Review: Greatest Days - The Official Take That Musical

Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Never forget that Greatest Days started life as The Band but while the name may have changed the story remains much the same, a tale of teenage dreams, pop star crushes, friendships rekindled and the power of music to transport you through time.

Despite the title, this slice of musical theatre is definitely not the story of Take That, although many of their songs are there.

Debbie, Rachel, Heather, Zoe and Claire  are ‘The Boys’ biggest fans and they’ve just won VIP tickets to see their favourite boyband in concert… naturally, things don’t quite go as planned.

Fast forward 25 years and history is repeating itself, the school friends are reunited by another of ‘The Boys’ concerts, this one part of a girls’ weekend to Athens.

It’s kind of appropriate that is where they head as, under the direction of writer Tim Firth and Stacey Haynes, ‘The Boys’ float in and out of the action singing the hits of Gary Barlow and Co while moving scenery like a discordant Greek chorus.

Indeed, Greatest Days is a musical of three casts. There’s the band, then there are the girls as teenagers, crushing on their pop idols, and finally we meet those same girls as 40-somethings, their teenage dreams far behind them.

Not only are the females of the company the stronger performers by far, the senior company led by a charismatic Jennifer Ellison make Act II a funny, feel good hour of discovery with a big much anticipated singalong at the end.

Standout performance throughout the evening come from Mary Moore as a bubbly Debbie and Jamie-Rose Monk whose comic timing is spot on. Rachel Marwood and Holly Ashton as the adult Heather and Zoe are also magnificent.

Alan Stocks as Every Dave (a series of grumpy old men called Dave), meanwhile, throws in a few scene stealing moments along the way.

With a battery of lights to play with Greatest Days could do with a follow spot or two to lift a number of scenes and soundwise, the sheer volume of the five-piece band not only distorts the music but is painful on the ears.

That aside, Greatest Days packs just enough emotional punch and sisterly love to make a satisfying couple of hours in the company of some very likeable ladies who really do shine.

Until September 2, 7.30pm (matinees 2.30pm), then on National Tour, dates at https://greatestdaysmusical.com/

Credit: Líam Rudden’s Must See Theatre