Premiering at The Leeds Playhouse, new jukebox musical In Dreams is staged in The Courtyard Theatre where Leo Owen caught the show

Canadian TV writer, David West Read (best-known for his work on the Emmy Award winning Schitt’s Creek) uses Roy Orbison’s back-catalogue to create In Dreams. Perhaps a little lazy, the story conveniently centres around a singer and her ex band-members, making it easy to shoehorn in a host of Orbison tracks that may have been difficult to include otherwise. That said, he bravely tackles rather depressing subject-matter for a musical, admirably giving it a positive spin.

Read’s protagonist, Kenna (Lena Hall) once fronted successful band “Heartbreak Radio” and now tours alone. A grim discovery opens the show as test results confirm that she has cancer, prompting her to arrange a celebration of her life. Enlisting the help of Nicole (Gabriela Garcia), Oscar (Manuel Pacific) and Ana Sofia (Alma Cuervo) who run a Mexican restaurant with a memorial service, she manages to entice old band mates but bills the evening as a “goodbye party”. Read uses this set-up to sensitively explore mortality, community, decision-making and relationships.

Arnulfo Maldonado’s set design embraces the Mexican element of Read’s story with the tacos, margaritas and memorials Felices Sueños offers taking centre stage. Having an open-roofed restaurant with wooden slats, ensures George Reeve’s video design can be seen to reflect time progressions and occasionally beautiful poetic time lapses. Through the restaurant’s front window and glass door panels sunrise backdrops and fireworks can be seen too.

Read manages to squeeze in over twenty Orbison tracks with “I Drove All Night” playfully choreographed (Fabian Aloise) to introduce Ramsey (Oliver Tompsett), Kenna’s -ex who drives an Uber, rather than drumming these days. There’s a moving duet from Sian Reese-Williams and Noel Sullivan, as Jane and Donovan, reflecting on life changes since leaving the band and having five children. “Only the Lonely” and “Pretty Woman” are fun flirtatious duets from Richard Trinder and Cuervo as they embark on a new romance in later life. Hall has a cracking voice too, belting out “Love Hurts” and “Crying” (later beautifully reprised in Spanish by Garcia and Pacific). Although a low-key character compared to others, as Oscar Pacific charismatically sings “In Dreams” too with a real twinkle in his eye. “I’m so Tired of Being Lonely” is poignantly interspersed with “Anything You Want” in a truly powerful final set piece.

Using Mexican traditions to comingle grief and celebration, In Dreams is an odd mix of twee and melodramatic. Although the premise is a little weak, there are plenty of genuinely funny lines and touching moments. The cast all have superb voices and give strong performances but perhaps what’s to be commended the most is Read’s ability to transform bleak to uplifting and feel-good. Perfectly enjoyable and certainly life-affirming, Sheppard’s cast undoubtedly deserved the standing ovation that they received.

In Dreams shows at Leeds Playhouse 3rd July- 5th August before embarking on a UK tour: https://leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/in-dreams/