Christmas has come early at Milton Keynes Theatre this week with Nativity! The Musical, writes Chris Gregg.
The stage version features many of the stars of the popular Nativity movie series including Simon Lipkin (who stars in the new film 'Nativity Rocks' which is released later this month) and a team of local children joining the touring cast.
Nativity! The Musical is very much a show for the whole family with lots of laughs, sparkly dance routines and a few jokes which parents will hope will go over the heads of their kids, alongside a feel good story. It's somewhere between a pantomime and a musical with some audience interaction but most of the time, everyone stays in character.
Simon Lipkin as Mr Poppy has a fantastic energy on stage and is natural enough to avoid coming across as a kids TV presenter. By comparison, Scott Garnham who plays the other teacher Mr Maddens is somewhat calmer but they have a good on stage chemistry together.
The real stars are the children, though. Anyone fearing a talent show of precocious theatre school kids will be relieved that they are the absolute opposite - you could believe that they were from any school in Britain and that's what makes them charming and likable. One of the kids got a cheer from the audience when they auditioned for the nativity by doing the floss dance.
Well done to the local children who are appearing as the students of Oakmoor School in the show - Marie Peedle; Kuhu Agarwal; Darcie Griffiths; Caitlin Le Roux; Daisy Reynolds; Darcy Springall; Keanne Skye O’Quinn; Adelaide Barham; Aurelia Borrelli; Regan Parker; Kaspar Cahill Ritter; Layla Waggott; Elissa Birkett; and Tora Doyle.
The full cast also includes Ashleigh Gray as Jennifer Lore and Andy Brady as Mr Shakespeare who is spectacular in his glam rock performance as King Herod.
The show follows the kids of St Bernadette’s School as they prepare to perform their annual nativity play but this year, they've decided it should be a musical version. When Mr Poppy overhears Mr Maddens say that a Hollywood producer is coming to see the show, it makes the local news in Coventry and even the Lord Mayor gets involved. But will the kids be able to pull it off and stage the ultimate school nativity?
All the popular songs from the movies are included with Sparkle and Shine, Nazareth and One Night One Moment.
And for a show which has some big songs, this production did not compromise on the music with a big sound system and a live band it sounded fantastic.
The actual Nativity show at the end of the musical doesn't disappoint, so expect flying angels, kids dancing around dressed as planets and buildings and lots of glitter and sparkles! It's as if someone has taken Christmas and turned it up to 11. And it's impossible not to come out of the theatre with a big grin.
If you're not really feeling like a pantomime this year but you want to take the family for a Christmassy night out at the theatre, this is a great way to bridge the gap and treat your family to a massive helping of festive magic.
Nativity! The Musical continues at Milton Keynes Theatre until Sunday, November 18.
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