Our House, It Must be Love
Birmingham Rep, Tuesday 3 June 2008

Last night saw a full house for Our House the Olivier Award winning musical at the start of a long UK tour.
This show closes the current main house season at The Rep and what could be better than a story of one man's life and the different
directions that one decision might take him on interlaced with the music of 80's pop group Madness.
Director Matthew Warchus and writer Tim Firth have cast a fresh pair of eyes over the original West End production and feel they have improved
the overall show and with the addition of new material have created an even better outcome. Of course, that is for you to decide. This was my
first time of seeing the show and I was knocked out by the energy and the fun but there was a serious side too. The show has all the right
elements and there are strong central characters and performances.
It was great to have a proper band and I suppose that is the bonus of using the music of Madness as it works so well when properly presented.
Musical director Phil Bateman and his talented band really were the icing on the cake.
One of the most exciting and breathtaking sequences in the show was when the audience is taken on a roller coaster ride in the car and it is
so realistic that you are on the edge of your seat. All the production numbers are at their very best making full use of the huge Rep stage and
choreographer Peter Darling adds his West End experience giving them a gloss finish.
Rob Howell has designed an impressive set that works with the minimum of fuss and he also designed the colourful costumes making this a high
impact show. His Camden Lock set was evocative. 
The principal actors Chris Carswell, making his professional debut as Joe Casey and West End experienced actress Miria Parvin as Sarah both
made a huge impact with the audience and deserved the standing ovation which they and the whole show received. Once again, this is all about a
group of actors working together and a show gelling together and last nights performance showed exactly that. It was good to see former X
Factor winner Steve Brookstein and popular television actress Gwyneth Strong  play Joe's mum and dad. 
This turned out to be family night out and the show can be seen at The Rep until Saturday 21 June. It then goes on tour stopping off at venues
throughout the UK. Don't miss it.
Review by Clive Fuller

    To book tickets or see news of forthcoming plays at the 
    Birmingham Rep, visit http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk