The New Vic continues to celebrate its forty years in a new building by bringing back Good Golly Miss Molly. And Goodness Gracious it is still able to produce Great Balls of Fire as a piece of musical theatre even though it is around four decades since it was first shown to the public.
Relevance to the 2020s remains as communities still have to fight for the preservation of their communities against developers and planning authorities.
The play opens with the Welfare Club holding a concert as they await the final decision on the fate of Victory Street but as they await the reporting of the Council’s decision on the development proposal but with no sign of local Councillor Eddie (David Ahmad) it is unsure whether the evening will end in celebration or be a wake.
The residents are doing their best to enjoy the evening thanks to the re-union of local band Ronnie Angel and The Devils. Ronnie (Matthew Ganley) is making his first appearance with the band since leaving for the bright lights of Butlins and returns to accompany Brian (Adam Langstaff) and Stan (Jim Duah).
The occasion allows the attendees to reminisce through the lives of Molly (Shirley Darroch) and her elder sister Lucille (Georgina Field) beginning with the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 where Grandad (Chad Hague) vociferously presents a socialist and anti-monarchist stance that he maintains throughout her life.
The workingmen’s club hosted Lucille’s wedding breakfast with husband Jack (Conor Litten) after Lucille announced her pregnancy on the eve of her partner’s departure for National Service and some twenty years later ran a banging glam rock Christmas party.
The story also takes us through Molly’s love life through the years. A crush on Ronnie is thwarted when she discovers his true romantic feelings and this is followed by an awful relationship with Stevie (Samuel Brenton) – a layabout with anarchist pretensions who uses abortion as a contraception method. Fortunately for Molly, she manages to escape and give birth to Bridget (Alice McKenna)
Bridget helps The Devils out over the years but also helps Molly to mature as a person. Following her Grandad’s political path, Molly joins the NUM during the Miners’ strike and then becomes Chair of the Committee that is fighting for her community.
As the evening draws to an end and the steward is looking to close the doors on his establishment the result of the Council vote has yet to be revealed. Will Eddie return with good news or bad? And will he want to take his rightful place on stage as an original member of The Devils?
Good Golly Miss Molly is exactly what makes the New Vic an amazing theatre company. A topic which is universal but which is made local with many regional references and has a brilliant cast of actor-musicians who portray the delights and disappointments of life in excellent style. Add in a tremendous rock ‘n’ roll score and you have a performance that has the audience up and dancing and whooping for more at the finale.
Lis Evans has designed a superb set that brings back a working man’s club of old and dresses the cast in the exactly appropriate costumes. Sayan Kent has done a great job as Musical Director and Beverley Norris-Edmunds, as ever, has worked wonders with the choreography. Bob Eaton has made sure that his Creative Team have brought about a memorable show and an excellent evening’s entertainment.
Good Golly Miss Molly should not be missed. The next significant anniversary for the New Vic is in ten years’ time. Surely you wouldn’t want to wait that long for another chance to see a piece of musical theatre that comes from the top drawer? Get your ticket now
Good Golly Miss Molly has a running time of approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval and continues until May 2nd . For ticket information contact 01782 717962
