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“It's not unusual to have fun with anyone”
Tom: A story of Tom Jones. The Musical
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Tuesday 3rd - Saturday 7th May
2016
Neath
based Theatr Na Nóg have brought Tom: A Story of Tom Jones – The Musical
to Newcastle. The Mike James script
explores the journey of the Porthcawl singer from his teen years playing in
tiny bars up to the creation of his first big hit. A sprinkling of humour,
talented cast and musicians and solid gold hits combine to create a very sound
production.
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Photo: Simon
Gough
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1955
was a different time. The clubs were full and expected to be entertained –
though you can expect bother if you sit in a member’s chair. The committees
relied on variety acts from comics to snake charmers. What they didn’t need was
an amplified band making a racket. Thus it was tricky for acts to jump on the
rock and roll or beat combo bandwagons and expect an easy gig.
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Photo: Simon
Gough
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Tom
(Kit Orton) had been singing since he was very small, even earning a few
coppers singing on crates in the corner shop. He would keep rooms entertained
with his vocal talents in the room above a pub with just a piano accompaniment.
Life then become complicated when he managed to get 15 year old Linda (Elin
Phillips) pregnant. They were in love and so they got married and moved in with
her mother. This did not dampen his
plans for world (universe?) domination starting from the bars in South Wales.
He
joins a local beat combo called The Senators and together they try to get
management and a record contract. One
such episode included an attempt to record with Joe Meek of Telstar fame –
though Meek’s temperamental nature brought a swift end to the proceedings.
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Photo: Simon
Gough
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The
show is littered with hits of the time as Tommy Scott and the Senators (as they
were then called) played cover versions in the local venues: Spanish
Harlem, Ghost Riders In The Sky and Lucille
all feature. Unlike The Jersey Boys, Tom the Musical features, pleasingly,
full songs rather than rapid mashes of hits. Musical Director Greg Palmer leads
a tight group of musicians that perform on the stage rather than in the pit.
John McLanon, Tom Connor, Daniel Lloyd and Kieran Bailey appear as The Senators
and so they have to act those roles of the supporting musicians as well as
playing the classics. The sound is filled out for the final numbers with Nicola
Bryan on trumpet, Elin Philips on piano and Phylip Harries on tenor saxophone.
The end result had the stalls on their feet dancing at the end.
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Photo: Simon
Gough
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This
is a bio musical, covering the 10 years running up to Tom Jones first big hit.
The story is well paced and Geinor Styles direction ensures a good tempo throughout.
This production doesn’t suffer form being too long either. Holding the story
together very well is Phylip Harries who does a great job narrating the
connections between each scene.
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Photo: Simon
Gough
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Kit
Orton nails the Tom Jones numbers and he gives a very likeable Tom Jones. Elin
Philips and Mali Jones give a sympathetic performance as his wife Linda and her
mother. Nicola Bryan is fab as the tough mother. Richard Corgan and Deborah
Thomas complete the ensemble as the manager Gordon Mills and his wife Jo.
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| Photo: Simon Gough |
Quite
a few musicals have tried to string along a set of hits in order to create a
story. Tom seems to work much better than most as there is a real story woven
into the music and the script isn’t afraid to reflect the sort of humour that
made Gavin & Stacey such a hit. A tight band back a superb performance by
Kit Orton combine to make this a very pleasant evening’s entertainment.
This review was written by Stephen
Oliver for
Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow
Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on
Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo.
Tickets:
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| Photo: Simon Gough |
Please note: Strong language, recommended 12+
Tickets are from £14 and can be purchased at www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge).
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