Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - Acorn Antiques The Musical is a love letter to Victoria Wood's legacy

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On Sunday, we attended Hope Mill's production of Acorn Antiques The Musical at The Manchester Opera House. Read what our reviewer Karen Ryder had to say about this perfect Northern musical...

It feels like Christmas has come early in Manchester for Hope Mill Theatre are presenting us with gift after gift. In one week, I have laughed the unfiltered, from the heart belly laughs, been jaw droppingly agog at dazzling musical theatre numbers, and been giddy as a kipper at the enviable talents of the dream casting they have achieved in not one, but two productions! Firstly, the fiendishly, fabulous fun of their regional premiere of Young Frankenstein at their home, Hope Mill Theatre, and tonight at the belting and bonkers brilliance of marvellous macaroon and marigolds as they produced a devoted love letter to Victoria Wood with Acorn Antiques The Musical at the Manchester Opera House. What a way to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and with two more performances waiting in the wings on 9^th November at The Shaftesbury Theatre London, and on the 16^th November, again at the Manchester Opera House, their celebrations show no signs of slowing down. So grab your tweed twin set and pearls and make your way down to Manchesterford, because these tickets are selling faster than Mrs. Overall’s macaroons!

I can’t bring myself to write this as I would any other review for many reasons. Firstly, Victoria Wood has owned a piece of my heart for as long as I can remember, and without her ever knowing it, she is a huge piece of my own jigsaw as to how I ended up doing what I do in life. As a girl from Bury myself (who even attended the same school as Vic Wood – though at different times), she has always been a huge inspiration for pursuing the quirks that make you unique, and a shining example of staying true to the cockles of your own heart. She is the best example I’ll never meet so I am in no position to review anything she wrote. Secondly, this Hope Mill production has brought her back to life with such adoration, understanding, and respect, that the review has already been written by the phenomenal and visceral audience response. The theatre was pulsating with the powerful privilege of being part of this very special evening. So instead of writing a review in my usual manner (which let’s face it, I do tend to love most things I watch with a ridiculous amount of superlatives – I can’t help it – I love theatre!), I will instead write this as a thank you to all involved in this incredible show. And I say that because not only was it hilarious with insatiable comic timing and a beautiful reincarnation of all our favourite Acorn Antique characters (with some cracking new ones thrown in too), but the whole thing was pulled together and rehearsed in just nine days! I think everyone involved must have been secretly offering the jazz hand Gods a nice cup of Mrs. Overall’s tea because that should be impossible! But they made it happen!

As we meet the happy residents of Manchesterford and learn all about their different trades and shops, we also learn that their quaint and quiet lives are about to be upturned by a ruthless developer whose bottom line is profit, and who is gunning to upheave the status quo with a town full of franchised coffee shops, tanning booths, and botox clinics! Siblings Miss Babs and Miss Berta must find a way to save their beloved Acorn Antiques from becoming a macchiato madhouse, whilst simultaneously juggling new recruits, Mr. Cliffords amnesia and dying mother, a long-lost triplet, financial woes, family secrets, unrequited love, loan sharks, the local amateur operatic society, and of course – Mrs. Overall! Can Manchesterford’s residents pull together and solve everything just in time for a happy ending or will Acorn Antiques truly become a thing of the past? Seasoned throughout with more one liners than your aching ribs can bare, when you’re not being dazzled with words, you are rolling in the aisles at the physical comedy, wowed with the huge musical numbers including glorious Bob Fosse parodies for good measure, and relishing in the infamous wobbly scenery and the mesmerising mis-timed cues. And as if all of that isn’t enough – they even manage to pull something extra special out of the bag for Acorn Antique fans everywhere, so watch out for the living will and let your heart melt with pure happiness!

