Redlands - Chichester

What did you not enjoy about it?

Disappointing to hear, because it sounded quite promising, and Humble Boy was excellent. I thought it would be intriguing to see Nigel Havers as a character in a play!

It has now been cut to 2 hrs 50 minutes. I saw it yesterday and really enjoyed it. Jasper Talbot, who plays Mick Jagger, not only looks like a young Mike Jagger but has all the moves. I accept the comedy and characterisation was broad - the police on the raid are almost cartoon characters. Don't go expecting great drama - just have a fun experience.

I thought the music was good and got better as the show progressed; Jumpin' Jack Flash at the end was a real blast.

Don't worry, tmesis. As it ended, I heard several people in the audience say how much they enjoyed it. When I boarded a train for home, I found myself seated with a group who had just seen it and we all said how much fun it was.

I can understand someone disliking the references to "queer" but that was how a lot of people spoke in the 60s.   One of the reasons I feel Mick Jagger aroused so much hostility was that he was seen by many as effeminate and yet he had so much success with women.  The laughter was more directed towards the outdated attitudes.

Saw today's matinee and it was surprisingly GREAT in a genteel generous bridge-the-generation-gap sort of way, bucked up by some fantastic Stones numbers!

Spoilers follow. . .

Fourth-wall-breaking 17 year old Nigel Havers (an effusive and excitable Louis Landau) aspires to be an actor (the Rolling Stones perform "You can make it if you try"), but his fusty old Dad, the QC, Michael Havers (a deliciously grumpy Anthony Calf) doesn't get him. Meanwhile, the older generation doesn't get the Rolling Stones ("Can't get no Satisfaction"), and the dastardly News of the World is determined to destroy them for it.

Now, Marianne Faithful (Emer McDaid acting posher though more vulnerable than Julie Andrews, and wearing more outre outfits) must Mary-Poppins the Havers Family ("As Tears Go By"), with a little help from the enigmatic Stones, teaching Daddy Havers to metaphorically fly-a-kite and get down with his family, while Daddy Havers must use his legal skills to deal with the divisive newspaper. . .

This is the kind of heartwarming story that culminates with the legendary 78 year old Clive Francis, as Grandpa Havers, literally bridging the generation gap, playing tambourine centre stage while brilliant facsimile Mick Jagger, Jasper Talbot, roars that "it's alright now, in fact it's a gas," as the whole cast get down to "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and reprise "Satisfaction."

This whole show is less a dark drama than a gentle family comedy, cosy, charming, heartwarming and full of awesome Stones numbers, awesomely played.

The whole ensemble work together wonderfully, with Brenock O'Connor bringing the wildness as Keith Richards, Landau bringing the charm, Talbot the charisma, McDaid the soul, Francis the heart and Calf the story progression.

The first half takes far too long to set the whole thing up, but the second half is all-action satisfaction all the way. 4 stars from me.

I love Clive Francis caricatures.He is like the British Al Hirschfeld

clivefranciscaricaturist.com/theatre-and-otherwise/

I too thought that with a little tweaking, this would transfer well & would potentially appeal to a broad range. It's lively and humourous enough even for an alternative festive outing to panto. Shame imo that it's familiar old Oliver which has so far secured a move but I hope this will follow before too long, or at least enjoy a longer life.