Here You Come Again UK Tour at Malvern Theatres - Review

Post

Subscribe

Tue 16 Jul 2024 - Sat 20 Jul 2024

If you thought this new Dolly Parton musical would be a straightforward show about the star then think again as it's far more surprising. Here You Come Again is one of those wonderful theatre productions that sparkles with originality.

Featuring all the famous songs of Parton, Here You Come Again is at Malvern Theatres until Saturday, July 20 as part of a UK tour. It continues to cities including Birmingham (at the Alexandra Theatre in September), Cheltenham (at the Everyman in October), Salford, Liverpool and more before ending up in London's West End. The full tour list is below.

It's set in an attic room during COVID lockdowns where we find depressed fortysomething Kevin, back home isolating in his childhood room after splitting with his boyfriend. At his lowest ebb, the spirit of Parton appears to him from a poster and slowly helps him get his mojo back with her wise words and music.



It's quirky and unexpectedly hilarious for the most part, but also refreshing how emotionally raw some of the storyline is. It's something we can all relate to. A shared history of such a difficult time and the doubts and self-loathing Kevin reveals make this much more than a fluffy jukebox musical.

There's quite a background to this new musical as the story idea came from Tricia Paoluccio, who plays Parton. Stuck at home, Paoluccio wondered what would Dolly Parton do? and thought up the plot idea. Then her husband, writer Gabriel Barre, got a grant to get this musical off the ground during the pandemic and they then co-created it with multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy and songwriter Bruce Vilanch.

It's already had a successful stint in America and now touring the UK for the first time. Paoluccio and Barre, who direct this show, have made the right decision in adapting the script for UK audiences with jokes relevant to British shores. They brought in Coronation Street and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme writer Jonathan Harvey to amplify the material and it works fantastically well.

Tricia Paoluccio is excellent at recreating Parton's voice and mannerisms in a Mary Poppins' nannying kind of way. She looks and sounds the part, so it's no surprise that she's a big Parton fan.



Yet it's impressive Steven Webb who steals the show as endearing Kevin. The comedy actor, who was previously in Book Of Mormon, talks to the audience about his woes and seems genuine and realistic, quickly developing a rapport.

Along with the two leads, three musicians provide live music and extra voices from the roof of the attic that's sprawling with Kevin's 1980s toys. Aidan Cutler and Charlotte Elisabeth Yorke sing while Kevin Oliver Jones is on Bass, Alex Crawford on Guitar and Ben Scott on Drums. They all feel part of the family.

The songs fit in nicely, even if sometimes the plot is crowbarred around them to lead into iconic tracks like 9-5, Islands In The Stream or the big finale of I Will Always Love You, but no one's complaining. It's after all what most are here to hear.



There are some lovely details thrown in like a section about parties involving Boris Johnson that I won't spoil and magical style tricks to create the sensation that Parton is supernatural.

I also like the way, Kevin, as a musicals super fan, subtly references lots of other West End theatre productions from Back To The Future to Grease .

Despite heavy topics, particularly leading into the interval, the heartfelt show builds up to a high note, feeling thoroughly uplifting by the feel-good finale. It's a must-see surprising new hit that is as bubbly and exciting as Dolly Parton.

Rating: 5/5 stars


Find tickets at the Here You Come Again website here for the UK tour that includes at Malvern Theatres here until Saturday, July 20.

UK Tour Dates:
23 - 27 JULY EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE, EDINBURGH
30 JULY - 3 AUGUST HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE, ABERDEEN
20 – 24 AUGUST CLIFFS PAVILION, SOUTHEND
27 - 31 AUGUST WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF
3 - 7 SEPTEMBER THEATRE ROYAL, BRIGHTON
10 - 14 SEPTEMBER THE ALEXANDRA, BIRMINGHAM
17 - 21 SEPTEMBER LYCEUM THEATRE, SHEFFIELD
24 - 28 SEPTEMBER RICHMOND THEATRE, LONDON
1 - 5 OCTOBER KING'S THEATRE, GLASGOW
8 - 12 OCTOBER NORWICH THEATRE, NORWICH
15 - 19 OCTOBER EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM
22 - 26 OCTOBER NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
29 OCTOBER - 2 NOVEMBER THE LOWRY, SALFORD
5 - 9 NOVEMBER THEATRE ROYAL, BATH
19 - 23 NOVEMBER MILTON KEYNES THEATRE, MILTON KEYNES
26 - 30 NOVEMBER GRAND THEATRE, BLACKPOOL
3 – 7 DECEMBER LIVERPOOL EMPIRE, LIVERPOOL


%wnbirmingham
%wnliverpool
%wnglasgow
%wnmanchester
%wngloucester
%wnlondon
#theatre_shows
#music
#musicals
#performing_arts
#theatre_reviews