Any musical asks you to suspend disbelief to some degree. Blackpool stretches this to the breaking point with some of the musical numbers. Most musicals at least put a sad song in sad places and a peppy song in action sequences. Not so with Blackpool. Usually the lyrics fit the story line very well but the music and choreography do not at all fit the mood. For example when about a dozen police officers come in to arrest a young man, two lift him up on their shoulders while the rest jump and dance in a circle a circle around him singing "A Boy with a Thorn in His Side." The only exception is the duet between David Tennant and Sarah Parish, which is beautifully done and definitely a highlight of the show.
That being said, the songs are quite enjoyable. The choreography is well done and the actors' voices blend reasonably well with the artist recording.
Despite the breaks in mood from the songs, the show is remarkably well acted. David Morrissey and David Tennant give masterful performances and the supporting cast all have their shining moments.
The story itself is very well done. The murder mystery is intriguing but the most compelling part is the development of the characters. You will not find any shining heroes in this story, for nearly every character is shown to have significant faults in their integrity. However, nearly every character also has redeeming qualities that make them impossible to hate.
Overall this is a great show that is well worth watching.
That being said, the songs are quite enjoyable. The choreography is well done and the actors' voices blend reasonably well with the artist recording.
Despite the breaks in mood from the songs, the show is remarkably well acted. David Morrissey and David Tennant give masterful performances and the supporting cast all have their shining moments.
The story itself is very well done. The murder mystery is intriguing but the most compelling part is the development of the characters. You will not find any shining heroes in this story, for nearly every character is shown to have significant faults in their integrity. However, nearly every character also has redeeming qualities that make them impossible to hate.
Overall this is a great show that is well worth watching.