This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Here You Come Again at the invite of The Alexandra.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Tricia Paoluccio talked about her part in creating this new musical and becoming Dolly Parton for this UK Tour.
By George Elsmere-Whitney x.com/caramellattekiss
Review: Here You Come Again at The Alexandra
⭐⭐⭐⭐”A love letter to Dolly Parton”
Directed by Gabriel Barre, written by Bruce Vilanch with Gabriel Barre and Tricia Paoluccio adapted for the UK by Jonathan Harvey
Kevin (Aidan Cutler at this performance) is the wrong side of forty, his boyfriend has suggested they take a break, his career as a comedian is going nowhere, and to top it all off, he’s back in his teenage bedroom in the attic during a global pandemic, with nothing but his parents shouting from downstairs and his Dolly Parton (Tricia Paoluccio) posters for company.
Tricia Paoluccio wows as Dolly, delivering that iconic voice in all Dolly’s best-loved hits, including 9 To 5, I Will Always Love You, and Islands In The Stream. Paoluccio even moves like Dolly, which combined with her incredible voice and iconic costumes, designed by Paul Wills, delivers the whole Parton package.
Aidan Cutler has an equally impressive singing voice and delivers a performance that is equal parts funny and moving, as Kevin struggles to hear Dolly’s message of self-worth. Supported by a live band, Paolucci and Cutler keep the story zipping along, seamlessly weaving Dolly’s hits into the narrative.
Here You Come Again is a love letter to Dolly, but it isn’t afraid to poke a little gentle fun at her either. There’s something here for casual and die-hard Dolly fans alike, with lesser-known songs alongside the big hitters, and plenty of Dolly trivia. Many fans have felt that Dolly Parton has helped them through difficult times; this musical just makes that a little more literal.
A musical set during the Covid Lockdowns could easily feel too soon or too much of a reminder of a traumatic time, but the light tone of the script (Bruce Vilanch, Gabriel Barre, Tricia Paoluccio) deftly makes fun of some of the stranger moments of that time. While you might wince as Kevin carefully disinfects his food shopping and bangs a pan for the NHS, you’ll laugh at it too. There are moments of real emotion as Kevin struggles with how far out of reach his dreams seem, and Dolly reveals some of her own hard times. These moments are well-balanced with plenty of laughs, including a truly unforgettable performance of Jolene, with Kevin helping Dolly bring the infamous red-headed temptress to life.
Here You Come Again is a musical that captures the feeling of singing into your hairbrush in your bedroom, with all the Dolly Parton sparkle you could want.
Here You Come Again is at The Alexandra until Saturday 14th September 2024. Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/here-you-come-again-the-new-dolly-parton-musical/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham.
