![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/12.-FF-2022-jpg.webp)
Show: Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical
Society: New Wimbledon Theatre (professional)
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre. 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1QG
Credits: Book by Amanda Whittingtin. Music as performed by Fisherman's Friends
Type: Sardines
Author: Paul Johnson
Performance Date: 16/05/2023
Fisherman’s Friends
Paul Johnson | 18 May 2023 15:44pm
Photo: Pamela Raith
Sea shanties are short and catchy by their very nature which means they’ll work well in musical theatre. Add a book written by one theatre’s true greats – Amanda Whittington – author of the famous Ladies’ trilogy and you have a match made in heaven. I should mention the direction of James Grieve who does a great job too.
The magical tour has stopped at New Wimbledon Theatre this week and I must admit I spent the whole of press night wishing Mini Sardines was there. It was he who first got me into sea shanties and when they sang the first part of Wellerman I couldn’t resist turning to the middle-aged lady next to me (who had come with her daughter from Cork, Ireland to see the show).
She actually knew somebody in the cast playing the cello (it’s a cast full of actor-musicians) and was bound for the after show party after the final curtain had fallen). By the way, as it is with today’s technology together with a fine crop of musicians, the sound mix is excellent under the watchful eye of MD,, James William-Pattison.
As the post-coronavirus world dictates every principal has a couple of understudies but as far as I’m aware we saw the ‘proper’ cast in their roles.
TV’s Neil Grayling from Bad Girls (also now a musical) A.K.A. James Gaddas (real name) takes the central role of Jim – father, grandparent… and son. Jim is very much a man’s man and is the ‘grump’ one to convince. He sounded like he may have had a cold on press night as his voice was extra gravelly but it didn’t appear to impact hi vocal delivery… which is strong.
Thos who don’t know the story, the plot of Fisherman’s Friends is virtually identical to the film. In Cornwall’s port Isaac (yes, the same place where Doc Martin was filmed). Danny (Jason Langley) hears a group of fisherman singing sea shanties who, after meeting and taking a fancy to Alwyn (Parisa Shahmir), decides there and then that they need a recording contract. However, it is only after his pleas fall on the deaf ears of his ex-boss at Island Records, Leah (Fia Houston-Hamilton) that the group do so well on a rogue YouTube upload that they become celebrities and get their way.
There is plenty of drama along the way and where Tuppence Middleton’s vocal ability must surely fall short for her film role Shahmir’s voice is nothing short of remarkable and quite sublime. Do we heard lots of talent from the talented actor-musician. Also Alwyn’s daughter is a lot more preminent in the film. In fact I can’t even remember a daughter onstage. But Alwyn’s romance with Danny still blossoms, eventually achieving her father’s consent (Her dad is Jim).