Garrick theatre, London
Beverley Knight excels as trailblazing manager Faye Treadwell in a musical that skips hastily through history and lacks emotional drama
The idea behind this musical is to show the powerhouse female force that managed the all-male vocal group the Drifters. Faye Treadwell became one of the first prominent African American women to enter music management and led the band to greatness with laser-sharp business acumen and determination.
The music in the show is a triumph – how could it not be with Beverley Knight’s almighty voice? There are four other stupendous voices in band members Adam J Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry and Tosh Wanogho-Maud. Their covers of songs such as Under the Boardwalk, Save the Last Dance for Me and Sweets for My Sweet are reminders of the band’s vocal legacy and timeless appeal.
The Drifters Girl is at the Garrick theatre, London, until 26 March