Theatre Review: I Should Be So Lucky, Wales Millennium Centre
Summary
Rating: ★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 28th November - Saturday 2nd December
Where to see it: Wales Millennium Centre
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (including interval)
Keywords: Musical, 80s, 90s
Review
I Should be So Lucky was an absolute whirlwind from start to finish, utterly bonkers, sparkles galore, 80s cheese with a dose of dirty humour. All jam-packed with over 30 era-defining dance-pop hits from The Hit Factory in the late 80s through to the 90s.
Walking into the Donald Gordan Theatre, I felt transported back to summer days, the set giving me a Mamma Mia meets retro dance club vibes. As a 90’s baby, I did not know the extent of the influence of Stock Aitken Waterman on dance-pop music in the late 80’s but, taking a quick look around the audience, I did note that I was maybe 20+ years younger than the target demographic! Nevertheless, I felt quietly confident I would be able to bop along as I grew up listening to my dad’s ‘Best of the 80’s’ CDs through long car journeys.
The curtain rises, revealing Ella (Lucie-May Sumner) on her wedding day talking to an apparition of Kylie Minogue in a modern fairy godmother role. Within the first ten minutes, we’ve bolted between wedding, jilting, break-ups, mentions of Nana’s lemon drizzle cake, and now we’re transported to a Turkish holiday resort with Ella and the whole family. It becomes apparent that the plot is merely a vehicle for showcasing the iconic Stock Aitment Waterman tracks from The Hit Factory, ending with our main couple getting back together because ‘Better the Devil You Know’. This felt a little jarring in a modern musical focusing at the start on knowing your worth and not being defined by a man, to the ending which was, in essence, settling for a familiar situation (better the devil you know!).
On the other hand, the musical performances were absolutely outstanding with strong vocals from all of the cast. Towards the end of the first half, we were transported to a Turkish nightclub with absolutely stellar performances of karaoke like no other, back-to-back bangers and outstanding choreography by Jason Gilkison. By the end of it, everyone was signing along to ‘Never Gonna Give you Up’ and on their feet having a little dance.
In essence, "I Should be So Lucky" is an invitation to abandon the need for intricate narratives and instead revel in the chaos and hyperactivity of a night filled with cheesy, and yes, a little cringey, nostalgia. This show is an absolute rollercoaster, offering a medley of bangers, heartbreaks, reconciliations, and standout choreography. So, relinquish any worries, stresses, and critical review hats (noted!) at the door, and let the boundless energy of this production wash over you for an unforgettable night of retro-fuelled entertainment.
Standout Quote or Moment: Incredible re-enactments of You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) and Respectable at the Turkish nightclub.
See If: you love 80’s cheese & jukebox musicals!
Similar Plays: Mamma Mia
Last Impression: I’m ready for a dance and a night on the karaoke!
Written by Elizabeth Mathers
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