We were originally booked in to review “Mam! I’m ‘Ere!” back in 2020.
Covid put paid to that. So as we emerge from the dark days of the pandemic, the resurrection of this feel-good musical romcom is the perfect antidote to the otherwise gloomy news of war in Europe, energy price hikes and failed votes of no confidence.
Just like the 1999 ABBA-inspired film with a similar sounding title, “Mam! I’m ‘Ere!” is a high-energy musical but produced in that unique Royal Court style, with lots of laughs and a poignant back story.Think 1980s Disco meets Long Lost Family.
Written and directed by Stephen Fletcher, the story is set on a caravan site in Costa del North Wales. It tells the tale of Sally (played by Hayley Sheen) who was abandoned soon after birth on her father’s doorstep.
It is now the eve of her wedding to Charlie (played by Michael Fletcher) and she has hatched a cunning plan to discover the identity of her mother. She has lured the three most likely, unsuspecting, candidates to her dad’s caravan park on the pretence of having won a free holiday, convinced that the truth will out when the three come face to face with her father, Dave.
Dave is played by the comedy genius Andrew Schofield at his best – and teamed up as he is, with the brilliant Alan Stocks and Liam Tobin, is enough to guarantee comedy of the highest order.
One of my favourite scenes is when the three, dressed in the best of BeeGees tradition, demonstrate just how to… ahem… get to grips with those high falsetto notes!
In fact, we were treated to some superb singing by the entire cast, and in particular from Hayley Sheen and Lindzi Germain, with music provided throughout by the four-piece on-stage band. Then we had the brilliant comedy acting skills of the other two prospective mums, Lynn Francis and Kacey Ainsworth, all conspiring to make this play the success it is.
“Mam! I’m ‘Ere!” is a fun, uplifting show that will have your feet tapping throughout, and you will marvel at the energetic gyrations of the four sexy dancing Divas. The show is wall to wall with songs that you know and love, that will leave you with a dozen wonderful earworms to remind you of those disco days and boogie nights.
You’ve got until the 16th of July to boogie on down to the Royal Court Box Office
“Mam! I’m ‘Ere!” gets ✪✪✪✪✪ FIVE STARS from the HairyPhotographer
