The Blues Bros are the King Bees at Milton Keynes Theatre
Tribute show to mapcap musical movie opens at venue.
THERE'S a low key start but there's no stopping one of musical theatre's high octane shows once it gets into its stride.
The All New Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers, which is running at Milton Keynes Theatre this week, isn't really new at all.
All the same gags are there – from its stars, Brad Henshaw and Daniel Fletcher (as brothers Jake and Elwood Blues) acting as front of house staff at the curtain up, to a realistic stunt involving dummies falling from the rafters.
And the songlist, which is a tribute in itself to soul and R'n'B stars like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, will be familiar to fans.
But anyone expecting a musical based on the now iconic John Belushi and Dan Akroyd movie will be disappointed.
This is an out-and-out revue, a cabaret night for the faithful, and is nothing more than a collection of great songs sung by competent performers who are dressed like their heroes in black suits, pork pie hats, white shirts and black ties.
It's all very silly, with the now obligatory audience participation section, ritual embarrassment of one poor soul in the stalls, and the up-on-your feet dancing finale.
And actually its silliness is rather infectious, thanks to its incredibly hard-working leads, a great soundtrack and superb backing from three raunchy girl singers who make up The Bluettes, a red hot seven piece band, and a guest appearance by singer Luke Jasztal.
Best of the songs were Jake's rendition of Shotgun Blues, Luke's Minnie The Moocher homage to Cab Calloway, the ladies' smokin' version of Redding's Respect and the affectionate reworking of Under The Boardwalk by the whole cast.
This is your kind of show if you're a fan of soul.
Running until Saturday.
For tickets call the box office 0844 871 7652 or go online www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes
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Friday 25 May 2012
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