Directed by Joseph Houston and William Whelton, the love and passion for Victoria Wood and Acorn Antiques The Musical is wonderfully authentic throughout. With a 15 strong cast of musical theatre legends and icons, it speaks volumes of not only the cast and creatives own personal love for Victoria Wood, but also for Hope Mill and its directors, that they have worked their marigolds off and achieved a 5* production in just over a week! Joy, laughter, and love resonated right into the rafters, with the cast making these characters undeniably recognisable yet uniquely theirs in equal measures. This perfect casting which spoilt us rotten were Ria Jones as Mrs. Overall, Katherine Kingsley as Miss Babs, Gina Beck as Miss Berta, Anna-Jane Casey as Miss Bonnie, Tony Jayawardena as Mr. Clifford, Rob Madge and Steve Elias as Derek and Mr. Watkins, Elliot Broadfoot and May Tether as Hugh and Mimi, Grace Mouat as Miss Wellbelove, Daniele Coombe as Miss Willoughby, Harry Hepple as Tony, Sally Banks as Christine, George Crawford as Minchin’s lad, Laura Medforth as Miss Cuff, Sam Holmes as Mr. Furlong, Bradley Judge as the Postman, and Althea Burey as Lucy Lollipop.

Ria Jones embodied the Mrs. Overall we know and love whilst equally making her, her own. From the Brummie accent, to the wobbly voice tinged with a posh undertone every now and then, to the signature walk, smiles to the audience, and the perfectly timed mistiming she is famous for, this was nothing short of perfect! This is a character known and adored by the nation and she was more than safe in Ria Jones’ rubber gloved hands, she positively thrived. Katherine Kingsley as Miss Babs, Gina Beck as Miss Berta, were incorrigible in their roles, bringing new elements that were a thrill to behold. Individually they were fantastic, together they were dynamite! Anna-Jane Casey as Miss Bonnie was born to be in this show! Highlighting her phenomenal singing and dancing by leading huge Fosse style numbers, to her innate funny bones, she held the theatre in the palm of her jazzed hands and then sprinkled us all with stardust. Tony Jayawardena as Mr. Clifford, encapsulated the no nonsense, British upper lip of his character with finesse, delivering one of the best lines of the show to perfection – “I’ll handle this. I have a scrotum!” Rob Madge and Steve Elias as Derek and Mr. Watkins made a dynamic duo with opposing characters that allowed each others comic timing to shine, then came together to create a beautifully Northern stoic yet touching moment, giving the show heart. Elliot Broadfoot and May Tether as Hugh and Mimi brought a daftness and a brilliant contrast to the self-assurance of Miss Babs, Miss Berta, and Mr. Clifford on all things antique and life. They played off each other wonderfully and had everyone roaring with their naivety.

Acorn Antiques The musical may have been produced as part of Hope Mill Theatre’s 10^th birthday celebrations, but it is all of us who are receiving the gifts, because this show just keeps on giving and giving. With Victoria Woods beautifully crafted sense of humour embracing her love of the North and wrapping us in a huge comedic hug, we feel a sense of belonging as we recognise the people, the phrases, and yet are dazzled by a wit that is razor sharp, and unprecedented. With so many take aways such as “Sometimes impotence is Gods way of getting him to decorate the spare bedroom” or “Mrs. Overall can’t have got very far – that’s one of the blessings of osteoporosis” you fall in love with Victoria Woods brand of funny all over again and it makes my heart both full and ache that her legacy lives on with such adoration, but that she is unable to witness the endless lives she still touches. So that’s why this is a thank you. Thank you to a dedicated team of cast, creatives and team Hope Mill for pulling together to achieve such an outstanding production, thank you to producers, directors, and all round superstars Joseph Houston and William Whelton for choosing this special show for their celebrations, and last but by no means ever least, thank you to Victoria Wood for everything you have given us. Your legacy lives on and your brilliance continues to inspire. Her authenticity made everything she did so accessible, rooted in every day, normal, bog-standard life, yet she tapped into something so truthful that her undeniable humour, empathy, and knowledge of human behaviour, has created an unbreakable community of devoted fans. And the inspiring Victoria always did it with such humility, grace, and raw honest Northern class that it is no wonder so many like me look up to her legacy with a sparkle in our eyes. Hers is a special world to belong to, and once you’re in, you’re a lifer, and there is no better place to be! Tonight brought that world to life once more, and it is a celebration I shall never forget.