(AD – PRESS NIGHT) EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE HULL REVIEW
MONDAY 17TH JUNE 2024 @ 7.30PM
HULL NEW THEATRE
***** 5/5
It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen this musical but I always know I’m in for a good night. I always enjoy seeing a new cast take on these characters and it’s such a necessary and uplifting show. Here is my Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Hull review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
It’s been nearly three years since I last saw ETAJ, which makes me sad because it’s such an incredible show. As soon as I saw the cast announcement, I was super excited to see Ivano Turco as Jamie New and I adore that it’s such diverse casting across the board.
THE CAST
I’ll start with Ivano Turco as Jamie New, who is an absolute superstar. Turco is a triple threat. Even though I’ve seen the show before, he brought an additional sparkle to the role as well as vulnerability in scenes when he’s finding his true self. I cannot wait to see how his musical theatre career unfolds as a West End lead.
Playing Jamie’s mum Margaret is Rebecca McKinnis. So I’ve seen McKinnis previously in Dear Evan Hansen and in ETAJ, she’s exceptional. The chemistry between her and Turco seemed really genuine, like a proper mother-son relationship. Her rendition of He’s My Boy was the best performance of the night and one of the best versions I’ve heard.
Talia Palamathanan is another standout as Jamie’s best friend, Pritti. She also has star quality and I loved her version of It Means Beautiful. Sejal Keshwala as Ray gets all the funny one-liners as Margaret’s best friend. She’s an unofficial second mother to Jamie (or father figure). Again, you can see such a natural bond between Keshwala and Turco.
Kevin Clifton’s casting as Hugo/Loco Chanelle was very well received by the audience. This was the first time seeing Clifton in a musical after missing him in Rock of Ages. He has a strong, rock singing voice. I was pleasantly surprised with his performance as I didn’t know what to expect. I hope he stays in musicals for a little while longer!
The rest of the ensemble, from Jamie’s classmates to the drag queens at Legs Eleven, is outstanding. I’ve always been impressed by the classmates in particular as they’re in charge of moving props in between scenes too.
THE PRODUCTION
I’ve always been a huge fan of the set of ETAJ, with the foldaway house as part of the design and the school tables doubling up as a garden wall. I guess it depends on whether you don’t mind seeing the props moved on or off the stage when the audience can see it. Personally, I’d rather have this than a 30-second blackout every time there’s a scene change!
Once again, the music in ETAJ is the focal part of the performance. Growing up, I was a huge fan of The Feeling so I always knew I’d be a fan of Dan Gillespie Sells’ score. It’s a real mixture of upbeat numbers and traditional musical theatre ballads, which is a lovely blend. It’s also unusual for me to really enjoy the book of a musical. Often, I think the script is sacrificed for songs. There isn’t tonnes of dialogue but it’s used as a natural progression into a song so it doesn’t feel so musical-ly if that makes sense!
Of course, the costuming is incredible from the now-iconic blue school uniforms to Jamie’s prom night outfit. I’d forgotten that the choreographer was Kate Prince from Zoo Nation, who has this amazing knack for blending contemporary dance and hip-hop. I saw her Message in a Bottle show before lockdown and it’s one of the best dance shows I’ve ever seen.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve always loved the message that ETAJ brings and it’s definitely needed right now more than ever. It’s also adding a much-needed diverse cast into the touring theatre world, which isn’t seen often. There’s a role for everyone, regardless of their sexuality, gender, race or religion, and every cast member gets their time to shine.
I recommend the show to just about anyone who’ll listen, especially if they hold a lot of hate in their heart. It’s all about the freedom to express yourself and being true to who you are!
If you enjoyed my Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Hull review, you can read my other theatre reviews here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too if you want to see more of my everyday life.
