With a successful career spanning almost forty years, Madness have written a vast catalogue of iconic chart topping songs, and it is the tracks from their early years that the musical Our House is centred around. First staged in London in 2002, this current production arrives at The Churchill Theatre Bromley for five nights as part of a national tour. The song title refers to the house in NW1 of Joe Casey who, on the night of his sixteenth birthday, commits a petty crime with the hope of impressing his girlfriend Sarah. As the sirens sound he is forced to make a split decision, which could alter the course of his life in one of two ways.
Written as a book by playwright Tim Firth and unlike other jukebox musicals, which try to fit an often thinly veiled plot to the music and lyrics already set, Our House is a strong stand alone story. The witty, often moving lyrics by Madness about growing up in Camden fit this tale of morality perfectly. What follows is the sliding door tale of the two possible paths that Joe could have taken on that fateful night. In the first, Joe has to decide between giving himself up and serving time in juvenile detention, which leads to a life constantly struggling to make ends meet. The second is one fleeing the scene and following a ruthless path, making money and gaining power but ultimately destroying friends and family along the the way.
Jason Kajdi and Sophie Mathew bring a youthful energy to the roles of Joe and girlfriend Sarah, but it is Callum Mcardle as Joe's ghost of a father who stands who stands out vocally from the young cast. Deena Payne shines as Joe's mother Kath Casey and it is the show's loss that her vocal talents are so underused. George Sampson (who found fame winning Britain's Got Talent as a young dancer) is not the most dangerous Reecey I have seen, but of course it's his dancing that the audience want to see - he is at his best when displaying these skills. The numbers where the whole cast are on stage are excellent, thanks to the imaginative and exciting choreography by Fabian Aloise.
After two hours of familiar and favourite songs, the curtain call turns into a 'dance off' to One Step Beyond, bringing the whole company and the audience to their feet. Our House leaves our spirits lifted, no doubt heading home to dust the nutty boy's vinyls off the shelves and put some Madness back into our lives!
Given that he is now in his mid-50s, it is something of a contradiction in terms to acknowledge Michael Clark as the eternal enfant terrible of British dance choreographers. The dance company which bears his name is currently performing a triple bill entitled to a simple, rock'n'roll...song at the Barbican.