REVIEW: The Band the musical Back for Good..well, until Saturday at the Lyceum

CAN a musical be just as good the second time around?

I found out on Tuesday it can if it includes Take That’s storming back catalogue, a heartfelt tale that’s worthy of a film adaptation and a cast as talented as The Band’s ensemble.

It’s been a year since Tim Firth launched his latest musical, which is set against the backdrop of music from the world’s biggest (and best) boyband. And it must be doing something right as it has become the fastest selling musical theatre tour of all time, which just proves how dedicated TT’s fanbase is — 30 years since their debut.

This is the musical which cast The Band through the 2017 BBC reality show Let It Shine, led by Take That frontman Gary Barlow as head judge.

Barlow and bandmates, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, and Robbie Williams, have handed over their leather waistcoats to Let It Shine winners AJ Bentley, Nick Carsberg, Curtis T Johns, Yazdan Qafouri, and Sario Solomon — who all look much buffer since last year’s debut at the Sheffield Lyceum.

Standing in for babyface Nick on Tuesday’s opening night was understudy Harry Brown, who reached the semi-finals of Let It Shine.

Non-Take That fans shouldn’t be quick to dismiss the show as the narrative is actually all about the girls — a group of four friends, to be precise, who we first meet in 1992 as excited 16-year-olds about to embark on their first live gig.

But the highs of the night soon turn to lows as the girls’ lives are changed forever — I found myself just as choked up as I was the first time around, which is testament to the great writing and performances.

The plot weaves around Take That’s hits beautifully — they never feel shoehorned in or out of place and some even take on a new meaning.

But obviously for life-long ‘Take Thatters’ like myself their hits hold special memories and, as Rule The World rang out, I was transported back to watching my beautiful big sister’s first wedding dance — cue the tissues again!

Watching the show for a second time allowed me to appreciate other aspects, like Martin Miller’s performance as Every Dave, in which he takes on dozens of different characters and definitely gets to deliver some side-splitting one-liners.

Band member Sario’s energy and bubbly personality stood out — he seemed to be itching for more and is one to watch.

The ever-changing set is constantly alive, which couldn’t be achieved without the boys’ physicality, perfect harmonies and slick moves.

The narrative emits warmth and is very relateable as each leading lady is able to explore her own tragedies and triumphs, along with the celebration of what it is to be a music fan.

Much like the classic musical Grease, this is a show I could keep going back to. And it isn’t showing any signgs of running out of steam.

The Band is playing at the Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday. For more information on the tour, visit http://www.thebandmusical.com/