Game of Two Halves

REVIEWS

It works best when the democratic GAME OF embracing its Asian score gifts solos to heritage, impressing practically everyone, TWO HALVES with Aletta Collins’ prioritising breadth energetic bhangra over depth. Marianka Swain refereed Bend It Like set-pieces and a Natalie Dew brings Beckham at Phoenix Theatre on June 24 haunting traditional appealing naturalness love song performed to Jess, Lauren omen’s obligations, climaxing by Rekha Sawhney. Samuels belting football, at a crucial match The dominant vocals and single- W immigration scheduled on theme is generational minded determination and multiculturalism: the same day conflict: both Jess’s to Jules, and there’s Gurinder Chadha’s as Jess’s sister parents and Jules’s good support from new musical couldn’t Pinky’s wedding. mother fear the loss Preeya Kalidas’s be more pertinent, The three-hour of their offspring bling-tastic Pinky, right? Well, yes and show takes a to a world they Sophie-Louise no. Like her original while to warm up, don’t understand. It Dann’s sexpot film, writer/director which highlights provides effective single mum, Tony Chadha keeps the weaknesses universal resonance, Jayawardena and action in 2002, like limited and the preaching Natasha Jayetileke’s meaning there’s characterisation, flat of tolerance, well-meaning parents, no UKIP, no IS and staging and earnest compromise and Jamal Andréas’s no FIFA meltdown. exposition repeated empathy is laudable, gay best friend, and Threats to happiness in Howard Goodall but stronger focus Jamie Campbell are mainly domestic and Charles Hart’s on the specific Bower’s dishy coach. in scale and easily sometimes plodding culture and its The team is overcome. It’s a numbers, but it ongoing challenges disappointingly rigorously feelgood bursts into life in a would give the show sidelined, with little time capsule. rousing second half. some Billy Elliot actual football on Southall teenager Though anxious to heft. There’s also a display (matches Jess dreams avoid pastiche, Bend balance problem: are awkwardly of becoming reported), though a professional Bend It Like Beckham The Musical Collins does supply footballer like hero some energetic drills. David Beckham, Bend It scores as a rather than a good cheeky, irresistibly Indian housewife. likeable fairytale, but She gets her chance its empowerment when Jules recruits is flimsy when it’s her for local team so easily won. l Hounslow Harriers, but before long www.benditlike individual desires beckhamthe clash with familial musical.co.uk and community