Review: Becoming Nancy (Birmingham Rep)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️

It isn’t just London theatres producing the most interesting new shows. Indeed, it is worth travelling around the UK to see some absolute treasures with one such jewel being The Rep in Birmingham. With diverse and exciting programming, recent productions have included  the premieres of Sinatra The Musical  and Bhangra Nation. Never one to rest on their laurels, they are back at it with the long awaited UK premiere of new musical Becoming Nancy.

Based on the best-selling book by Terry Ronald, the musical adaptation of Becoming Nancy premiered in Atlanta in 2019 but has not been seen since… until now. Set in 1979, Becoming Nancy tells the coming-of-age story of school boy David Starr who gets an unexpected role in the school production of Oliver!, playing Nancy. It is then he discovers his true identity as a gay man, falling in love and trying to right some wrongs when it comes to prejudices in the meantime.

Written by Elliot Davis, the story of Becoming Nancy balances camp hilarity with a serious message of acceptance. The book attempts to cram a lot into the story and that is where it struggles to meet its full potential. David’s coming out story is paralleled with his friend Frances Bassey’s dealings with racism and the abuse they face from bigots at the school. Both huge issues that should be treated with all the gravitas they deserve. However, they often feel rushed, glossed over or severely reduced. Adding in the love story, disappointingly underwritten family members and the matter of the school play, Becoming Nancy’s suffers from attempting to do too much, The messages the show conveys are crucial and the actual semblance of the show is full of potential - however, in this form, I felt it hadn’t been fully met and the show would have benefited from some revisions to the book. This also limits developments in some of the strands and relationships, with the dominant one between David and Maxie flip-flopping throughout act two in a way that undervalues the main relationship the audience should be rooting for, preventing a connection.

The songs prove to be a mixed bag too. With music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe with additional songs by Elliot Davis, Terry Ronald and George Stiles, at their best they are absolutely sensational such as the storming opening number ‘Welcome To The Beat Of My Heart’, setting the bar high and showcasing how much potential Becoming Nancy has. Other musical highlights include ‘On The Night Bus’ and the moving ‘About Six Inches From Your Heart’ (think ‘He’s My Boy’ from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and you get the idea). There are a few numbers that don’t quite match that high standard, with several songs not adding enough to the story, not feeling as strong musically and boasting some questionable lyrics.

The standout song of the evening and certainly the one that got the strongest reaction on press night is an interesting one, as it is a very new addition to the show. So new, in fact, it isn’t even in the song list in the programme. That song is the roaringly good ‘Who I Am’, performed to a sensational level by Paige Peddie. With a strong message and a powerhouse vocal, it is hard to believe a song as striking as that wasn’t always in the show. I am reminded of ‘I Say No’ from Heathers which was only added to the musical towards the end of its first London run, going on to become the behemoth it has - the standout song of that show for many. ‘Who I Am’ is extremely reminiscent of that and is the song I left the theatre still thinking about.

One element of Becoming Nancy that can’t be faulted on any level is the incredible direction and choreography from Jerry Mitchell. One of the masters in musical theatre, his presence is very much felt with fun choices that elevate the material, even when the book struggles to find coherence. It is his choreography that proves especially jaw-dropping with the opening number, ‘Ready To Be Touched’ and finale ‘Have You Ever Had A Love Like This?’ full of big, loud and proud movement in colourful sequences that it feels impossible not to smile at. It is in standout musical number ‘Just For Today’ where these elements are at their peak, resulting in a joyous sequence among the best I’ve seen in a good while.

Equally impressive is in the bold set designed by David Rockwell and TJ Greenway. Transporting us into the late 70s, it is a visual feast, helped by stunning costumes by Jean Chan and a beautiful use of lighting from Philip Rosenberg, Tony Gayle’s clear sound design ensures Becoming Nancy sounds as fantastic as it always looks, in a production that thrills with its style, though occasionally falls short elsewhere. A fantastic use of music icons, played by the cast gives a surreal edge to the show with a particularly scene-stealing Kate Bush a highlight.

Becoming Nancy boasts a remarkable cast, all delivering excellent performances. Joseph Vella lights up the stage as Maxie Boswell with Daisy Greenwood a highlight as Abigail Hensen. Genevieve Nicole is a delight as Aunt Val, with her ‘On The Night Bus’ every bsit as astonishing as you would expect. Similarly, Rebecca Trehearn is criminally underused as David;s mother Kath, showcasing her miraculous abilities on her big musical number ‘About Six Inches From Your Heart’. Another undoubted standout comes from Paige Peddie showcasing vocals for days and a performance full of heart as Frances Bassey in one of the more memorable and well-rounded characters in the show.

With the musical centred around David Starr, that surname proves quite fitting for the wonderful Joseph Peacock who astounds at every turn, proving what a star(r) he is. In a performance that requires vulnerability at times, confidence at others with comedy and sensitivity, Peacock delivers a faultless performance that sets him up as a leading man we should all be excited for in future shows. Demonstrating phenomenal vocals and a believable performance that consistently captivates, he is a breath of fresh air bringing this character to life. One unconventional moment to speak of that speaks for his talents is how Peacock’s vocals transcended through the theatre when his microphone failed at the close of act one. It was a testament to his strength and power as a vocalist, and weirdly allowed the number to resonate more, without the use of his mic. Given this actor has blown me away in other shows in the past, the following statement isn’t quite accurate but regular readers here know how much I love a good pun so the Hell with it - A Starr is born!

Shows featuring Oliver! are like (night) buses apparently, with three coming along at once. There is of course the imminent West End transfer of the classic musical, but also Why Am I So Single? that takes inspiration from the show. The double meaning of the title ‘Becoming Nancy’ sets this musical up perfectly and showcases how much potential it has. There is no doubt that there is an amazing show in Becoming Nancy somewhere. Like its protagonist, David, it just hasn’t discovered who it is fully as yet. Even in its current form, there is much to love about this show - it just feels a bit rough around the edges at time and too uneven. There is no reason why it can’t get there though. This is a story that deserves to be seen by the masses with an important message that can do a lot of good. I for one will be excited to see what the future holds for this musical and look forward to seeing what it becomes.

Becoming Nancy plays at The Rep, Birmingham until 2nd November. Tickets from www.birmingham-rep.co.uk 

Photos by Mark Senior