Sports and musicals – two opposing pursuits that don’t
really fit together. Whilst Rocky is currently doing the rounds on
Broadway, few sports-based musicals have really stood the test of time. As Troy in High School Musical can attest to, it’s often a choice between the
two to “get your head in the game”.
For John, the protagonist in The Beautiful Game, the choice is between football and girls – at least
initially. With music from Andrew Lloyd
Webber and a book from Ben Elton (originally premiering in the West End in 2000),
the plot centres on a football team in 1960s Northern Ireland to the backdrop
of religious violence and terrorism. In
such a context, football – the third religion that’s “better than sex and
better than beer” - is quickly forgotten as the show takes a turn towards serious
social drama.
The result is a musical with an identity crisis. The real battle here is not a West Side Story style rumble between the
Catholics and the Protestants, but a war for stage time between a football
comedy and an Irish nationalist drama. Sadly,
one undermines the other. The first act
establishes the two-dimensional characters and their predictable trajectories
with a lightly comedic tone that’s reverent of the time and some one-liners
that mostly fall flat. What else can you
expect from Ben Elton? The second act
jarringly switches on the drama button, finally injecting some jeopardy that
was merely hinted at in the first act. Yet
how are we meant to feel for these characters and their plight when their
dialogue is so childish and based on Irish stereotypes (“we’re even better
drinkers than footballers!”)?
Lloyd Webber’s score also has a split personality. As you’d expect there are plenty of tunes, be
they folky, rock and roll or militaristic, but it also has its menacing moments
(the opening flute melody especially). Too
often, though, it relies on stereotypical romance – a cliché that’s hindered by
Elton’s bland lyrics.
When the show does focus on football, the results are
thrilling. In this production from director
Lotte Wakeham, the audience is set in traverse like a stadium with cast members
popping up to cheer from behind. The
actual game, choreographed by Tim Jackson, is suitably sweaty,
testosterone-fuelled and thrilling to watch.
Thankfully, Wakeham has directed a talented cast to add some
depth to the music and the characters. As
a whole the ensemble are hardworking and offer some varied characterisation,
with Daniella Bowen (Christine) and Stephen Barry (Del) shining vocally in
their rock number. The real star,
though, is Niamh Perry who brings powerful emotion and maturity to the role of
Mary – something Lloyd Webber and Elton were unable to do overall. Still, The
Beautiful Game is an enjoyable (if long) musical that remains “bloody good
craic”.
3/5
Watch: The Beautiful Game runs at the Union Theatre until May 3rd.
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