Keith Waterhouse's novel, Billy Liar, having been adapted for a film and a stage play, gained further life in 1974 as a musical staring the young Michael Crawford.
Its hero is Billy Fisher, who enlivens his life in a northern backwater through flights of fantasy and constant lying.
His escapism takes the form of daydreams which take him into a world where he is ruler, saviour and adored hero. In contrast, his life in the real world is a mess.
The show is well served with comic dialogue. The music and lyrics, however, are weak. With a couple of exceptions, they soon fade from memory. That apart, Brighton and Hove Operatic Society's revival contains much to be admired - imaginative staging, lively choreography and some fine acting.
The title role must be an actor's dream, calling for a tour de force performance and providing a showcase for extraordinary talent. Jamie Collins fits the bill. As well as his singing and dancing ability, he is a consummate comic actor with an extraordinary gift for mimicry. He dazzles.
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