It’s hard to know whether the play of a beloved movie is going to live up to the original. Little Miss Sunshine has been, for years, one of my favourite films, with a host of superb comedic actors, and a supremely dark and hilarious narrative, that somehow I couldn’t quite imagine translating into a musical.
I’m really glad I was wrong. It turns out that the subject matter of this drama lends itself perfectly to being a musical comedy. The story centres round the dysfunctional Hoover family – Sheryl and Richard, their children Dwayne and Olive, Sheryl’s brother, Uncle Frank, and Richard’s unconventional father. The family is struggling financially, which is putting a strain on Sheryl and Richard’s relationship; Grandpa has moved in, bringing with him a stash of porn and a cocaine habit; Frank is staying with them in the wake of his relationship breakdown and suicide attempt; Dwayne is sullen and non-communicative.
The bright spot in the family is Olive, a little girl with a big dream – to become the first ever Miss America from New Mexico. It’s their collective love for Olive that finds the whole family crammed into a VW camper van, taking a road trip from New Mexico to California so Olive can participate in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant.
For the darkness of its themes, this show contains a lot of light and humour, which makes it perfect for a musical. The full cast songs, such as The Way of the World and Something Better Better Happen, are big, soaring numbers that drive the story. Lucy O’Byrne, who plays Sheryl has a beautiful voice, so her songs are particular highlights. Grandpa, played by the excellent Mark Moraghan, has the audience roaring with laughter over his highly inappropriate and raunchy The Happiest Guy in the Van. Imelda Warren-Green, who plays a couple of side characters, is wildly funny every time she’s on stage. Sophie Hartley-Booth’s sweet portrayal of Olive is comedic – it’s her stage debut, but she has the presence and timing of a much more seasoned actor, especially in her hilarious solo number Shake Your Badonkadonk.
This is a sunny, funny piece of musical theatre, which deals lightly and cleverly with difficult themes of death, suicide, and disappointment, all tempered with family love and support. I challenge you to see this and not find yourself smiling all the way through – see it and enjoy! ★★★★☆ @BookingAround 21st August 2019
