Review: RIDE THE MUSICAL, Southwark Playhouse
Photo credit: Danny Kaan
If there is one musical you should see this year, it is Ride. This is the future of musical theatre. A true original masterpiece in storytelling by two strong vibrant female leads.
The show begins as Annie (Liv Andruiser) breaks the fourth wall and attempts to sell her extraordinary story as the first woman to cycle solo around the world, to the ‘gentlemen’ from the New York World newspaper. Annie enlists the help of the somewhat reticent, demure secretary Martha (Katy Ellis) to step out of her shell to play various wild and wacky characters that Annie acquires on her travels on daring missions. A sudden twist leaves the audience questioning why ‘everybody loves a lie’ and the difference between the truth and a story. Freya Catrin Smith writes a thoroughly captivating, thought-provoking story, full of humour and depth.
Andruiser is truly electrifying as Annie Londonderry, the awesome eccentric ‘all-American’ adventurer, desperately eager to impress and report back on her worldly travels. Flying around the stage waxing lyrical about her far-flung fanciful adventures, she is the embodiment of a feisty, confident woman determined to hold her own in a man’s world, with amazing charm and comedic timing, yet capable of deep raw emotion and vulnerability. Andruiser’s phenomenal vocals range from high-speed, high jinx tongue twisters to dark emotional ballads. Her heart wrenching emotions in ‘Stranger’ are phenomenal, from a fully mesmerising powerhouse to a delicate broken whisper. To say that Andruiser is a star is an understatement.
Ellis is hugely versatile as Martha, the nervous secretary comandiered by Annie, who emerges as a lively, imaginative and assertive young woman. Ellis plays a wonderful array of hilarious caricatures, including the ship’s Captain, Fred Rose (a Harvard professor) and captures the audience with ‘Celine,’ the particularly hysterical French Custom’s Clerk with her huge sarcasm and deadpan delivery. She reaches her pinnacle when performing ‘Running Out Of Time’ when she finally builds up the confidence to question Annie. Ellis’ vocals are rich and smooth and blend flawlessly with Andruiser’s. The pair are unstoppable delivering high energy performances that are absorbing from start to finish.
Amy Jane Cook’s set beautifully conveys the offices of the New York world - a stuffy gentleman’s library full of books and newspapers, ingeniously adaptable folding out to reveal breathtaking projected landscapes and a makeshift train emerging from the wooden pannels.
Under Sarah Meadows’ direction, the choreographed chaos and speed keeps the audience captivated throughout, utilising every inch of the stage, dashing about emptying draws, climbing up cupboards onto shelves, and flinging props in every direction for poor Martha to retrieve in haste. They are on a mission - and one they wish to accomplish!
The music by the talented Catrin Smith and Jack Williams is revolutionary for musical theatre. Every song stands out, from hilarious character songs to passionate spine-chilling duets and gut-wrenching emotional ballads. ‘Everybody Loves a Lie’, ‘Ride’ and ‘Stranger’ are particularly magnificent. The Spotify playlist is a true gem that will have you dancing and singing all day long!
Ride on down to the Southwark Playhouse to get your tickets to see the ‘world’s greatest story’ because this production is not one to miss. Let’s hope to see this outstanding show take its next expedition to the West End!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Marina Holmes Smith
Ride the Musical plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until 12 August, with further information here.