Mark Anderson visits the Manchester Opera House to see the Olivier Award-nominated, worldwide smash hit now on its first ever UK tour.
This production stems back to the Edingbrough Fringe festival back in 2017.
There is no direct story line or plot, beginning, middle or endingto this production.
The show is based in a pub in this case is called “The Jungle” but could represent any of the names of your locals in your community.
The cast consist of nine individual males of different characteristics who represent the regulars you may now or have come across in your local watering holes.
The cast member’s play a particular type of person with names such as “The Beast, the Romantic, the Joker, and thebarman, each immediately introduced with a brief summary of their characteristic by a character called The Poet Oluwalonimi Owayemi, who ties up all the loose ends of each & everyone but rather than fictionalise their character he makes it about the real actor playing that role.
This gives a sense of intimacy which allows you to enjoy and feel you know the real people behind the roles in what was a highlight.
It might be that they are getting over a broken heart, love a practical joke or is even a bit of a bore. These are typical people that we are meant to recognise in our everyday circle of friends or a couple of pals you talk too from your trip to the community pub.
The ninety minute performance focuses on the themes of male camaraderie, community, friendship and personal stories. This is overlapped with music that takes your back to those unforgettable foot tappers & sing along day that covers a number of different decades and genre’s.
An example the rousing performance of Queen’s ‘Somebody ToLove’ by Joshua Lloyd as the barman, while Levi Tyrell Johnson is the voice behind an undoubted standout moment in ‘You’re The Voice’. The talents don’t stop with solely singing though, with Gavin Melbardis as The Maestro giving a unique take on The Proclaimers ‘(I’m Gonna Be) ‘500 Miles’ also with Jack Skelton giving a breath taking tap routine to accompany ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’.
The Choir Of Man creates the illusion you are in a pub rather than a theatre, this a testament to the fantastic detailed set designand the fun factor and sounds that ensures everyone is having the time of their life. But what stands out from other theatre performances is the interaction between the audience and the cast.
From the outset audience participation is encouraged, you can purchase beer from a working bar on the stage whilst audience and cast mingling. The cast also invite some members of the audience up onto the stage whilst the performance is underway,.
There’s so many good things about this show, The interaction, The music, The high intensity and the great performance from all the cast. I would definitely watch this show again.
The play runs at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday 9th May
