It’s been long enough since the peak of the ‘WAG era’ that Footballers’ Wives: The Musical, can be viewed with a healthy heap of nostalgia, and with the camp dialled up to eleven.
Footballers’ Wives, the TV show, was a huge hit when first broadcast on British TV in the early noughties. It was always very ‘soapy’, with a number of melodramatic plots that became increasingly implausible as the show continued through its six season run.
A resurgence of popularity since the programme found a home on the Britbox streaming service means that the time is now ripe for an adaptation into a musical, which is what we are presented with here.
Loosely based on the first season of the TV show, we are introduced to the wives and the footballers of Earls Park Football Club. And the woman who appears to be the agent for many of them.
Our focus is on three couples: Kyle and Chardonnay; Ian and Donna, and primarily; Team Captain Jason Turner and his wife, Tanya. Tanya Turner was always the star of the shows and she remains so here, as the majority of the plot revolves around her plotting and scheming.
Early in the action, Salvo, a footballer from Brazil is brought into the team, and Jason is immediately paranoid about his future with the club. Matters escalate – very, very significantly – at a club dinner, and Frank, the club chairman, ends up in a coma.
From here, matters deviate slightly from the original narrative, as we follow what happens next.
And what happens next is a glorious riot of infidelity, attempted murder, sex, drugs, a completely over the top wedding, preceded by a pair of completely horrific hen and stag does, and a level of nursing care that is definitely not available on the NHS.
The action continues in dialogue and song, and with mock newspaper headlines projected at appropriate points. The whole production is extremely camp, with a very dry, very British sense of humour.
Society has moved on in the last quarter of a century, and so, despite all the required ingredients being present and correct, there’s also been something of a reduction in the outright sexism, racism and misogyny which tended towards being a feature of the original.
That isn’t to say that it’s not still vicious. It absolutely is, and Celli O’Connor as Tanya has some delicious scenes as she channels Tanya’s rage and desire for vengeance.
The cast aren’t holding back, and really commit to their roles. The script is outrageous and audacious, and whilst everyone is having fun, the cast absolutely don’t play for laughs, but engage with intent with the dialogue and situations as written.
On paper, this absolutely should not work. In reality, it somehow does. The songs are good, and the opening number in particular is very catchy.
Ridiculous and ridiculously over the top, Footballers’ Wives: The Musical, hits the back of the net every time, and scores a winning hat trick to boot.
Footballers’ Wives: the Musical, continues at 18:35 in the Music Hall at the Assembly Rooms on George Street (New Town), daily until August 24 (not 13)
All images including Featured Image, courtesy of Chloe Nelkin Consulting
