Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Love Island’s Amber Davies tops a charismatic cast, including Olympic gymnast Louis Smith, in a spirited show co-created by the Hamilton man
Before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote the music and lyrics for this peppy musical about cheerleaders who will not throw away their shot at the national championships. Inspired by the hit 2000 film, which sparked several sequels, it often feels indistinguishable from other American high school musicals. But the casting of Olympian Louis Smith in a supporting role highlights its particular combination of gymnastics, choreography and cheer-ography.
Amber Davies plays chief cheerleader Campbell who is ready to lead her school’s squad into competition when she is transferred to Jackson High – rumoured to be rough and, disastrously, without a cheerleading team. The first act is vigorously put across with power-pop and hip-hop, plus a couple of bland ballads that lower the temperature, in a show co-written with Amanda Green (lyrics) and Tom Kitt (music) that is slickly delivered, if occasionally generic and too neat. But let it boil and wait until the top of the second act for the show-stopper It’s All Happening, which has Miranda’s unmistakable sense of the moment and rise-up attitude, complete with exhilarating harmonies and blissful raps (some delivered by Smith).
At Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, until 22 January. Then touring until 30 July.
