As so called ‘Jukebox Musicals’ go BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY fits the bill more than most. It’s not only a show packed with some of the most iconic songs in chart history, but it tells the story of a performer who grew up in a world where the jukebox ruled.
In two hours of non-stop classic tunes The show takes us on a journey of Buddy’s short professional life from January 1956 to February 1959, with a couple of hours of non-stop hit songs we all know and love. From his early days in Lubbock, Texas fronting a band with his friends to his final performance at the Backstage Surf Ballroom in Iowa.
As those of us music lovers know, just a couple of hours after that show, the aeroplane carrying Buddy, and some of the other musicians on the bill – Ritchie Valens and J P Richardson (The Big Bopper) crashed. The three died that fateful night, along with the pilot.
It would be wrong of me not to quote the iconic line from Don Mc’Leans song American Pie, which references that moment – “The Day the Music Died”. Buddy Holly was only 22 years old which incredibly means he’d only been a star for 18 months before his tragic death. I say incredibly, because the legacy of his music, his lyrics, and his remarkable talent as a producer, lives on to this day.
With no Buddy, music would be very different now.
The show is very much in two halves – okay, before you tell me I’m stating the obvious, the first act is all about the backstory. Opening at a radio station, with influential DJ Hipockets Duncan (THOMAS MITCHELL), which then transforms into a recording studio. It’s here we meet Buddy and The Crickets and follow their journey to getting a recording contract and heading out on a headlining tour.
What I love most about this part of the show is the way it explores how Buddy created some of his biggest hits. His creative genius was way ahead of his time and you can’t help but wonder what would have come if he’d been around longer.
Before we go any further, here’s what last nights audience thought of the production……
At the end of act one we head off, with our toes having been well and truly tapped to hits like That’ll Be The Day, Everyday, Peggy Sue and Oh Boy. The act finishes with his concert at the Apollo in Harlem in New York, which in itself was an historical musical moment. We come back to that incredible, but also sad concert at the Surf Ballroom. Sad in the fact this was the last time anyone saw Buddy.
But this show is a celebration of the man and his music, and Oh Boy (see what we did there) what a celebration it is.
The history of this musical is almost as impressive as the real life story it tells. The figures speak for themselves – it played 5822 performances in London’s West End, which puts it in the same league as the likes of Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera to make it to three decades on stage.
It’s played thousands of performances out on tour and continues to fill theatres across the UK. Something like 22 million people have watched the show and as I sat in the New Theatre last night I tried to work out why this musical has been such a huge success, and the answer is simple -it’s BUDDY HOLLY.
As well as the Buddy hits we are given outstanding performances of other jukebox classics including Richie Valens (MIGUEL ANGEL) La Bamba, Johnny B. Goode and the one you can’t help smiling along to from The Big Bopper (CHRISTOPHER CHANDLER) Chantilly Lace.
Buddy is easy to imitate visually, you stick on a suit and a pair of glasses and bingo, you have a costume for your next fancy dress party. Getting him right vocally is another matter and AJ JENKS is incredibly impressive as the main man. He looks, sounds and acts like Buddy reincarnated, and let me tell you, he’s one fantastic guitarist too.
But this is a show filled with great talent who have some very big musical shoes to fill, which they all do really well. The live band are outstanding, and the whole cast brought this non-stop, fun-filled show to life, and all of us on our feet at the end of the live concert.
There’s a lot of audience interaction at times, and we all played our part in transporting ourselves to Iowa, apart from one couple who told the compere they were from Cwmbran – what a journey that must have been.
The way the show ends is impressive and I think a non-spoiler is relevant here, but it’s a great way to finish what is ultimately a tragic tale.
I don’t want to end this review on a downer, believe me, the show is one of the most joyous, uplifting you’ll see this year. But you are reminded that Buddy left behind his young wife Maria Elena Holly (DANIELLA AGREDO PIPER)
Talking about the show the real Maria said…..
“First of all it’s Buddy’s music. Buddy was very versatile, he wrote a lot of different types of songs and no two songs are alike. Plus they’ve done a terrific job of putting the highlights of Buddy’s career into two hours. Just seeing the people enjoying themselves, and getting up and dancing to Buddy’s music and getting excited — that makes me so happy.”
Which brings me back to the Don McLean song……
“I can’t remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride. Something touched me deep inside, the day the music died”
I defy you not to have a little moment during ‘True Love Ways‘, which is one of my favourite Holly songs.
The show is filled with nostalgia and takes us back to some incredible times in the fifties when music was fresh and vibrant, love was pure and the language was darn heck wholesome. The second half really is like being at a proper concert and you are itching to get on your feet with the final curtain encore, which comes after ‘that moment‘.
It’s a joyous show to watch but I have to admit to doing a bit of audience scanning too and the energy clearly rubbed off as we were all smiling and singing at every opportunity. A few of the audience were on their feet at every opportunity, waving and dancing along, like it really was a Buddy gig.
To borrow the words of Don McLean once more – ‘I can still remember – How that music used to make me smile‘. The show is a brilliant way to spend a few hours in the theatre, whether you’re a Buddy fan or not. If you’re after a night filled with those great songs, performed by a brilliant cast and band, then a visit to the New Theatre is recommended this week.
BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY runs till Saturday 16th September with performances at 5pm and 8pm today and 2:30pm and 7:30pm tomorrow. For more details and to book tickets go HERE, or call the Box Office on 0343 310 0041.
You can take a look at our original feature, and interview with one of the Buddy’s himself (Christopher Weeks) HERE.
