Saviours of Soul, The Commitments perform at Palace Theatre in London's West End to bring Dublin's hardest working band to London audiences. Ireland and its high unemployment of the 1980s serve as background to a group of young people joined together by their love for soul music as form of escapism to the tristesse of their day to day lives. Based on Roddy Doyle's novel from 1987 and the eponymous movie from 1991, the musical highlights the impact of music as a place of inspiration, happiness and freedom.
In search of the real vibe, a group of characters that could not be more different rehearses their way through a medley of iconic tunes such as I heard it through the Grapevine, (I can't get no) Satisfaction, I want to take you higher, Try a Little Tenderness, Save Me and many more. Under the posthumous tutelage of their idols James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, the band perform their first gigs in church halls and pubs to gain local praise and bring soul to the people. As such the group builds their own bridge out of their dull life situations whilst offering their audiences feel good soul music and strong messages. Be it to counter drugs or advocate love and sex, The Commitments tackle their holy mission with enthusiasm. The process of forming a band and bonding proves hard for the diverse team of youths. Egos clash, hormones soar, stage names offend and the democratic set up of the band ultimately leads to its destruction at the moment of triumph. Does it? As adult lives lead into various directions, the longing and freedom their music offers remains engrained in the band members. Not even the devil's influence in form of Jazz music can destroy the joy pure soul brings.
The cast of this fast paced musical rock show wow their audiences with beautiful vocal performances. The set of female background singers Jessica Cervi, Natalie Hope and Sarah O'Connor are not upstaged, but jump in when male egos are hurt to carry on the gigs with versatile voices and sex appeal. Particularly stunning was the performance of Brian Gilligan as Deco the soul man and bad boy of the group. Supported by a wonderful cast, Gilligan becomes the centre piece of the performance. Jokes and puns of all kind alternate with and are integrated into the musical pieces. Lines of songs become conversation, metaphor and situational comedy. With those ingredients, The Commitments Musical offers its audiences an entertaining musical rollercoaster through iconic songs turning the Palace Theatre into a rock concert.
