Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Sarah Scott

Good Vibrations review: Belfast's punk spirit shines bright as Hooley story revived

Thunderous applause, a real buzz and the feeling of having just witnessed something very special - that is what I remember from seeing Good Vibrations back in 2018.

Five years on since the show's debut at Belfast's Lyric Theatre and it's revival is set to make waves at the city's Grand Opera House before heading to New York.

Ahead of the cast taking to the stage on Wednesday, I sat trying to scramble my recollections of the show from that night, but the overarching memory was the feeling it left me with. Belfast's punk spirit and the true heart of the city that kept on beating through the Troubles.

READ MORE: Film about Belfast rap group KNEECAP to showcase at Cannes

So getting to witness it all again really was a treat, especially with new actors bringing their own interpretations to Mr 'Terri with an i' Hooley and his wife Ruth Carr.

Taking on the city's Godfather of Punk is Glen Wallace (those of a similar age to me may remember him as Malachy Fisher in Hollyoaks) who I felt brought out a slightly softer and goofier side in Terri.

Glen Wallace as Terri Hooley (Carrie Davenport)

His enthusiasm and the joy for the music brought us all along with him, and even when Terri messed up, Wallace's portrayal still made you root for him. You could see how much it meant to him as well as he was visibly emotional when the cast took to the stage at the end of the show. He gave it everything.

The on screen chemistry between Wallace and Jayne Wisener, who took on the role of Ruth, was sweet and tender and my heart broke a little for them as we witnessed the unravelling of their relationship.

Jayne Wisener and Glen Wallace in Good Vibrations (Carrie Davenport)

Despite everything they went through, you could feel the love between them but Wisener perfectly portrayed a mother's turmoil at wanting to bring her child up away from the punk scene.

While special mention must go to the leading pair, the show would not be what it is without the rest of the cast who bring plenty of laughs and put on extremely impressive musical performances.

Each take on numerous roles, switching seamlessly between them. I adored Marty Maguire as Terri's dad George and he was a big hit with the audience bringing plenty of lighter moments as an Orangeman, RUC officer and even John Peel.

Christina Nelson was also fabulous as Terri's mum Mavis Hooley and could also be found causing havoc as a punk or discovering the music as a nun.

Glen Wallace as Terri Hooley (Carrie Davenport)

Set against the backdrop of the Troubles, Good Vibrations tells the story of Terri as he sets out to bring something different to the city he loves. Along the way he discovers the talents of Rudi, The Outcasts and The Undertones and we get to enjoy the music, brought to life beautifully by the very talented music director Katie Richardson.

It's a story with real heart and will take you on a rollercoaster of emotion, fom the joy of The Undertones success to the disintegration of his marriage to devoted yet long-suffering wife Ruth (with a 'u').

It is the ultimate underdog story as one man makes a big stand.

Glen Wallace and Jayne Wisener in Good Vibrations (Carrie Davenport)

Bringing the show to the Grand Opera House gave the team more scope to do something different with the staging with one particular moment standing out for me. It happened when Terri brought his musicians back from touring the country (Plumbridge anyone?) to find their city burning.

The cast are able to climb on top of the set as an orange glow and crackle reflect the heart-breaking reality of what is happening to the city when the music stops.

Sometimes it is hard to recreate the magic of something as sublime as the first run of Good Vibrations, but the talent on stage and reaction of the audience shows that they have done it again.

If you missed it last time, don't make the same mistake again.

Good Vibrations runs at the Grand Opera House until May 20.

READ NEXT:

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.