THE rubbish-strewn floor, with the shabby, shivering, cast surrounding the audience, sets the mood for Jonathan Larson’s musical, based on Puccini’s La Boheme.
A rollercoaster ride containing songs of love and loss, the impressively-confident Matt McGrath narrates as Mark, always on the outside – filming.
Musician Roger (another emotional performance by James Taylor) gets involved with podium-dancer Mimi (vivacious Sarah Davis) and the duets between Mark and former lover Maureen’s (the wonderful Jade Nicholas) new flame Joanne (note-perfect Georgia Walton) are a delight.
Transgender Angel (a stunning debut by Daniel N’Guessan- Lopez) befriends fellow Aids-victim Collins (sensitively played by Adam Myers) and his death-bed scene is touchingly handled by director Sam Quested.
Charlie Nicholas completes the cast as landlord Benny, with the ensemble contributing enormously, with La Vie Boheme, No Day But Today and Seasons of Love superbly delivered.
Top marks also to James RH Sayers (choreography) and Louise Heyler (music).
My favourite show – it might soon be yours! Performances until December 5.
By Alan Johns
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