WOW, what can I say but a wonderful show. It starts with a girl (Loren Anderson) putting a record on a jukebox, then there is an amazing melody of Drifters hits.
This is more than a musical; it is the true story of a group making it, a history full of incidents along the way: pay disputes, legal ownership of name, firings, hirings and personal tragedies to name a few. George Treadwell (Miles Anthony Daley), co-creator, divorced and married Faye (Carly Mercedes Dyer). When George died in 1967, she became their manager, taking them onto great achievements. She was the first African American to become a music manager and female to boot!
The story is magically carried along with great numbers, 24 in all, supported by a fantastic live orchestra (Dustin Conrad). It is hard to believe there are only six in the cast, as the four men—Ashford Campell, Tarik Frimpong, Daniel Haswell and Daley—play numerous characters with different accents, costumes and body language and incorporate a lot of humour in many parts, all with effortless ease. They all act, sing and move to an amazing standard. All voices are strong, and Dyer is a positive powerhouse vocally.
The entire show is wonderfully lit (Matt Condon) with great video backing, the acting areas, excuse the pun, are spot on and perfectly set the right mood for every scene. Costumes (Fay Fullerton) fit the bill, adding even more colour. The set (Anthony Ward), while it may appear simple, is ingenious, using various flats moving in and out, creating different locations, all enhanced by the lighting.
The Drifters were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter and ended being one of the greatest groups of all time. They have sold more than 200 million singles and more than 100 million albums worldwide. Formed in 1953, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Faye brought them to England in the early '70s where they toured clubs and did cabaret. The last of the original Drifters died in 2007, aged 81. Faye died in 2011, and her daughter Tina is now head of TEG (Treadwell Entertainment Group), carrying on a great tradition.
As said, they are like the New York Yankees: just because you take a few former players out into another team, they are not the New York Yankees. It is the same with The Drifters. There is also a touring show called The Drifters, but strictly speaking they are a ‘tribute band’, so do not be misled. As a personal tribute, I was lucky enough to have an uncle who was a nightclub aficionado and, while still at school, my parents allowed me to go with him to certain live shows, and one was The Drifters. Of the many big names I saw, they were the only one that received a standing ovation, and now I know why.
Michael Harrison, one of the producers, is well known for his excellent productions and this is no exception; he knows a winner when he sees one. Inspirational story, sensational set, superb songs, ace acting and so much more, an absolute delight to listen to and watch. All in all a magnificent musical, iconic like The Drifters themselves. If you love music and get the chance, go and see this show—I defy you to sit still.