REVIEW: The Way Old Friends Do at The Lyceum

THERE was certainly “something in the air that night, the stars were bright (Fernando)” when the new Abba-inspired comedy show The Way Old Friends Do opened at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre.

Written by actor Ian Hallard — who also takes on the role of Peter — and directed by TV favourite Mark Gatiss — the show about devotion, desire and dancing queens provided much-needed escapism, enlivening a bleak and cold night.

The plot centres around two Birmingham school friends who tentatively come out to one another in 1988 — one as gay, the other as an ABBA fan.

Three decades later, a chance meeting sees Peter and Edward (Endeavour's James Bradshaw) decide to form the world’s first ABBA tribute band — in drag!

Peter’s Agnetha and Edward’s Anni-frid are joined by young wannabe actor Jodie (Rose Shalloo) who successfully lands the role of Björn despite losing out in auditions elsewhere to play a teabag (“They went another way,” she trills sweetly).

And for the performance being reviewed, Mrs Campbell was played by understudy Tariyé Peterside.

Despite her character being told that as Benny “All we really need behind that keyboard is a vaguely human shape — as long as they’re wearing a beard”, she rocks the beard AND rocks out as Benny.

Peterside’s is a charming performance and one of the show’s highlights.

The show is also enhanced by voice performances from actor Miriam Margolyes as Peter’s nan, and Paul O’Grady — whose former alter ego was Lily Savage — as a radio DJ.

Some of the great barbs are reserved for Bradshaw’s Edward including his views on bisexuality: “I ate a falafel wrap for lunch — it doesn’t make me a vegetarian!”

And being on the road throws all sorts at the travelling (Super) Troupe(rs) in the form of an attractive stranger and long-distance love problems.

Hallard has said previously the show was a play rather than a musical, and indeed the only Abba tunes we hear — except for bursts during the impressive set and scene changes — is when pals Peter and Edward sing a few lines of the title song a cappella. And quite lovely it is, too.

An ABBA-tastic ode to friendship, love and music.

The Way Old Friends Do is now on a national tour running into June.