Society: London (professional shows)
Type: Sardines
Author: Alexander Wood
Performance Date: 14/07/2022
The Drifters Girl
Alexander Wood | 16 Jul 2022 19:26pm
All photos: Johan Persson
Undeniably a jukebox musical The Drifters Girl has been running at The Garrick Theatre in London for several months now but is given a new lease of life by US musicals star Felicia Boswell, who takes over from the ever-popular Beverley Knight.
Like most of us who were around in the sixties I didn’t know the backstory to any of hits we happily listened to and the Drifters are a case in point. Founded in the 50s and continuing into the 21st century they had over 60 members as personnel changed for many and various reasons over the years. But what gives the musical its storyline and bite is the character of Faye Treadwell, a gutsy woman from USA’s south who faces up to misogyny and racism as well as the ever-changing composition of The Drifters and even legal battles over who had the right to that name.
The show succeeds and succeeds very well.
The story is potentially hideously complicated but Ed Curtis’ book does well to fillet out the main events, focussing on the comings, goings and disagreements that make up the story – though an audience member that wants total comprehension still needs to keep their wits about them. The selection of songs is very good, balancing as it does the need to relate to key points in the story and songs which The Drifters are known for (and a few less so, which is no bad thing).
It says so much about professional theatre – and especially West End theatre – that just six performers give such dynamic life to this show.
Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud play The Drifters, in various eras and combinations. Their singing, dancing and timing, in a show that moves very quickly, are without exception, top class. I loved their wit and their subtle rapport with the audience too. This wasn’t ordinary multi-roling and the ‘boys’ not only deal with changing role from one Drifter to another with apparent ease, they also take on a lot of brief ‘cameos’ which include the bosses of Atlantic Records, the fancy lawyer hired by the owner of the ‘fake’ Drifters who wants to put Faye out of business, Bruce Forsyth(!) and their agents when they were in the UK, Ron and Ron – which are all a lot of fun.
With costumes appropriate for each decade this quartet are immensely impressive.
Felicia Boswell is equally excellent as Faye Treadwell. Felicia has to demonstrate a wide range of emotions through the show – many of them reflecting her challenges as a black woman trying to manage a famous singing group in a world dominated by white men. (I especially like how this ‘made in England’ musical showed that, whilst she had left the American South years before, didn’t shy about showing the racism – albeit in a set of quickfire and funny snapshots – existing in the UK when The Drifters arrived in the 70s. All of which earned a big cheer from the audience, who clearly ‘got the point’.)
Felicia’s beautiful, soulful voice captures the emotion in songs like Harlem Girl and I Don’t Want To Go On Without You/Stand By Me to perfection.
The sixth role is ‘Girl’ representing Faye Treadwell’s daughter, Tina. A nice idea in the story, ‘Girl’ gives us a chance to see another side of Faye, which at times is very touching. ‘Girl’ on the night I was there was there was Savanna Musoni. It’s a big role – she is on the stage most of the time and plays a big part in the action so full marks to Savanna who carries it off with great confidence and skill.
MD Will Stuart is commended for his smashing arrangements and top class orchestra – and top marks to the sound desk for getting the balance just right. I have been unable to identify the designer but the set, based on moving panels to create various locations quickly and effectively, worked superbly.
Even if a jukebox musical isn’t quite your thing, The Drifters Girl will give you a very good night’s entertainment.
(If I may also say, the Garrick Theatre front of house staff were the most cheerful bunch of people I have met in many a recent theatre visit – and the programme, with lots of useful information about the show and few adverts – represents very good value for money.)