Bring It On, Southwark Playhouse

Thanks, that makes perfect sense and also explains why there were some different people in the photos to the ones I saw.

Saw the matinee today, and loved it. The ensemble singing and dancing recaptured the movement, vitality and exuberance of "In the Heights" in the same space. While it was a drawback to have relatively inexperienced performers, it was also a massive plus to have actors still at school playing characters still at school.

Some spoilers follow. . .

While I don't know for sure which songs Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote, I assume they were the ones with raps followed by call and response, and choral harmonies. Those songs were the most exciting, because of the perpetual movement that accompanied them.

The book felt unfocused at times, essentially whenever the lead character wasn't on stage. And the musical generally is more teen generic, and lacks the camp and edge of "Heathers."

However, I was completely won over, and agree that there are many performers to watch among the ensemble. In reverse order, here are the top 5 I'd look out for:-

(5) Claire Gleave nailed a dopey innocence that assured her character, Kylar, was never less than amusing;

(4) Haroun Al-Jeddal was relaxed and touching in his duet, "Enjoy the Trip." Musically, his voice conveyed an enthusiastic yet leisurely romanticism;

(3) As the lead, Robin McIntyre was the soul of the show, the only character you cared about. Her plaintive wide-eyed open face was ever naturalistically compelling in putting over her character's every vulnerability, as well as her hopes and dreams. She carried the story wonderfully;

(2) Isabella Pappas was a tour de force of exaggerated confident comedic expressions. Having seen her opposite Stanley Townsend in "The Nether," I can see she has picked up his stage confidence rather than our audience diffidence about her being in such a creepy play. Further, her singing voice, evidenced in the song "Better," was the least nasal, most nuanced and strongest of all the female voices on display;

(1) Along with Pappas, Kristine Kruse was the other performer who totally owned her every moment on stage. What made her the most notable performer for me was her unfailingly superb comic timing, as Bridget. She will one day play the lead role in "Hairspray," as she is the correct physical type for the role, and both her singing and comic timing are exceptional.

So I had fun with this. It's not as good as "Heathers," in any way, but its exuberant and entertaining.

4 stars

More photos from this visit!