Offering a night of drama and sentimentality, not to mention the chance to dance in the aisles while basking in the nostalgia of ‘Osmondmania’, The Osmonds: A New Musical takes its audience on an emotional journey back to the 1970s. The show has been written by Jay Osmond and presents the story of how he and his siblings became the most famous - and wholesome - boy band in the world.

Their rise to superstardom was far from plain sailing, though. Growing up Mormon with an overbearing father who believed in a military style of parenting (softened slightly by their mother), the brothers had the family mantra - “It doesn’t matter who is out front, as long as it’s an Osmond” - drilled into them from an early age. Their father’s regime - built around his belief in ‘faith, family and career’ - caused plenty of resentment and almost broke them, but the boys stuck together and worked hard as they made their way through a shared childhood which saw them shamelessly exploited in the name of showbusiness.

The story is well told and features a list of chart-topping hits, including Love Me For A Reason, Crazy Horses, Let Me In, One Bad Apple, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, Paper Roses and Puppy Love, the latter of which in particular was very well received by the audience in true ‘adoring fan’ style!
Ultimately, one bad decision cost The Osmonds everything they had worked so hard for since childhood, and they lost their entire $80million fortune. They then worked solidly for two years to pay their debts before pursuing individual careers. It was 27 years before they all sang together again.

Jay Osmond said he would know he’d “done a good job telling this story” if he could “stand at the back of a theatre and see people waving their arms in the air, singing along and dancing in the aisles”. If Jay had been at The Alexandra last night, he would have been thrilled to see that the audience reaction was exactly what he had hoped for. This is a funny and uplifting show boasting a talented, high-energy cast, great costumes, brilliant choreography, and staging & lighting that provide the ultimate finishing touches.

The Osmonds: A New Musical is nostalgia at its very best and will help you re-live the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s in toe-tapping, hand-clapping style! 

Four stars

Reviewed by Sue Hull at The Alexandra, Birmingham, on Tuesday 25 October where The Osmonds: A New Musical continues to show until Saturday 29 October.