The cautionary tale of Viv Nicholson is perhaps not so well known these days, her football pools win of £152,319 may not sound a lot, but in 1961 it was the equivalent to £4 million plus in todays money. (The average cost of a house that year was £2,700). A life changing amount, and certainly to a lady who had been brought up in virtual poverty. Viv Nicholson was an outsize personality, with little filter, who approached everything at a hundred miles an hour. It proved the catalyst for a whirlwind life that is defined by excess and tragedy.
The original production of Steve Brown and Justin Greene's musical Spend Spend Spend (taken from Viv's utterance when asked what she was going to do with the money) opened in Leeds in 1998, but in 1999 a new production arrived in the West End and won the Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical the following year. On the 25th anniversary of that London production, comes a new version presented by the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and in memory of composer Steve Brown who sadly passed away in February 2024.
The current production at the Royal Exchange is staged on a large round silver circle (presumably meant to convey a coin?) onto which various pieces of prop furniture are wheeled to convey scenes and locations on Viv's wild journey. Theatre-in-the-round is an artform all itself, where the audience surround the stage, and it can be frustrating when a character is giving a major speech with their back to you. However its the nature of the beast and director Josh Seymour does his best to make sure the action is fast moving. Sometimes its a little over fussy, when simplicity might have worked better in its favour. The ensemble are certainly kept busy but its at the deteriment of the the central characters, two Vivs (older and younger) and Keith. The action starts in Salon Mystique during the 1990s where Viv is working as a hairdresser, decades after her pools win, and we then go back in time, the story being told and commented on by the older Viv throughout. We arrive in working class Castleford of the 1940s with Viv's long suffering Mum (Rebecca Thornhill) and alcoholic Dad George (Joe Alessi). Being brought up in virtual poverty because of George's drinking must have given Viv an early thirst for a better lifestyle and that of course means having money.
Viv Nicholson banknote used in the production
Rachel Leskovac is a stunning older Viv, just as she was as the younger Viv in the original production, and its a bit of a full circle moment for the show. Her dry commentary as she loses her virginity or goes through several husbands is part of the charm of the evening. She is matched by Rose Galbraith as the younger Viv, clawing her way up from the social pit that she finds herself in and marries the first man to enter her life when she was just 17, thanks to becoming pregnant. Vocally two powerhouses as they unleash the big number in the show 'Who's Gonna Love Me?' with showstopping force. Alec James-Hatton has to find the core of Keith, who died aged 27 in a car crash devestating Viv. There is a lot to go on with Viv as she led a full and often high profile life, but Keith is more of a mystery however James-Hatton finds the gentle warmth of him even during the post-win excessive behaviour by them both. The ensemble come into their own as they form the people of Castleford and Garforth (the posh town where the Nicholsons hope to find likeminded money folk), having costume changes aplenty and giving some jovial performances. We didn't find the sound mix to be that wonderful, but Livi van Warmelo leads a enthusiastic band in delivering Brown and Greene's rich and underated score. As confetti and Viv Nicholson bank notes reign down from above, there is certainly a lot of glitz and pizzaz used in conveying the Nicholsons mighty win. Whether this 25th anniversary production gets to the heart of Nicholson's morality tale is debatable, its well produced and performed but doesn't quite find the gritty nub of Nicholson's legend. However the two stellar performances leading the show are more than enough to warrant buying a ticket for this revival.
Rob & Ian
Further Listening:
It has to be the original London company headed by Barbara Dickson (who won the Olivier Award for Best Actress In A Musical for playing the older Viv)and Rachel Leskovac (who was nominated for the same award) which can be streamed and downloaded via major services. And there is a CD too, but quite a collectors item now.
You might also like to check out the book You Don't Know Viv, written by her son Howard Nicholson and published in 2017.
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