Review: Culture collide in rom com musical Come Fall in Love
East definitely meets West in this new production, the latest show to premiere in Manchester, inspired by one of the most successful Bollywood movies of all time.
If you have never seen or even heard of Dilwale Dulhania Le Joyenge (DDLJ to its legion of fans) it doesn't matter. Come Fall in Love follows a well trodden rom-com plotline with a few twists thrown in.
Essentially uptight, ultra-organised Simran is off to Europe for a final break before she goes back to India for her arranged marriage having taken an instant dislike to wild party boy Rog at university.
Ashley Day & Jena Pandya in Come In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan PerssonHe ends up on the trip, circumstances throw them together, they fall in love. But will true love shine through in spite of the cultural and social barriers in their way? What do you think?
It's a trope that's been well used from Jane Austen onwards but some times the old 'uns remain the best.
Read also: 'This show's so modern and so relevant - it's good medicine' says Ashley Day
The show's got an impressive pedigree. It's directed by Aditya Chopra, the man behind the original film; the book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, a stage musical legend responsible for Mean Girls and Legally Blonde and the composers, Vishal and Sheykhar, are genuine icons of the Indian music scene.
It's also been given the big build up and that can sometimes be a hindrance. I have to say I was expecting more in terms of spectacle and the show overall wasn't as 'big' as I'd hoped it might be.
Some of the set pieces hint at what might have been. The ensemble give it everything and the dance routines had the audience whooping with delight.
There are also some terrific performances. Irvine Iqbal and Harveen Mann-Neary as Simran's parents have real chemistry. He's the loving father struggling to come to terms with his 'little girl' growing up; she's his perfect foil with love and charm oozing out of every pore.
Kara Lane & Kinshuk Sen in Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan Persson)Karla Lane as Rog's ultra-posh, sexy mum Minky and Kinshuk Sen as Simran's 'intended' Kuljit make for the most unlikely double act but heir duet Hot and Independent and Hot is one of the highlights of the show.
The first half of the show could do with tightening up. It basically sets the scene for the second half when the action moves to India and which is noticeably slicker and more engaging and is a full-on assault on the senses.
Ashley Day as Rog also seems to come alive in the second act. He does sound like presenter and comedian Joel Dommett but when he sings, you can see why he's been in demand for musicals in the West End and New York. He's also some dancer, coping with the myriad of styles in the show with grace and ease.
The spark of romance with Jena Panya as Simran could perhaps burn brighter and she has a difficult role. She's headstrong yet vulnerable, caught between two cultures - and she certainly resonated with a large number of the audience.
And it's with the audience that the show is a real success.
On press night it was a very different crowd than you would normally see. It was so good - and so important - to see a truly diverse audience at a mainstream show.
The Company of Come Fall In Love - The DDLJ Musical (Picture: Johan Persson) There are some lovely messages within Come Fall in Love about family, selfless love and our need as humans to realise we're all connected.
And seeing such a diverse cast on stage is also a major plus.
Perhaps Come Fall in Love is just trying to tick too many boxes to be truly outstanding but it does make an important statement.
Come Fall in Love runs until Saturday, June 21. Details from www.atgtickets.com
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