Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Cast: Eleanor Fransch, Burhan Kathawala, Kemi Clarke, Katie Pritchard, Emily Kitchingham, Rob Gathercole and Heather Gourdie
Welcome to the annual Scout Games! Scouts from around the world have gathered to compete but when an intruder threatens to sabotage the competition, it is up to Joe and Eliza to put aside their rivalries and use their newfound skills to save the day!
Following tour dates in Birmingham and Manchester, Scouts! The Musical landed in London for five nights of shows on their final UK tour. This family-friendly show was thoughtfully curated for scouts and their families to enjoy. This was a unique show that incorporated audience members - at this show, real scouts! - in a way that is sure to keep the show feeling fresh for both the actors and the audience. The audience participation was a strong choice to get the audience invested and involved with the show from the very beginning.
Scouts! tells the story of the annual Scout Games. One of the things that makes more intimate shows like this so special is that you can see the heart and effort that each of the actors are portraying. This passion was immediately displayed by all six actors that make up the primary cast. As the Scout games begin, we get to know our two main characters, Eliza (Eleanor Fransch) and Joe (Burhan Kathawala). Eleanor’s vocals were astonishing and I would absolutely love to see where her voice takes her. Her acting was also impeccable, displaying a strong commitment to the role of Eliza. Burhan plays the role of always positive Joe with such ease, and his vocals are very strong. As the competition of the games heats up, an intruder makes their true identity known and plans to sabotage the games in their favor. ‘Fay Kename’ enters the competition with a few tricks up the sleeves of her bright green jumpsuit.
Additionally, Katie Prichard as Rosie delivered so many laughs and really packed a punch with her vocals, her energy, and her comedic timing. It’s always delightful when an actor can gain laughs just from a comical delivery of one line, or simply through physical comedy. I found myself really chuckling each time Katie was front and center. Not to mention, her impressive ability to simultaneously play a recorder and kazoo. With music and lyrics by David Fallon, highlights of the show were the songs ‘Home’ and ‘Skills for Life’. A particular highlight for me was ‘The Trance Dance’ which felt intentionally reminiscent of 'Time Warp' from Rocky Horror and was very fun, showcasing vocals from the character of Fay.
Act two is really where the show picked up. The act included a musical number that involved elements of hip hop and rap, as well as a number involving the cast dressed as grannies. As Eliza and Joe worked on their ‘Skills for Life’ and pushed through a test of friendship, they also had to ensure that they broke the Trance for their friend, Rosie. Again, Katie Prichard continued to shine through as the comedic heart of the show.
There was an element, though, where I personally felt the show could be workshopped. I felt like the idea of the Trance Dance and the reasoning behind Fay Kename’s desire to sabotage the game, could have been stronger. It felt like it came on a bit fast, which meant that it wasn’t quite as believable. However, once Rosie was under her Trance, I felt that the pieces fell into place and we were back on track.
Arguably, the most impressive part of this show was the approach that the six actors took to playing musical instruments throughout the show - piano, drums, oboe, saxophone, flute, guitar (I’m sure I’ve missed one!) - the instruments kept coming and it was clear that this was a multi-talented cast. Not only was the musical ability impressive, but these added instruments added an element of depth to the songs.
Overall, the vocals were especially impressive, the writing is strong, and the ensemble cast delivers a seamless performance. Scouts! will surely bring joy and laughter to the families and young Scouts alike. Scouts! the Musical is at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 22 June, with a final run of shows in Bath from 26 - 29th June.
You can book tickets to Scouts! the Musical, here.
Review by Miranda
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