Rifco Theatre’s grand musical production, Frankie Goes to Bollywood, is story of a young woman from Milton Keynes making it big in the shark-infested waters of the Indian film industry.
Frankie (Laila Zaidi) feels connected to her late mother through their shared loved of the opulent and melodramatic Bollywood films they used to watch together.
For Frankie, the glitz and glamour of Bollywood is worlds away from her life serving popcorn in a cinema.
However, a chance encounter with a director leads her on a journey that sees her overcome the odds to create a place for herself in Bollywood.
Frankie Goes to Bollywood. pic credit: Rich Lakos / ArenaPAL
Writer and director Pravesh Kumar’s story follows the well-tread path of musicals like Hairspray, but what gives it it’s identity are the dazzling costumes, set designs, long-busting musical numbers, fast-paced choreography, and hilarious Bollywood masala clichés you’re unlikely to see in any other UK theatre production.
Whilst it’s a comedy which will have you chuckling throughout, especially at the antics of Frankie’s ditzy cousin Goldie (Katie Stasi) and Raju (Shakil Hussain), a star actor whose determined to control Frankie’s personal and professional life, Kumar doesn’t shy away from shining a light on the toxic nature of the industry.
An initially naïve Frankie is forced to deal with misogyny and go-up against the perils of an industry built on nepotism.
At the show’s core are the powerful female performances, led by the charismatic Zaidi, the scene-stealing Stasi and Helen K Wint who plays ageing star Malaika.
Frankie Goes to Bollywood. Pic credit: Rich Lakos / ArenaPAL
The male actors are also given the platform to make their mark.
Navin Kundra as Prem, the director who discovers Frankie, sees his role lessen as the story develops but shares great chemistry with Zaidi – in fact, their duet literally had one woman crying in the audience!
Frankie Goes to Bollywood cast from left: Laila Zaidi, Gigi Zahir, Navin Kundra, Helen K Wint, Shakil Hussain and Katie Stasi
As for Gigi Zahir, who plays Shona, he is an absolute riot as a camp, over-the-top choreographer whose loud outfits and one-liners keep Frankie’s spirits up on her troubled journey.
Rifco’s ambitious project is fun-filled evening that all ages will enjoy.
