Wild About You, billed as a world premiere of a new musical, has been in development since 2018, with a book by Eric Holmes and songs by Chilina Kennedy.
It was advertised as a concert version but was more semi-staged under Nick Winston’s directions, with locations and movement around the whole stage.
Eric McCormack (of Will and Grace fame) was the first cast member announced, but this night belongs to Rachel Tucker, who never leaves the stage as the main character Olivia and has the bulk of the songs.
As Olivia is hard to like, it leaves us little to root for as she boomerangs from one bad relationship and decision to another. The first act presents these in flashback as she tries to remember who she is – she’s in a hospital but we never know why.
McCormack, Tori Allen-Martin (with excellent vocals and perhaps the strongest character), and Oliver Tompsett play the romantic complications in Olivia’s life in a book which is messy at best.
Kennedy’s score has a couple of good numbers, but a lot felt strangely familiar (I haven’t heard the American soundtrack). It’s very much power ballads and soft rock.
Act two takes a bizarre turn involving Olivia and her now grown-up son (Jamie Muscato). Displaying elements of Ghost, Carousel and even Next To Normal, this has a complete tonal shift to act one, but I found it the part of the show with most potential.
Starting at 7.40 last night with a curtain at 10.10, this is a show which needs a refocus and a trim. The songs carry what’s here, with comic business from Todrick Hall in both acts that supported Olivia’s story by adding a light touch.
Muscato has a couple of songs and a major role in act two. I felt his character, Billy, had strong potential as an anchor for the whole show, perhaps accessing Olivia’s story through his memories and mementos.
As for the title, it doesn’t really fit with the material – the title song goes to Allen-Martin’s Jess, not Olivia. I found myself thinking as the show progressed about who these people are, why they are like they are, and why are they there.
Tucker’s Olivia has a number of strong songs throughout but is all over the place as a character. I didn’t sense much chemistry with McCormack as her childhood sweetheart or on-off husband, and his vocals felt weak at times.
Tompsett’s Thomas, artist and Olivia’s summer fling, displays some excellent vocals and a story arc that could be explored further in act two, but as it stands, it feels unfinished.
There’s perhaps too much in Wild About You to process – love, lust, infidelity, bisexuality, depression, promiscuity, motherhood, ambition, addiction, and ‘bad day boxes’.
With a significant rethink, this could perhaps be salvaged as a tight and perceptive 90-minute piece, but this time, I came away a little disappointed, scratching my head and feeling a little puzzled by what’s on stage.
Wild About You has an additional performance at Drury Lane tonight with tickets here. You can hear the world premiere recording released last December here.
**.5
Image credit: Mark Senior