The 90’s were all about ‘Girl Power’ as The Spice Girls rose to the top of the charts along with the likes of Britney and Shania Twain. So, it’s fitting that an All Saints song should open 2 Become 1, a pop musical that defines ‘Girl Power’.
The all-female cast and production team take us on a laugh out loud (did LOL exist in the 90’s?) adventure of finding love in the days before Tinder, Bumble or Happn.
Recently dumped Jess gets taken to a speed dating night by her three friends, it’s a cross between Sex and The City and Bridget Jones as each of the characters’ individual traits are revealed with tongue in cheek raunchiness.
Much of the story is told through a string of 90’s pop classics with plenty of references to TV shows and celebrity couples of the era, Brad and Jennifer even get a mention; we’d forgotten about them too! The songs sounded a bit hen-night Karaoke at times but it doesn’t stop the audience from getting carried away with the nostalgia.
The friends meet their prospective partners in short bursts during the speed dating, Charlie (Eliza Hewitt-Jones) is happy to skip dinner and go straight to dessert, while Mandy (Jessica Brady) is already planning the wedding. Jess (Natasha Granger) can only compare to her recent ex-boyfriend and Molly (Kerry Thomason) takes awkwardness to a new level. Between scenes we get to hear some voice over from the male perspective, which reveal attitudes that belong firmly in that decade.
Always good for a laugh is a little audience participation (poor Ollie!), and there are a lot of laughs; Swipe Right Theatre, who are behind the production, have carefully balanced the cheesy pop classics, nostalgic references and “yay feminism” to get the level of humour just right.
2 become 1 is a raucous mixtape of feel good fun. Something about the girls energy and enthusiasm makes it impossible not to leave the theatre feeling exhilarated and shouting “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!”
