The Buddy Holly Story at the Wolverhampton Grand
As a teen I loved The Wonderstuff and their album ‘Never Loved Elvis’. This was partly because the title was true. I’d never loved Elvis, it had always been about Buddy Holly in our house. From an early age I can remember ‘That’ll be the Day’ ringing out from my little record player, the graffiti emblazoned cover of ‘Buddy Holly Lives’ on my bedroom floor. It’s a memory and love that has remained with me, and was resurrected in supreme style last night, as the brilliant ‘The Buddy Holly Story’ electrified the Wolverhampton Grand.
‘The Buddy Holly Story’ is the story of Buddy’s meteoric rise to fame. If your image of Buddy is of a nice, bespectacled boy from Texas, you are in for a surprise. Buddy was a maverick genius, a passionate, sometimes volatile, quick tempered artist with a vision and focus on the type of music he wanted to make. Starting out as a future Country star, Buddy wanted to be a rock and roller, but it was all about the music, never about the image. Glen Joseph brings him brilliantly to life, the voice, the look and the attitude are all perfect, and he brings to life the man behind the legend with both verve and warmth. His Buddy can be funny, can be passionate, and during those rock and roll classics, is simply electrifying.
This is a musical where the whole cast delivers the goods. As The Crickets, Joe Butcher and Josh Haberfield are brilliant, fabulous musicians with a good sense of comic timing too. In particular are the scenes where Cindy Lou is changed to ‘Peggy Sue’ to enable Jerry to get the girl, and the long, long recording session where Jerry is virtually asleep as they record the last song, are full of fun and energy.
There are great scenes throughout the show. Matthew Quinn as Hipockets Duncan is great as he tries to interview Buddy, firing questions at the naive singer that don’t quite get the answers the listeners want. Kerry Low is a lovely Maria Elena, feisty and intelligent, and not prepared to put up with snide comments and casual racism, the scene where she talks about her recurring dream is haunting with hindsight of what was to come. Norman and Vi Petty are also crucial to the story, and are played wonderfully by Alex Tosh and Celia Cruwys-Finnigan, with Celia, in particular, delighting with her rock and roll piano playing.
In a show with so many highlights, the scene at the New York Apollo Theatre is a standout. The fear, then exhilaration as the Crickets play to an all black audience and win them over with the sheer power of their music and performance is exciting and thrilling. Mention also has to be made Minguel Angel and Jordan Cunningham as the Apollo performers for their ‘turn the house down’ version of Shout – wow, just wow!
The final scenes on the Winter Dance tour are stunning, poignant as you know what followed, but the rock and roll that comes before is incredible. Jordan Cunningham and Thomas Mitchells are both superb as Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, also to lose their life in that terrible crash, and the scenes when the three rock and rollers are on the stage together are brilliant. You can see exactly where The early Beatles songs came from, they were the songs Buddy Holly never got chance to make, you can see where Hank Marvin got The Shadows dance moves from – check out Buddy dancing with his guitarist. And as for the glasses – Hank, Jarvis Cocker, Elvis Costello, they all owe a debt of gratitude to the late, great, Buddy Holly.
The Buddy Holly story is an unmissable night of incredible music, 50s nostalgia and a story of a man who changed the face of music forever in a career that lasted just 18 months, but has provided inspiration ever since. Because, Don Mclean was wrong, February 3rd 1959 was not the day the music died. Buddy Holly died, but the music will live on Forever.
BUDDY – The Buddy Holly Story
Click here for ticket information and show times.
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22 Comments
Gareth Torrance
Oh god, I seriously want to see this! Buddy Holly’s music was (and is) awesome! And it sounds like the show itself is just amazing!
Lynne Harper
This sounds lime a fabulous musical and something I would so love to see myself. The scene at the New York Apollo sounds fabulous x
Hannah
This sounds like a really good musical. I haven’t seen this one x
Sarah Bailey
Buddy Holly was such a fantastic musician and this musical telling his story looks like a wonderful show to see. Time has indeed proven that his music will live forever and it has been an inspiration to so many other musicians and bands.
danasia fantastic
I’m a hugggeee Buddy Holly fan! I’d love to check this out.
amanda
seen this 5 times, at various theatres, all brilliant, will see it again someday soon.
Ana De- Jesus
What a perfect night for anyone that really loves 50’s music and rock and roll culture. It sounds fantastic x
Planet Jodie
Remember finding Buddy Holly fascinating and he’s a legendary singer that isn’t mentioned as often as stars like Elvis x
Rhian Westbury
I have seen the Buddy Holly story about six times in my life and always love it. My nan grew up with that music so I spent a lot of my childhood listening to it and the show is always amazing x
Stephanie Merry
This sounds like an amazing show – I love Buddy Holly so I’ll have to see if I can get tickets x
Jemma
This sounds like a great show for Buddy fans.
Rachel
Ive seen Buddy, as it was called here in London and my mum and dad used to listen to the music as I grew up x
Jade Bremner
What a great idea for a musical I reckon it will get a good response. I’m not a fan of his music but knew plenty that are xx
Sarahjane Wood
This looks fab! Can’t say I am a Buddy Holly fan but it seems like a wonderful piece of nostalgia
emma white
oh my aunt and my mum would both love to go here so I am going to send this blog link over for sure
Sam B
Ooh a few people in my family would love this! It’s also my birthday on 3rd Feb (the big 30) and it gets mentioned often
Lianne
I love a good musical, I know my friend would love this!
Jessica
This musical looks like something I would enjoy. I used to listen to Buddy Holly as well. That’ll Be the Day was one of my favorites by him.
Daniella Keating
Ooh it sounds like a great musical! A fab review too.
Jessica McDonnell
I love Buddy Holly and would love to see this musical, it sounds great.
The London Mum
This sounds and looks like such a great production!
Clarissa
This is one on my wish list for this year love American singers buddy Richie, never really a fan of elvis but wow I bet it’s moving to see, unfolding ! So hope to see this !!