Showing @ Kings Theatre, Edinburgh until Sat 15 Feb @ 19:30 (excluding matinees)
The Buddy Holly Story is like a box of chocolates; it’s great music (it was a huge influence on The Shadows and The Beatles) but hearing one riddley-diddley hit after another can become quite sickly.
As “jukebox musicals” go this is certainly better than most. Holly’s style is almost pre-rock ‘n’ roll and his music conjures up a time of innocence when teenagers gathered round their Dansette phonograph to listen to the latest release. The stage musical is a bit more knowing than that.
This fantastically popular touring stage show traces Holly’s short career from 1956 in Lubbock, Texas. It’s a story that’s so touching because of the singer’s tragic end in a plane crash at the age of only 22. The first half of the show echoes hundreds of stars that start out small and make it big and the producers are sensible to ditch these rather tiresome biographical details in the second half, which becomes a giant tribute to a style of music rarely heard live anymore.
Holly’s recording career lasted only 18 months and Glen Joseph captures his signature look, “hiccuping” singing voice and much of his tragic charisma. The moment when Joseph sings True Love Ways to his new wife (a sparky Vivienne Smith) is truly affecting. Buddy Holly had none of Elvis’ showbiz swagger, or the knowing cool of Phil Spector‘s girl groups and that’s what makes this musical so different and special. Hearing these songs of innocence played live on stage by such a troupe of talented singers and musicians makes for a stonking, if undemanding, night out.
Yes there’s swinging petticoats and stomping brothel creepers and in no way is the show subtle (the claustrophobic sets don’t help) but Holly’s brand of music and calamitous trajectory are what count and are captured here like something caught in amber – all disbelief suspended. The songs are so toe-tapping and horribly memorable that you’ll be humming That’ll Be the Day and Rave On well into next week.