Hard not to enjoy this infectious, peppy spirit
Musical theatre Bring It On Southwark Playhouse
Given the success of Hamilton, it’s no surprise that the back catalogue of its creator Lin-manuel Miranda has come up for re-examination. Hence the belated UK premiere of Bring It On, a musical he co-composed back in 2011 that adapts the hit Noughties teen comedy of the same name about rival cheerleading squads.
This may appear to be more lightweight subject matter than the complex US history of Hamilton. But, as with the film, there’s more to Bring It On than pom-poms. An examination of the racial divides in contemporary America is deftly woven into every song, dance and one-liner.
The archetypically preppy, rich and white cheer squad of Truman High are determined to win the national competition, complete with new sophomore recruit Eva. But when Campbell (Robyn Mcintyre), the cheer captain, is sent to neighbouring “street” school Jackson High, she must put her privilege aside – and persuade her fellow new pupils to form their own rival team.
As Jackson student Danielle (local star Chisara Agor) points out, this sounds like the well-worn “white saviour” narrative that proliferates in popular culture. Mercifully, though, that’s set off by the show’s self-aware humour, and a cast of characters who are notably diverse: La Cienega (a winning Matthew Brazier) was Broadway’s first transgender teen character, while the dungaree-clad Bridget, who is snubbed at Truman for not fitting the mould, but arrives at Jackson to universal acclaim, is delightfully played by Kristine Kruse.
As for the music, those familiar with Lin-manuel Miranda’s work from both Hamilton and his other major work, the Pulitzer Prize-winning
In the Heights, will find familiar keynotes here: building snare drum beats, tumbling piano melodies and rapid-fire, multisyllabic witticism are all there.
But it is the two-way musical split that is most tellingly Miranda. Where Truman High relies on saccharine piano ballads and brassy old-time music hall numbers, Jackson leans on hip-hop R’N’B. They enter the room like a changing wind.
On the downside, the performances of Truman’s WASP-Y cheer squad let the side down: Skylar (Isabella Pappas), Kylar (Clair Gleave) and Eva (Sydnie Hocknell), the usurper captain, inspire neither the fear nor admiration that high school queen bees demand for survival. And, overall, the direction is rough around the edges, with punchlines falling flat and harmonies dropped too often.
But, for all the technical errors in the production, you’d have to be churlish not to enjoy the show’s peppy spirit. When the delivery of Jeff Whitty’s whipsmart book does land, the delight is infectious. Should this transfer from the small Southwark Playhouse space, you suspect London could have another Lin-manuel Miranda hit on its hands.
Until Sept 1. Tickets: 020 7407 0234 southwarkplayhouse.co.uk