London theater critics have given mixed reviews to the new jukebox musical The Drifters Girl, based on the story and music of the American vocal group The Drifters and their manager Faye Treadwell, from an idea by Tina Treadwell. The musical made its world premiere at Theatre Royal, Newcastle, on October 9, transferring to the West End’s Garrick Theatre earlier this month. The creative team includes Ed Curtis (book), Jonathan Church (direction), Karen Bruce (choreography), Anthony Ward (sets), Ben Cracknell (lights), Tom Marshall (sound), Andrzej Goulding (video), Fay Fullerton (costumes), and Chris Egan (orchestrations, musical supervision). The cast includes Beverley Knight (Faye Treadwell), with show co-creators Adam J. Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud as The Drifters.
Broadway World (Aliga Al-Hassan): The Drifters Girl, despite that missing apostrophe, should be a smash-hit jukebox musical. A plethora of familiar hits, a remarkably talented cast and the inspiring story of Faye Treadwell. … In reality, the brilliant cast is not enough to disguise the lack of cogent storytelling and emotional engagement. … The success of similar shows such as Jersey Boys prove that a jukebox musical can still work despite thin storylines and time will tell The Drifters Girl will engage audiences in the same way. It feels as though Faye, at times unlikable, but obviously a remarkable woman, deserves a bit more depth to her story. 3 out of 5 stars.
Evening Standard (Bick Curtis): Knight and four male co-stars deliver barnstorming versions of a host of Drifters hits … in this high-energy, admirably compact, but distinctly odd show. Like Tina and Jersey Boys it’s a mixture of eulogistic biography and jukebox musical, but the life celebrated here isn’t the artists’ but their manager’s. … It’s odd to have a musical celebrating the disposability of creatives. … Weirdly, the songs slot more neatly into this thumpingly obvious arc of adversity, regret and eventual triumph than in most compilation musicals. … Treadwell’s story is worth telling: but maybe the Drifters story is all about the unsung artists after all. 2 out of 5 stars.
The Guardian (Arifa Akbar): The music in the show is a triumph. … But this show, directed by Jonathan Church, relies on that catalogue of songs too heavily, which compromises the narrative journey and emotional force. Ed Curtis’s book features bite-sized scenes with neat bland soundbites. … It is a relief when we arrive at the central four members that lead this show but they never feel distinct in themselves. … For fans of the Drifters, the music in itself may be enough but for those coming to it fresh, this show’s story is neither compelling nor clear enough. 2 out of 5 stars.
London Theatre (Marianka Swain): Ed Curtis’s book is rather less pioneering; in fact, it falls into all the worst traps of jukebox bio-musicals. Beginning in the mid ’50s and racing through to the ’70s, it leaves no time for depth or complexity. The dialogue is all exposition. … Knight, of course, brings her own firepower, and the musical kicks into high gear whenever she has a solo number. … It’s frustrating, then, that she’s not afforded the same range in the drama. We believe in Faye because of Knight. … But, while Faye might have said otherwise, it’s the talent — Knight and her brilliant boys — rather than the product that’s the star here. 3 out of 5 stars.
Yahoo! News (Isobel Lewis): The Drifters Girl is less about the band itself than Faye Treadwell. … Four men portray every Drifter, hopping from part to part and showing (whether intentionally or not) just how easily replaceable these singers were. They also take on every other role … throughout the exposition-heavy script, which darts between and rushes over certain storylines in an attempt to make the songs fit the scenes. Ultimately, however, the musical numbers feel tacked on and unrelated to the action that’s just played out before us. … As The Drifters and their girl, the cast work in harmony — here’s hoping they get the chance to do it again on a better-written show.