After a successful run in the West End, ’Only Fools & Horses: The Musical’ is now bringing the hilarious adventures of the Trotters to fans across the country as part of a UK tour.
With classic scenes brought back to life on stage, this tribute to the classic 80s sitcom is stuffed full of nostalgia. Sam Lupton captures the essence of wheeler-dealer Del Boy wonderfully, tackling the unenviable task of living up to David Jason’s iconic role and performance with ease. He is supported perfectly by Tom Major as Rodney, who in his stage debut, provides charm and heart in abundance, whilst comedy legend Paul Whitehouse anchors the show as Grandad. Along with the supporting cast, they bring each of the iconic roles to stage effortlessly, providing the perfect tribute for fans of the show.
The music however is a bit of a mixed bag. The instantly recognisable theme tune had the audience clapping along from the beginning, but the new songs never quite lived up to this energy. With a mixture of well known songs thrown in for good measure, Gloria Acquaah-Harrison steals the show with her rendition of Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years” as Mrs. Obooko with her gorgeously rich and soulful vocals.
The humour is pure British charm. Whether a die-hard fan or a newbie, the timeless humour is guaranteed to give you genuine belly laughs. Long-time fans are rewarded with clever nods and reenactments of classic moments. The script builds up to them in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat and finally rewards you.
Although it undoubtedly delivers a whole lot of nostalgia, the musical format doesn’t really add anything new. Had it been a play, more depth could have been injected into the script to make for an even more fulfilling production. Whilst it might not be groundbreaking, it does exactly what it sets out to do, and the standing ovation proved that it was the perfect trip down memory lane.
’Only Fools & Horses: The Musical’ is on at Manchester Opera House until Saturday 23rd November 2024. See below for booking details.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a show is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.