In Dreams review – margaritas and mortality in Roy Orbison musical

about 2 years in The guardian

Leeds PlayhouseDavid West Read’s jukebox show brings Orbison’s hits together around an earnest but charmingly performed story of griefJukebox musicals tend to be all about the feelgood factor. It’s ambitious, then, that David West Read – the writer of & Juliet – has chosen to use Roy Orbison’s songs to consider the experiences of death and grief.We meet Kenna (Lena Hall), a singer-songwriter, just after she has received a life-altering – and potentially life-ending – diagnosis. As she confronts her own mortality, Kenna decides to memorialise herself ahead of time by throwing a party at Felices Sueños, a family-run Mexican restaurant specialising in tacos, margaritas and celebrations of the dead. With some help from the owners, and without revealing the true reason for the reunion, Kenna assembles her former bandmates Ramsey (Oliver Tompsett), Jane (Sian Reese-Williams) and Donovan (Noël Sullivan) for a “going away” party.In Dreams is at Leeds Playhouse until 5 August Continue reading...

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