Imagine This

***
Imagine This has already closed which is a shame. The show had heart, and obvious flaws, but of course it couldn't address these halfway through the run; telling us already that the creative team aren't West End standard if they could realise this during the previews or it's run at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Imagine This is set in a Warsaw Ghetto - already losing a chunk of it's market as it's got more depth than a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia - it's hen party audiences would be so innappropriate here. However Imagine This could welcome that sort of audience. Glenn Berembeim's HUMOUR in a GHETTO? An inexplicable element that ruins the many potentially poignant moments readily available in this setting so that it becomes a simple, awkward story within a story. An acting troupe living in this Ghetto (lead capably by Peter Polycarpou) attempt to bring hope to everyone through their show 'Masada', of course the leading lady (Leila Benn Harris) and man (a surprising gem in this show, Simon Gleeson) fall in love. It's an uplifting romance with truth and overcoming all obstacles at it's heart.

The music is gorgeous, however is marred by it's lack of theatrical climaxes, and music so delicate is murdered by harsh voices, even if that reflects the fight in the characters. The choreography was a wonderful element of the show and staging and set creative for it's small stage. The acting isn't outstanding, but then again neither is the script they work with.

Veronica Grubb