky as it could have been.
Yes, somehow they have brought it all together and created a beautifully balanced, uplifting, gift of a show with all the characteristic warmth and gentle fun of the TV original.
That’s no small achievement - bravo.
The theatre blurb says ‘only a 42 carat PLONKER would miss it’ - and they are right.
Highly recommmended.
Only Fools and Horses - The Musical is at Ipswich Regent Theatre until January 11, then tours venues throughout the UK until July.
FOR IPSWICH SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE
For full UK tour details, visit the show’s website.