Madness musical ‘Our House’ – The Plymouth Herald

AT LAST the Madness musical is playing in Our House.

It's taken a decade for the show to reach the South West so there's an extra air of anticipation at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

There's those infectious tunes, for starters: the title song, Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Driving In My Car, The Wings Of A Dove and It Must Be Love, all by the ska band, of course.

The book is by Tim Firth (of Calendar Girls fame) and Our House bagged the Olivier for best new musical in 2003. And yet the reviews were mixed and Our House lasted only ten months in the West End.

There have been revivals and successful tours since, including Japan (2006) and parts of the UK in 2008..

By all accounts the show is getting better by degrees.

"I've seen several productions over the years including the West End show and touring productions but this is something special," says Chris Foreman, joining the chorus of approval. "These guys are amazing."

High praise indeed from the man better known as Chrissy Boy, who co-founded the ska band in 1976 with Mike Barson on keyboards and saxophonist Lee Thompson (Graham McPherson, aka Suggs, joined 1977).

Chris was one of the band's main songwriters and says the key figures were happy to give the venture their blessing with roles in executive production.

"There is a misconception that the show is about us," says Chris. "There's a strong story and our songs just complement it."

Our House follows Joe Casey on his 16th birthday, eager to have a good time with his girlfriend. He breaks into a new luxury apartment to impress her. When the police turn up he has to choose between legging it and facing the music.

We are in split narrative territory, following two characters – Good Joe and Bad Joe – and their two stories.

Perhaps the confusion between show fiction and band fact wasn't helped by Suggs appearing as Joe's dad for part of the West End run.

Madness have had their own split narrative, too: fracturing and reuniting in various forms several times.

The first big split was in 1986. Chris reunited with the rest in 1992 and they rolled on until 2005, when he left again, only to return in 2006.

There have been many highlights since, including the wonderful "One's House" performance at Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and "opening" the closing ceremony at the London Olympics.

Along the way Chris has added his own story through his Axecam – a camera on his guitar streaming and screening live from the stage.

He's also done video chats with famous people he's met. Comedian Al Murray, TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, Blur's Damon Albarn and singer Peter Andre are among them.

"That started as a bit of fun," says Chris, who might also be talking about Madness's rise.

One of the most endearing qualities of the band has been to keep it fun and not to take themselves too seriously. Hence his laid-back description of the Royal and Olympics gigs as "quite good".

Thirty years after they bounced into the national consciousness Madness have lost none of their appeal.

The inevitable conclusion? It must be love.

Catch Our House at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from Monday-Saturday next week.