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New take on The Monkees’ musical magic will premiere in Manchester
Hey, hey it’s The Monkees – but not as you’ve seen them before.
A cast of young actors are preparing to embody the famous 60s boyband in a new musical based Monkee Business, which will get its world premiere here in Manchester.
The cast of the show were unveiled at a launch bash at Manchester’s Hard Rock Cafe at the weekend, and proved they’ve not only mastered some of the band’s biggest hits like Daydream Believer and Last Train To Clarksville – but also the infamous Monkees walk too.
The jukebox musical, like Queen’s We Will Rock You and Take That’s Never Forget, will not be the story of the band itself but instead see the characters in a “zany madcap plot” take on the roles of The Monkees’ Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Manchester’s own Davy Jones.
It’s down to Welsh actor Ben Evans to embody the heart-throb Jones character – and he tells The Diary he’s been perfecting his Manc accent in preparation for the role.
He says: “I’ve only been in Manchester for a week so I’m trying to listen to the Manchester accent but there are so many versions it’s difficult to make a choice. But we’ve all been watching The Monkees endlessly on Youtube so I’m concentrating on Davy’s accent and of course getting to know the tambourine!”
Meanwhile Buxton’s Oliver Savile will play the Tork character, and says: “It’s set in the sixties and we’re four rather gullible boys who are told that The Monkees are too busy to do a World Tour but are happy for us to fill in for them! Not allowed to tell you too much but let’s just say there’s a series of mad-cap adventures which all the family can enjoy.”
Producer Dave McNeilly said that Manchester was chosen for the world premiere not least because of its rich musical history.
He said: “From early rock’n’ rollers like Freddie & The Dreamers and Herman’s Hermits through The Bee Gees, The Hollies and The Smiths – right up to Oasis, Elbow and Take That – Manchester has been at the very heart of the music business throughout the decades.”
The show is also part of the Palace and Opera House’s Manchester Gets it First initiative, that brought the world premiere of Ghost the Musical to the city this time last year.
Dave added: “The West End production of Ghost is now playing to record audiences – and from Manchester, via London – to New York – the Broadway production opens there in a couple of months time.
“This campaign aims to position Manchester, and The Palace and Opera House in particular, as the venues to launch theatre’s biggest and best world-premieres. We’re the second, but know that there are plans to continue the project with more new musicals planned for the near future.”
The plot will see four boys swept along in a crazy adventure as they are tricked into impersonating The Monkees around the world, where they encounter the likes of Russian spies, a trainful of nuns and a host of glamorous girls.
Dave explains: “Imagine a show where Austin Powers meets the Monkees in a crazy international adventure and you won’t be far wrong.”
The Monkees themselves have not been involved with the musical, although bosses hope they will come to see the show when it premieres in Manchester.
The show premieres at Manchester Opera House from March 29 to April 14, for tickets call: 0844 871 3038.
