Show: Son Of A Preacher Man
Format: Musical
Genre: Drama
Date: July 3 2018
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
So, Son Of A Preacher Man concludes its inaugural tour at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre. The first night had the unfortunate circumstance of coinciding with England’s latest World Cup tie against Colombia, which undoubtedly impacted attendance and also audience investment. That aside, the show was still able to hold one’s attention, though there were a number of issues that prevented it from being a must-see, even on a night when there is no football.
Son Of A Preacher Man
Description Of Son Of A Preacher Man
The story sees three characters from very different backgrounds, who all have specific reasons for coming to London and wishing to visit – yes! – the son of a preacher man; the since-passed preacher had a way of helping the public with any issues emotionally affecting their lives, hence why they all hoped to seek out his advice. Failing that, they convince his son Simon (Nigel Richards), a restaurant owner by trade, to fill his dad’s shoes and attempt to assist the trio with their various problems.
All three plot strands revolve around love. Paul (Michael Howe) met a local man back in the 1960s and still can’t stop thinking about him; Alison (Michelle Gayle) has developed feelings for an A-Level student who she is mentoring after studies; and Kat (Alice Barlow) is obsessed with a guy she has spotted on an online dating site. As chance would have it, a bit of research alongside some chats to his late father reveal that all three “targets” will be on hand at a singles party held by Match-Me (not Match.com).
Struggles
However, some misjudged interactions alongside bad luck means that Paul, Alison and Kat end up further away from achieving their goals than when they started. They blame Simon (somewhat unfairly, in my view), and this understandably makes him wish to concentrate solely on his own business again. But Simon’s kind, caring nature means that he tries his best to make things right for everyone. That being said, a number of twists not only raises the question of whether the trio will achieve what they want, but also what their happy endings would actually be.
Analysis Of Son Of A Preacher Man
The performances are very good by the leading cast, with the more versatile and relatable Simon being the standout character. I should also give mention to the eye-catching, sometimes wacky dance routines by the Cappuccino Sisters group (Michelle Long, Kate Hardisty and Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong).
The settings are well-designed with some cool lighting displays and brightly-coloured window panes for transitional scenes. At around 2 hours 15 minutes including an interval, the show didn’t outstay its welcome by any means. And as the name implies, a fair few 60s hits provide the soundtrack for this show including Anyone Who Had A Heart, The Look Of Love and, of course, Son Of A Preacher Man.
Flaws
There were several flaws though, as I alluded to in the opening paragraph. For starters, there’s disappointment ahead of anyone expecting the show to actually be about Dusty Springfield, aside from the odd reference. The music seems to be there to give the show a boost, rather than tying in with the story (the title song aside). What’s more, though there was the occasional use of comedy, the tone felt a bit – well – meh at times.
The situations involving each character were serious enough to justify the production being a drama. But there needed to be more oomph, more welly. Basically, something for people to really remember when all was said and done. Okay, so there’s a random chicken dance aside (you read that right. But otherwise, it’s hard to think of something that stood out when you discount the music.
Writing
The biggest issue, though, concerned the writing. Even if we apply a little creative licence, some situations are a bit interesting, shall we say. They stretch one’s suspension of disbelief too far. Sure, the premise of the show is to see whether Paul, Alison and Kat complete their goals. But it’s hard to actually define them as likeable people, especially Kat. And I must point out that Alice Barlow performed really well. But cast as a spoiled young girl led to numerous cringeworthy moments during her scenes.
Paul and Alison cause fewer issues in this regard. But when everybody blames Simon for their woes, it becomes difficult to sympathise with anybody besides him. Ultimately, it’s Simon who shines in the most positive light and rightfully so. And yes, I realise that nobody is perfect. But some minor tweaks to the script could make it easier for the crowd to care about them. Furthermore, this might encourage the audience to actually hope that they achieve resolution to their problems.
Summary Of Son Of A Preacher Man
Son Of A Preacher Man is entertaining and has its moments. And it’s decent enough to warrant a viewin. But there are clear issues on display that prevent this from being a show to truly remember. Next time it comes to Liverpool, it won’t have the problem of going up against a huge England match. But it requires a few fixes to become a production that would make it highly recommended.
