The Liverpool Empire audience was on its feet singing and dancing as though they were at a gig, as the opening night of The Commitments came to a close last night.
Based on the smash hit, BAFTA winning 1991 film which was adapted from Roddy Doyle's 1987 novel of the same name, The Commitments tells the tale of a mismatched gang of working-class Irish musicians who are brought together by an unemployed Dubliner named Jimmy Rabbitte, to become the "saviours of soul" music.
As the band learns to deliver toe-tapping soul classics and approaches the precipice of success in the music industry, things unravel as tempers, ego and lust hog more of the spotlight than their talent.
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The film is a tough act to follow, with impeccable performances and rich, soulful voices that are impossibly distinctive - Andrew Strong's renditions of 'Try a Little Tenderness' and 'Mustang Sally' in the 1991 film live rent-free in my brain.
Five years after a record-breaking run in London's West End and a subsequent sell-out tour, The Commitments has made its triumphant return. As a big fan of the film, I was keen to see how it would translate on stage.
The cast are clearly talented performers, with James Killeen bringing the necessary suave and likability to his portrayal of Jimmy, and James Deegan capturing Deco's ego, attitude and talent - though his voice doesn't quite have that distinctive gravelly quality so commonly associated with Andrew Strong's Deco.
Nigel Pivaro - of Coronation Street fame - managed to be a scene stealer in the role of Jimmy's 'da', with constant quips that are delivered lightning fast. His part predominantly saw him sitting in an armchair under the stairs, but his natural comedic ability and realistic performance added an extra layer of genuine charm and warmth to the show.
The story was a little lacking, with a much heavier focus on the musical numbers instead so, at times, it felt more like a concert than a stage show. Still, The Commitments manages to be hugely enjoyable and entertaining.
The actors do what they can to bring their characters to life, taking the opportunity to display the tumultuous dynamics between one another while performing song after song, but some of the drama feels a little unearned at times.
With more than 20 soul classics performed live on stage, including 'Try A Little Tenderness', 'River Deep, Mountain High', 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine', 'Mustang Sally' and more, there's plenty to delight fans of the film - and those of soul and Motown, too.
It's a fun, wild night on the town but it doesn't quite capture the magic and mayhem of the film. The songs are brilliant, and fans of soul music are sure to love every single track.
The encore saw the cast really up the ante, with hit after hit belted out on stage. The entire auditorium was on its feet, and the energy in the theatre felt almost tangible. The cast could riff with audience members and respond to call-outs with witty rebuttals that made it feel more and more like a genuine band's gig - an impressive achievement.
The Commitments is at Liverpool's Empire Theatre until Saturday, April 22. You can book tickets here.
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