Adam & Eve… and Steve, King’s Head Theatre – Review

Pros: Good songs and an enthusiastic cast having fun with the plot.

Cons: The weak script fails to exploit an innovative storyline.
Adam & Eve… and Steve, King’s Head Theatre – Review

Summary

Rating

60

Good

The script never quite matches the promise of the plot and lacks real belly laughs, but a bright and talented cast sees it through to a satisfactory conclusion.

So God’s created Adam and is just about to introduce him to Eve, when Beelzebub just for a laugh creates Steve – an alternative partner for Adam. God is not best pleased and quickly unveils the sultry Eve as Adam’s intended mate. Now Adam is really confused: who is his true companion. And will Beelzebub ever quit meddling in this unique love triangle? That’s the tantalising premise for this latest offering from King’s Head Theatre. Although it was a big hit on the Edinburgh Fringe, it’s a musical comedy that threatens to be great but never gets past being just okay. All the ingredients are there: a talented cast with bright songs and a wickedly original storyline – so what could possibly go wrong?

Any story based on Adam and Eve will always carry with it the promise of bare flesh, and in this respect the show doesn’t disappoint. Joseph Robinson, Hayley Hampson and Dale Adams as the title characters are plainly no strangers to the gym, which quickly becomes apparent as they cavort in the obligatory fig leaves. Stephen Mcglynn as Beelzebub is more soberly attired in black with red braces, while God, played by Michael Christopher, is mainly confined to ‘booming-voiceover-land’. Musical accompaniment is a solo piano manned by musical director Dean Austin. Overall the songs are pleasant and melodic, but the devil has all the best tunes: Beelzebub belts some real stand outs including It’s All About Me and Empty Hell Blues. He also duets with God in the music hall inspired Song and Dance Man. Adam and Eve harmonise sweetly and Steve performs the show’s torch song I Found Me (modelled on I Am What I Am, methinks?). I couldn’t quite work out, however why Adam and Eve – the first man and woman on earth – have Welsh and Scouse accents.

There are pleasing performances from the cast, who clearly enjoy the experience. However, the Achilles heel is a script which fails to capitalise on a clever plotline. The gags are predictable and the while script could have gone off in any number of directions, it sticks to safe and familiar territory. If this show was given to a top comedy writer, it could become a massive West End hit. Chandler Warren has created a show with great potential, but it needs a bit more work.

Book and Lyrics: Chandler Warren
Music: Wayne Moore
Director: Francesca Goodridge
Musical Director: Dean Austin
Producer: Flying Entertainment and AES
Box Office: 020 7226 8561
Booking Link: https://kingsheadtheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873566822/events/128005665
Booking Until: 29 April 2017