Set in the seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, Here and Now follows Caz and her friends Vel, Neeta, and Robbie as they navigate what should be the summer of love. It's Friday night, the vibe is right, and everyone's dancing in the aisles. But when Caz discovers the shelves are stocked with lies and betrayal, that dreamed-of summer suddenly feels like a tragedy. What follows is a jukebox musical journey through the hits of Steps, as the friends attempt to find their way back to happiness.
The problem is, the plot feels cobbled together from random elements that never quite gel into a coherent whole. The storyline is tedious, with narrative threads thrown in seemingly at whim. Our protagonist Caz makes baffling choices at every turn, consistently choosing the wrong path in ways that feel less like character development and more like contrived plotting. When the inevitable happy ending arrives, it feels unearned and illogical, materialising from nowhere with no real justification for why these characters suddenly deserve their 'happy ever after.'
The production's tone doesn't help matters. Under Rachel Kavanaugh's direction, the show veers into pantomime territory with an excess of camp that undermines any emotional stakes. The humour relies heavily on lazy jokes and broad mugging that might work in a Christmas panto but feels out of place in what's ostensibly a story about love, loss, and friendship. The whole affair feels decidedly silly when it should carry more weight.
That said, there are glimmers of quality. Rebecca Lock, playing Caz, delivers a powerful vocal performance that elevates every song she touches. Her emotional commitment to the role provides the production's most genuine moments, and her voice is genuinely impressive. The other principal cast members—Blake Patrick Anderson (Robbie), Jacqui Dubois (Vel), and Rosie Singha (Neeta)—work hard with the material they're given, though they're fighting an uphill battle against the weak script.
Tom Rogers' set design proves versatile and visually appealing, transforming the Better Best Bargains superstore setting effectively throughout the production. It's one of the show's more successful elements, providing a functional and attractive backdrop for the action.
The songs themselves are undeniably catchy—this is Steps, after all. From "5,6,7,8" to "Tragedy," the hits keep coming, and they're staged with energetic choreography by Matt Cole. For die-hard Steps fans, hearing these beloved tracks in a theatrical context will likely be enough to justify the ticket price. The numbers are performed with gusto, and you'll likely leave the theatre with at least one earworm lodged firmly in your head.
Ultimately, Here and Now feels like a musical created primarily for the most devoted Steps fans, those who will forgive a weak book and silly execution for the joy of hearing their favourite songs performed live. For anyone hoping for a well-crafted musical with a compelling story and sophisticated humour, this show disappoints. The combination of a boring, illogical plot and an overly campy execution makes for a frustrating evening, saved only by Lock's standout performance and the inherent catchiness of the Steps catalogue.
It runs until 8 November.
Photos: Pamela Raith.