I haven’t been to the Southwark Playhouse since it moved from the dank and musty dug out earth construction on the South Bank. So to find out that it is now located in a proper building in Elephant and Castle was a real relief!
I was intrigued to see this show as, having been written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, I wanted to see how Bring It On compared with Hamilton. Reviewing this production is a little complicated though because I didn’t know that it was a youth theatre production until afterwards and I was on the train home; and, rightly or wrongly, that does affect my view of it.
I turned up thinking that the Southwark Playhouse was going to be a more hip version of the Menier - small intimate space with some outstanding productions and actors. However, from the moment that the show started, it felt quite amateur. The singing and acting were quite weak, and everything was so over the top that it was sometimes painful to watch and felt like a school production. Now, this show requires over the top, but there is a way to do that without it being childish.
Things definitely improved with the move to Jackson High, as there was suddenly a lot more power and the singing and acting talent was a lot better, but it still wasn’t up to the standard that I was expecting. That said, Kristine Kruse as Bridget was fantastic - in fact, she was the best thing in this production and, for me, stole the show because her acting, singing and dancing talent just shone through and overshadowed everyone else. And Matthew Brazier is a brilliant actor, absolutely fabulous, but was vocally weak.
The show also really suffered from lack of space. For a show that features a cheerleading competition, you need space, electrifying routines and some jaw-dropping tricks. Whilst the dance routines were good, they weren’t great or that original, and the only real tricks on offer were basket catches. For the space that it had, it was good, but it needed so much more. So, at the end of the show I was left feeling that there was some real potential in this production, but that the space and the actors and the talent involved severely limited it.
Then I realised that it was a youth production! Now, I was aware that there were children in the ensemble numbers, but I thought that the theatre was using a local stage school to give them experience and make up the ensemble with children of the appropriate age - I hadn’t realised that it was all youth theatre! Suddenly, my opinion changed. Well, to be more accurate, I was suddenly more understanding as to why the production and everyone in it felt quite amateur. For what it was, the production was really rather good, but it still needed so much more power, panache and tricks, and a bigger and better equipped venue.
In terms of the show itself, if you grew up with the movie, as I did (which I have learnt isn’t on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video!!!!), be prepared for a completely different storyline! It is still enjoyable though. There are only three vaguely memorable songs in this show, and they are at the beginning of each act and the finale. And, if you know Hamilton, you will definitely recognise them and wonder if you’ve suddenly switched shows, as their musical themes and style, and even some of the melodies, appear in Hamilton! It seems that Lin-Manuel Miranda has taken the best parts of Bring It On and recycled them into Hamilton! If you have grown up with the movie and want a silly, light and frothy evening out, or want to see some of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s early work, then go and see this; just make sure you have the right expectations so that you can properly enjoy and appreciate the show!