Here You Come Again (UK Tour) – Review

Here You Come Again (UK Tour): Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

6th July 2024

★★★★

Here You Come Again, the new musical comedy featuring some of Dolly Parton’s most loved songs, is currently touring the UK prior to hitting London’s West End. This new musical tells the story of a diehard fan whose fantasy version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times. With her wit, humour and charm, Dolly teaches him a whole lot about life and love. After several successful runs across the United States, this production has been adapted for the UK by playwright Jonathon Harvey and is currently touring until December 2024.

The show is set during lockdown in 2020, so many of the jokes revolve around this – particularly at the start. Steven Webb is excellent as comedic Kevin. He breaks through the fourth wall brilliantly and really includes audience and is able to respond to the occasional heckle with great timing. Vocally he is also strong, but it is the comedy where he comes alive and this show certainly is very funny. Tricia Paoluccio really embodies Dolly Parton from the way she moves to her distinctive speaking voice and even her laugh. The songs are performed exceptionally well – you could almost believe you were watching Dolly herself. The onstage relationship between Pauloccio and Webb is also really good and their energy bounces off one another.

The show has a clear message – to accept and love who you are, stop looking into mirrors and instead look out of the window. At times, the advice from Dolly can be a little cliché and the plot has little in the way of surprises but it makes up for that by having a hilarious script and a heart warming message. Of course no Dolly Parton show would be complete without some of her most famous and well-loved songs such as “Jolene”, “9 to 5”, “Islands in the Stream” and “I Will Always Love You”. This production manages to fit all of the popular hits in amongst some of her lesser known songs which makes for a varied show for everyone. Here You Come Again also allows for some audience participation. This does work well as by giving the audience particular times to join in it means the rest of the show is free from distraction (mostly). The set by Paul Wills is like stepping back into your childhood. With Kevin isolating on his own in the attic of his parent’s home, there are tonnes of games, gadgets and items which most people growing up in the 80’s and 90’s will recognise. The set itself does not change but the use of prop pieces is well co-ordinated and used to make the most of the space. The illusions by Richard Pinner, also add an extra quality to the show. Tim Deiling’s lighting works well with the set and the songs to hone in on specific moments and emotions.

Here You Come Again is a homage to Dolly Parton and every fan will find something to love within the show. It will also appeal to those who only know Dolly for her famous looks and one or two songs because of the happy story with a well-meaning message. The show being set during the summer of 2020 is also a novel concept and the humour is cleverly written, with most of the jokes and gags landing well. Of course, most of the audience will know Dolly Parton in one way or another and for that the show really does rely heavily on having a great lead and Tricia Paoluccio really does whisk the audience away to Tennessee. Here You Come Again is refreshing, hilarious and a warm new musical – a perfect show to sit back and enjoy.

Here You Come Again is touring the UK until the 7th December 2024. For information and tickets click here.

Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning