REVIEW: Marvellous at @sohoplace | Pocket Size Theatre

Telling the story of Neil ‘Nello’ Baldwin, Marvellous shares most of the qualities of the topic himself; enjoyable, playful, and heartwarming. The motion begins with the actors introducing themselves to the viewers and alluring us to look at them act out Baldwin’s extraordinary life. As they begin they’re interrupted by Neil himself, performed by the fabulous Mike Hugo. From right here we’re narrated by means of his biography with the actors biking by means of the varied characters in Baldwin’s life, typically with honesty and coronary heart, and typically as caricatures with a glint of their eye. This marvellous life is a whirlwind, and the playful performances on stage maintain the present thrilling and interesting with barrels of snickers and bundles of affection. Act 2, as is to be anticipated in biographical works, tugs extra at our heartstrings, earlier than bringing us bouncing into 2022 by the conclusion of the piece.

@sohoplace is the primary new theatre to open within the West End for 50 years, and it brings with it an air of recent class and sophistication. The constructing glistens within the starlight and mirrors this impact inside with constellations filling the ceilings. What an excellent testomony to the 12 years of labor that has gone into this theatre. Nica Burns, who was having fun with the present and chatting to patrons through the night, has introduced one thing new to London theatres, and the in-the-round configuration of a significant West End venue goes to nurture reams of contemporary and reimagined productions.

Whilst this present with its deeply Northern roots might effectively have resonated extra with its earlier New Vic viewers, Marvellous manages to welcome its viewers to this swanky new venue with contrastingly foolish and life-affirming enjoyable.

Review by Max Topliss