Review: WEST END MUSICAL DRIVE-IN Concert 2

Get ready to beep those horns again as the West End Musical Drive-In returns online for a second outing, and presenting this concert (brought to us by the team behind West End Musical Brunch) is Grace Mouat (Six).

For Concert 2, the organisers have compiled another all-star ensemble to bring us our favourite musical hits, firstly from the comfort of our cars, and now our sofas.  This episode is perfect for those who are looking forward to 17 May when we can all hopefully, finally, get back inside a theatre! 

This drive-in is an entirely female affair and there is a common denominator amongst all of the women - they are all in, or have been part of, the SIX Queendom. It is wonderful to see so many Queens in one place! You don’t just get the usual six Queens, here you have 10 and they are all able to show off their fabulous solo vocals. 

Three of the Queens, Carly Stapleton, Vicky Manser and Collette Guitart, have formed their own mini group called ‘Virgo’ and they treat us to a selection of songs, with the highlight being ‘Falling Slowly’ from Once. The way that their voices blend together is magnificent and it is refreshing to hear an all-female version of a song that is traditionally sung by a predominantly male vocal. 

That isn’t the only traditionally male song that is tackled by one of our Queens. Jodie Steele completely wows with her version of ‘Heaven on Their Minds’ from Jesus Christ Superstar. Steele also impresses during her duet of ‘For Good’ from Wicked with Sophie Isaacs. 

With so many performers, we are treated to an assortment of songs from different musicals: Beetlejuice, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Hamilton, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Waitress to name but a few. 

Particularly impressive is Collette Guitart. As a British-Spanish performer, she has the perfect song choice in ‘Breathe’ from In the Heights and although the film has been cast, she would make a perfect Nina should they decide to bring the musical back to the West End.

It is so difficult to pick a stand-out performer because aside from them all being wonderful, they don’t get equal stage time. The Queens in ‘Virgo’ receive much more, along with solo exploits as well. It would have been nice to hear more from Courtney Bowman and Natalie Paris as well, as the current Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour in SIX. 

Jarneia Richard-Noel perhaps comes the closest to a show-stealing performance with her renditions of ‘I am Changing’ and ‘Proud Mary’ from Dreamgirls and TINA: The Tina Turner Musical respectively, which gives her the opportunity to show off her powerhouse vocals. 

It would have been disappointing to have had that many Queens on stage and not had a SIX Finale and although Grace Mouat announced that Virgo would be closing the show, an encore of Queens headed up by Grace Mouat, Carly Stapleton and Vicky Manser provide a dazzling performance of ‘SIX’ to conclude the set list.

It is great to see a streamed performance with an audience and an atmosphere to really give it an added buzz.

****’ Four and a half stars

Reviewed by: Emma Littler

West End Musical Drive-In Concert 2 is available until Sunday 28 February and tickets can be booked here.