Upstaged Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
With super catchy songs (yes, you’ll be humming all the way home), a dynamic cast and tonnes of heart, Identical celebrates family and the astonishing coincidences that can completely change our lives.
Directed by Trevor Nunn, who was Artistic Director of the RSC for 18 years, and whose musical credits include Les Miserables, Cats and Starlight Express – Identical is a brand new British musical adaptation of Erich Kästner’s 1949 novel Lisa and Lottie. The cheeky, though heartfelt story will also be familiar to those who have watched Disney’s film version of the story – The Parent Trap, which was remade in 1998 following its original release in 1968.
Identical is essentially a musical reboot of Kästner’s story of two identical twins, Lisa and Lottie, who were separated from one another as babies and whose paths cross at a summer camp ten years later.
Upbeat and cheerful, the curtain rises and the orchestra start up with a lively chorus ‘In the Summer’ and we are transported to an Alpine summer camp. Despite the initial hostility on their first meeting, the twins soon make a tender connection with one another. Born on the same day, in the same hospital teamed with the fact that ‘they have the same face’ – both want to find out more about one another. Cunningly, Lisa and Lottie, played beautifully by real-life twins Kyla and Nicole Fox, hatch a plan to switch identities, meet their ‘other’ parent, and find out more about each other’s lives.
The action then takes place across Munich and Vienna as the twins stay in regular contact with one another via telephone, and we are introduced to their parents, Emily Tierney as Lisalotte, a busy writer though loving mother, and James Darch as their workaholic father and composer Johan. We also meet Johan’s housekeeper Roza, played by Louise Gold, and Johan’s love-interest prima ballerina Miss Garlach, portrayed perfectly by Gabrielle Lewis-Dobson.
Alongside dedicated individual performances, Robert Jones’ set design and video design by Douglas O’Connell really make the back-and-forth story easy to follow for a family audience. The use of immediate, impressive and slick video design means that we can be transported from a German mountaintop to the classical and ornate setting of Johan’s Viennese home instantly.
With a running time of 2 hours and 50 minutes (including an interval), the show is perhaps a little long for younger children and would benefit from a little tightening. Although advertised as suitable for ages 8+, I would probably recommend it for children aged 10+. Most strikingly, the show tackles topics around love, relationships and separated parents in a really accessible way for young people too.
Uplifting and energising, though also reflective, Identical has all the trappings of a great musical. And I promise you won’t be the only one singing your way out of the theatre.
-Kristy Stott
Identical runs at The Lowry until Saturday 3 September.