IT’S EASY to forget the dull winter weather and whisk your imagination away to the glamorous showbiz world of Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana’ at the Bournemouth Pavilion this month. The musical tells the story of songwriter Stephen, who steps back in time to write a hit song focusing on the love story of Tony Starr and aspiring performer Lola la Mar. The production features hits like ‘Who Needs to Dream’ and ‘Dancin’ Fool’ as well as the unforgettable title song ‘Copacabana’, accompanying all the action from 1940s New York to dramatic Havana. In one of their first performances in the decadent surroundings of the Pavilion, the admittedly small cast more than satisfied the audience, who applauded, cheered and danced along throughout the encore.
Former S Club 7 member Jon Lee and Jennifer Harding gave impassioned vocal performances as Tony and Lola, which carried across the whole theatre and piqued the crowd’s interest in their characters’ love story. The constantly transforming set and clever stage lighting also added to the dramatic cabaret club atmosphere and emphasised the importance of key moments in the story, including the performance of ‘Just Arrived’ as we see Lola reach New York’s bustling Grand Central Station. For those less familiar with Copacabana’s plot, its more serious undertones will prove to be a dramatic surprise when Tony seeks to track Lola down and rescue her from a terrible situation. A strong performance from Conchita Ramon, played by Sharon Sexton, spliced dark humour and sober realism into the hot and tempestuous world of Havana’s Tropicana club and made it feel worlds away from the innocent showbiz fun of New York. The energetic up-tempo songs will have you dancing in your seat (and probably a little on the way home too), providing an entertaining slice of Copa spirit for young and old audiences alike.
• Copacabana is showing at Bournemouth Pavilion until November 1.
– Dorsetecho.co.uk