Captivating audiences at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End since November 2021, after a successful run at Newcastle's Theatre Royal, The Drifters Girl is now playing at Milton Keynes Theatre until this Saturday 28th October, and this is one you won’t want to miss.
Formed in 1953, The Drifters featured 60 vocalists and its famous songs include Save The Last Dance For Me, Saturday Night At The Movies, Under The Boardwalk, Kissin’ In The Back Row of the Movies, Stand By Me, Sweets For My Sweet, There Goes My First Love, You’re More Than a Number In My Little Red Book.
This highly acclaimed musical show recounts the remarkable story of one of the world's greatest American R&B, Doo-wop and soul vocal groups, and the woman who helped turn the group into a global phenomenon.
Carly Mercedes Dyer as Faye Treadwell (Six the Musical, Anything goes), heads the cast with Miles Anthony Daley as George Treadwell (Tina Turner: The Musical, Aldwych Theatre; Choir of Man, Arts Theatre), Ashford Campbell (X Factor’s The Risk, 9 to 5 The Musical, & Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre, Tarik Frimpong (The Wiz, Hope Mill Theatre; Aladdin, Prince Edward Theatre) and Dalton Harris, (The X Factor winner 2018) and Jaydah Bell-Ricketts (A Little Princess, Royal Festival Hall; School Of Rock, Gillian Lynne Theatre) who is undertaking her first touring role as Girl.
This show is absolutely fabulous! It brings together the sounds of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and features one of the best original ‘boy bands’ ever, portraited by a talented cast of singers who entertain us with nonstop music, harmonies, impressive synchronized dancing and overall amazing performances that are sure to leave you breathless.
An outstanding display of moving screens with striking lighting effects brought the show to life and smoothly transitioned between scenes, whilst the very small cast of just six, effortlessly portrayed countless characters moving fast and fluidly throughout scenes.
The music was stunning and perfectly pitched, complementing the action with sensitivity and providing strength behind the songs, but never was it overpowering or too loud, and the accompanying songs to The Drifter’s own songs were totally in keeping with the show and moved the narrative along effectively.
My only gripe was that I lost the dialogue on a number of occasions due to poor annunciation and at times singers didn’t always hit the notes full on. However, it didn’t spoil my total enjoyment of the show and I’d thoroughly recommend seeing the show.
Shahnaz (Shiny) Hussain - Arts reviewer.
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