It’s time to tumble outta bed and stumble to the Grand Opera House York – as Here You Come Again offers a sparkling feel-good celebration!
Bursting with laughter, rhinestones and toe-tapping tunes, this jukebox musical is packed with heart and hilarity.
Here You Come Again – The New Dolly Parton Musical is at the Grand Opera House from Tuesday 28 January to Saturday 1 February.
Lockdown 2020 is not a destination in which many would willingly transport back to, that is unless it includes the Queen of Country herself Dolly Parton and her incredibly vast discography – in that case it is a welcoming venture.
Here we find ourselves thrust into the life and attic of Kevin, a middle-aged, flamboyant character, dealing with unemployment, heartbreak and enormous lack of self-esteem. He finds himself asking the question: What would Dolly do? – and gaining an answer like no other, as his wildest fantasies become reality and he gains his own hourglass-figured guardian angel. Throughout his self-discovery and vulnerability, we are given enthusiastic interactions, breaking down barriers and the fourth wall too.
And this penthouse switches luxury for necessities, Kevin’s own secret hideout, cleverly compacted into a multi-storey set complete with hidden tricks and magical moments. A wonderful design by Paul Wills which may seem chaotically cluttered, but in fact has a perfect purpose for each item or piece of Dolly memorabilia.
Tricia Paoluccio is our Backwoods Barbie; from taking her seat in the writer’s circle to donning the blonde wig itself each evening, she certainly knows how to make an entrance. Despite her larger than life interpretation, it was actually her rendition of ‘God’s Colouring Book’ which brought a beautiful stillness to the production, giving the audience a moment to absorb her tremendous vocal offering.
This was beautifully accompanied by Luke Adams on the guitar, who, alongside Ben Scott on drums and Kevin Oliver Jones on Bass/Harmonica, completed our talented trio of musicians.
This production was built on the music, so much so that there was no need for a dramatic narrative or cliffhanging story arc – instead it was one man’s journey carried by the hottest hits. ‘9 to 5’, ‘Two Doors Down’, and a ‘Jolene’ like you’ve never seen before, were just some of the highlights. And with our multi-rolling backing vocalists’ support (Emma Jane Fearnley and Austin Garret), each was superb in its delivery.
But there is no denying that Steven Webb’s portrayal of Kevin is the vital glue that holds the entire show together. His boundless energy infuses each and every scene, with his quick-witted humour and sharp timings, effortlessly draw the audience in. Webb produced a masterclass in versatility – exuding warmth, charm, and depth in equal measure – cementing him as an indispensable force within the production. The audience leave the auditorium not just thinking of Kevin as a character whom they’ve watched over but instead a friend they made along the way.
Bruce Vilanch, Gabriel Barre, Paoluccio and Jonathan Harvey have created a feel-good script, enabling humour to be found in one of the darkest moments in recent history. Lockdown jokes flooded each scene; the hoarding of toilet paper, Partygate, banging pots or even a Tiger King reference – and whilst these could easily be looked back on with a slight pang of pain, somehow we were given space to laugh together, which was somewhat oddly healing.
‘Stop looking in mirrors and start looking out of windows’ is the take home advice here, sometimes the best adventures are found in the most vulnerable, smallest of spaces.
Head on down to Grand Opera House York this week for a trip to Dollywood you won’t forget!
Here You Come Again is at the Grand Opera House until Saturday 1 February. Tickets start from £15 and are available here.