ARRIVAL – The Hits Of ABBA
ARRIVAL – The Hits Of ABBA has come to New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion, and we were excited to be taken back to the 1970’s and early 80’s for a music indulgence via the legendary hits of ABBA. It’s safe to say that we were not disappointed! We were members of a sold-out auditorium of a mixed aged group expectant of a fun-packed night.
The staging, although basic, did take me back to my youth where it was all about the sound and the group entertaining you rather than gimmicks. With that in mind, when the group arrived on stage, huge applause came from the audience. The group were accompanied by “bouncing Ken” the bass player, who did steal the show at times! There was also the very talented drummer, Steve. In the background was a huge screen playing some of their own remake of ABBA videos which played in sync with their singing, adding to the atmosphere.
Whether you’re an ABBA fan or not, this was a diamond of a show. ARRIVAL encouraged audience participation from their seats by having the crowd waving, singing and generally doing anything that gave you that happy feeling! All the hits were played including favourites like Mamma Mia!, Waterloo, Voulez Vous and Super Trooper.
ARRIVAL looked very much the part and had several iconic costume changes throughout the night. We did have a giggle at Bjorn’s blonde wig, and those quick costume changes provided a seamless performance with high-energy dancing and perfect harmonies from the whole group.
During the interval, we were provided with some entertainment on the big screen in the form of old 70’s and 80’s adverts, which were a fun talking point and provided great memories from our childhood.
When the break ended, a lot of the audience remained standing to the side of the theatre, ready to dance the night away, and we weren’t disappointed. ARRIVAL came back with more dance tunes and glittering costumes. By now, most of the audience were dancing or standing up singing, and the party was in full swing!
At the end of the show, the audience gave a standing ovation, and we were left wanting more! I must admit that I left the party with very little voice, and a huge smile on my face!
ARRIVAL – The Hits Of ABBA was just the tonic, and I would not hesitate to see them again in the future!
Overall Rating: 9/10 – Outstanding