It's the combination of a heart-warming 'never-give-up' story and an excellent suite of brand new 60s/70s-style songs that makes ManBand such a melodic, crowd-pleasing show.

In the cosy Welcoming Arms pub, one of the regulars, Eric, lets slip that he'd had a hit record decades ago; “You Were My First Love” by The Delawares. (Don't bother looking it up!). The landlord is planning a charity show. “How about it Eric?” “No chance. I'm retired.”

But Baz and Kev, two likeable likely-lads who missed out on stardom by a stellar mile, have other ideas and smart-talk the aged one-hit-wonder 'Funny Boy Frankie' into joining the foursome - whilst fearfully dealing with his man-eating manager Bryony in the process.

Far too old to call themselves a 'boy band', they settle for 'ManBand' and seek fame and fortune, albeit just down their local.

If this were a Hollywood Musical, at this point someone would cry, “Let's do the show right here”. It might only be a Midlands pub, but the same enthusiasm applies - together with lashings of angst and the clashing of over-inflated egos. All of which is rather funny.

The music is tremendous. The 60s and 70s were populated by husband and wife songwriting teams and Pete and Jo Hanlon are the modern equivalent, creating new songs that feel just like the classic numbers The Four Tops and The Four Seasons might have recorded in their day. There's a beautifully wistful love song that would have made a fabulous follow-up to Fleetwood Mac's Albatross, and a driving big ballad that Bonnie Tyler would have been proud of. Even Frankie Goes To Hollywood's rap style get a nod.

The fab four are nicely balanced turns. Andrew Murray is wittily sardonic as the long forgotten Eric. Richard Taylor is bright-eyed and bouncy as Baz. (The actor looks so much like an old Cornish fisherman he might have parked his trawler outside). Richard Vernon as Kev showcases dad dancing that's as bad as his kitchen spatula air guitar, and Richard Benjamin as Frankie actually looks like a faded rock star. Together, their battling banter rips through the show.

Author Tim Baker plays the nameless cheeky-chappy landlord who bridges between the audience and the action. Wendy Robinson as Bryony is an Elsie Tanner on heat as she cougars her pathway to success, and Carol Wolfe is Kev's forlorn sister Marg - full of regret that she was only one condom away from Drama School.

A full length version of ManBand premiered 18 months ago at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn to healthy houses. This expertly edited 75-minute touring version includes all the best jokes and the most popular songs, resulting in a finely distilled, feel-good comedy which is also an anthem to the enduring the power of the pub.

And its all over by 8.15, so there's plenty of time for a pint!

Four stars. Reviewed by Chris Eldon Lee on Saturday 24 July.
 

ManBand by Tim Baker, with songs by Pete and Jo Hanlon, shows at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, from Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 July.