Chas and Dave - the musical

Oct 18 2010 By Barry Dix

Chas and Dave in the West End? Cor blimey, surely that’s like putting jellied eels on the menu at The Dorchester.

But if a musical which had just premiered at the Theatre Royal in Windsor proves to be a hit, the cheerful sounds of the Cockney duo could soon be rocking out from the stage of one of London’s most prestigious venues.

There’s only one stumbling block. Is the show up to it?

Well, judging from the opening night on Wednesday it’s not going to be a threat to the likes of Mamma Mia quite yet.

The idea is good. Take some of Chas and Dave’s best loved songs, get veteran wordsmith Ray Cooney to write the script and set the action in North London in 1962, thereby cashing in on the current craze for rock ‘n’ roll-filled musicals.

It’s all good fun, though the storyline is as flimsy as a Diana Dors nightie and there were more than the usual number of unplanned moments to bedevil the proceedings on the opening night.

An excellent little live band and some spot-on backing singers add some much-needed polish to the proceedings but the end result is a disappointment. Someone must have thought that putting actors who aren’t singers in the main roles would be sufficient. Surely anyone can belt out a Chas and Dave Song and make it sound good? Wrong.

Perhaps it was the sound balance that wasn’t right or the fact that the lead characters seemed to be somewhat uncomfortable with having to sing.

Whatever reason, the aforementioned band and backing singers constantly drowned out the cast’s voices. The result was akin to some of the less remarkable musical efforts heard when actors are forced to exercise their vocal chords in the average pantomime.

When the cast stick to acting there is no problem. Two Eastenders’ veterans draw on their Albert Square experience to portray a Cockney couple - Cliff Parisi is the pub-loving, slightly-bigoted dad while Louise Jameson makes a lovely job of playing his wife Doris.

Trevor Bannister is a delight as the bumbling grandad, though in these more enlightened times there is a feeling of unease at poking too much fun at someone in such a sad state.

Vicki Michelle is a perfect pub landlady, though even she seems uneasy with the singing.

The younger members of the cast do their best and Daisy Wood-Davis in particular excels as Olive White, the daughter of the family who suffers horrendous injuries in a roller coaster accident at Margate.

Chas and Dave themselves were in the audience.

In the bar at the interval Chas Hodges said: "We always thought the little stories within many of our songs would lend themselves to a musical of some sorts but I don’t think we ever dreamed it would come about.

"I had sat in on some of the rehearsals and made a few suggestions. We’re pleased with it."

By the end the audience seemed in an ambivalent mood. The second half had dragged on far too long and there is certainly scope for some judicious editing of the script.

Being inspired by Chas and Dave there are, of course, numerous references to Tottenham Hotspur, pints of beer and other London delights but the overall effect is of standing on the periphery of a boisterous crowd enjoying themselves in a pub while you, as the driver, sip orange juice.

Go along and give it a try. But perhaps fortify yourself with a couple of drinks beforehand to get into the right frame of mind.

* Stop Dreamin’ is at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, until Saturday October 23. Contact the box office on 01753 853888.

It is also being staged at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford from October 27 to November 6.