Sometimes musical theatre adaptations from film sources can
be perceived as quite a bizarre decision, however and more often than not there
are circumstances that they can work and prove us all wrong and beguile you.
The West End musical production of Paul Mayeda and Gurinder Chandra’s 2002
film, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ was a colourfully pulsating production of a
British Asian girls dream of pursuing a career in football, plus, the
portrayals were amazingly played in its entirety.
‘Bend It Like Beckham’ is set abundantly in Southall London
over the period of May to August 2001 where we’re familiarised with Jess Bhrama
who is obsessed with football, but her family are hell bent at ensuring that
she remains close to her Indian heritage. Jess’ parents, Mrs Bhrama (Natasha
Jayetileke) and Mr Bhrama (Tony Jayawardena) are fundamentally opposed to anything
that they do not agree with. They are immensely gratified that their eldest
daughter, Pinky is about to be getting married to her childhood sweetheart,
Teetu (Raj Bajaj). On the other hand, even though Jess’ parents know about her
love for David Beckham but they have no idea that she wants to play football
for an actual career. When Jess impresses the local women’s football manager,
Joe (Jamie Muscato) and fellow up and coming women football hopeful, Jules with
her football skills. Jess is given the chance to play in the team; nonetheless,
to ensure that her parents are not informed about her playing for this team,
she enlists the help from friend, Tony (Jamal Andreas) to cover for her. Throughout the performance, Jess becomes a
much valued member of the team and starts to form a friendship with Jules.
Whereas, unlike Jess’ parents, Jules’ mother, Paula (Sophie-Louise Dann) is
aware of her daughter’s dedication to the sport but her sexuality is causing a
concern to her as she thinks she’s a lesbian. However, Jules has a crush on
coach Joe and things to a head in Germany where Joe admits to fancying Jess
whilst at a club after a triumphant victory and Jules finds this information
out and hers and Jess’ friendship is put to the test. Over the course of the show, Pinky’s wedding
plans turn for the worst when Teetu’s Dad (Irvine Iqbal) and Mum (Sohm Kapida) disapprove
of Pinky’s family; especially with Jess’ defiance to her Asian background and family
history. There’s an important match coming up where a scout from an American
university is on the hunt for the next lot of female recruits where in this
instance he is coming to inspect Jess and Jules’ sporting performance. Sadly,
the match is happening on the same date as Pinky’s wedding which is now back on
track so Jess’ aspirations for the future seems quite bleak. At Pinky’s wedding, Jess’ dad recognises that
Jess is unhappy and says that in order for the wedding to be a success and a
joyous affair; he states that she must go to the match and come back when it is
over. When Tony takes her to the match where Joe and the rest of the team are
so delighted to see her and with her involvement in the game, their team wins
the season. At the finale, as Jess and
Jules are given scholarships to America and in the airport they say their final
goodbyes as their life is only just beginning and it seems that their
friendship is stronger than ever. Mayeda and Gurinda’s narrative with Howard
Goodhall’s music and Charles Hart’s lyrics are incredible as the story of a
young British Asian woman who is desperate to become a football star and the
class of her two cultures shows what determination she has in achieving her
ultimate goal. Musical numbers such as; “Girl Perfect”, “People Like Us”, “Glorious”
and “Sadaa Chardhdi Kalaa” emancipates the combinations of cultures and with
the actual heritage musical beats you really want to get up and dance a little
bit of Bollywood.
One found the performances by the company of, ‘Bend It Like
Beckham’ to be masterfully depicted through lovely vocal singing to dazzling choreographic
sequences and the whole football element was pretty awesome too as it really
works. Also the performers did not try to copy the interpeations of the actor's in the original film. Natalie Dew is tremendous as central protagaonist, Jess Bhrama;
principally where she seems to beam with confidence when she is kicking a
football and the trials and tribulations she has with a family that is quite
out of touch with the world and what she can and cannot do, as well as, with
Joe at the German nightclub she looks incredibly pretty in the dress she is
wearing. Lauren Samuels is grand as Jess’ friend, Jules; explicitly in the
scenes with her mother, Paula and how she always tries to reassure her that she
isn’t a lesbian, moreover, you can see how competitive she is with everything
in her life from who she fancies to her passion of football. Preeya Kalidas is fabulous as Jess’ stupid
sister, Pinky; essentially how silly she comes across in how she speaks which
is too South London and her pink tracksuit looks horrendous which is the whole
point as she’s quite chavy compared to how her sister is, furthermore, she is
drastically overbearing which would put off any man, but with Teetu she has him
wrapped round her little finger.
Gurinder Chandra’s direction is brilliant here and with
Aletta Collins’ fantastic choreography we are taken on Jess’ incredibly voyage
where her dreams of being a professional football player seems to be on the
cards. Into the bargain, the mix of football style sequences and with football
consultancy has aided this to be so flawless and no like its being acted and
the characterisations were fundamentally developed. Miram Buether’s set designs
and Katrina Lindsay’s costume designs are exceptional as the scene changes
found its place to be well considered such as where the football match and
wedding are moulded together and you don’t lose focus whatsoever, besides this,
the costumes were vibrant and colourful specifically the traditional Indian
clothing i.e. sari’s etc. Overall, the experience
of, ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ to be such a thrilling one and I like how the Indian
culture was undertaken with such sincerity and not overdone either.
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