“Her name was Lola, she was a show girl”
The infamous first line already tells the tale, but this year's musical from Nottingham Operatic Society, based on Manilow’s hit song Copacabana, has been creatively constructed into a funny and energetic two hour show.
Set against the back drop of 1940’s nightclub The Copacabana, the musical tells the story of Lola La Mar, a young girl who goes to New York to be a star, getting her big break as one of the famous “Copa Girls.” It’s at the Copacabana that she meets Tony Forte (played by Andrew Regester) and the two fall in love.
All is going well until trouble strikes, as it so often does in the theatre, when Rico the owner of rival club Tropicana, turns up and sets his sights on Lola. Drugging and kidnapping Lola, Rico forces her to work in his club in Havana. On hearing this Tony teams up with Copacabana owner Sam (Lyndon Warnsby), the two haven’t always seen eye to eye but go on a mission to save Lola, by any means necessary.
Arriving at the Tropicana night club, they hatch a plan to save Lola during her performance. As the show begins Tony and Sam get to work. Rico, seeing that Tony and Sam have arrived manages to get hold of Lola and gun. The gun goes off “but just shot who?”
Nottingham Operatic Society certainly has some talent in its group. Cathy Miller (Lola) is truly excellent. Her comic timing is wonderful and her portrayal of being drunk was hilarious, after all we’ve all been there, stumbling about!
Regester played his part with immense energy and gusto, by the end you could clearly see he’d had a blast but was absolutely knackered, much like Miller. With the many costume changes, dance numbers and songs it’s not hard to see why they all deserve a good night’s sleep by the end of it.
The chorus line provided superb and colourful support to the two main roles. Their dancing and singing was mostly on point, so it was a shame then that there seemed to be a bit of an issue with the mics during some of the songs. Unfortunately this meant that at times you missed the start/middle of songs, but the professionalism of the cast proved that it didn’t matter, they carried on regardless and still gave show stopping performances.
Whilst Manilow isn’t on my play list, he sure can write a good tune! An entertaining and fun evening, definitely one for the whole family.
Nottingham Operatic Society's Copacabana plays at Nottingham's Theatre Royal from Tuesday November 10 to Saturday November 14 2009.
Nottingham Operatic Society website
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