‘Along with the great music, this is a story packed with heartfelt emotion and drama, good humour and social commentary, that engages the audience throughout’
Following a successful debut performance in The Floral Pavilion’s Blue Lounge in February 2025, director Brian McCann deservedly brings this heartwarming story, written by two of Merseyside’s leading songwriters, Jimmy Rae and Pete Davies, to the main stage.
Danny Rogers (Sam Heller), a struggling country musician from Liverpool, is at a real crossroads in life: from his parents (Lesley Butler and Chrsitopher Lee Power) and best friend Mike (Leslie Longley) to girlfriend Louise (Samantha Alton) and her friend Jackie (Catherine Howard), everyone wants him to abandon his dream and settle down to a normal life. But with some unexpected support from Mike’s girlfriend Ellie (Sarah-Lou Fletcher) and inspired by his ailing grandfather, Harry (Billy Butler), he embarks on a make-or-break pilgrimage to Nashville. Linking up with singer Amy (Jodie White), also looking for a breakthrough, will he get to fulfil his dream, or will it prove to be a very different journey of discovery?
With cast members performing ensemble roles, there are cameos from Adam Johnson as a Young Harry, Del Willden as a Traveller and Bartender, and Al Peters and Rae as Nashville Drunks.
Eleanor Ferguson’s design is impactful with the right balance to serve each scene well whilst allowing the audience to connect insightfully with the unfolding action – anything bigger I feel would get in the way of that essential factor – with Sam Smith’s lighting and Dan Taylor’s sound completing the mix. Equally, the adept simplicity of the layout allowed stage manager Abigail Ramsden, with Ian White and Graham Morphy Morris, to effect seamless set changes and ensure the continuity of action as we move between domestic dwellings and the local pub, from international airport to hotel room and bar. The closing waterfront scene echoes the same philosophy keeping the action to the fore whilst the backdrop video produced by Paul Andrew, featuring contemporary street photography by Gerard Fleming, embeds us firmly in the real lives and heartfelt themes at the core of this tale.
The inclusion of a live band (keyboards – Tom Hutchinson; Guitars – Adam Johnson; Fiddle – Nick Silver; Bass Guitar – Jimmy Rae; and Drums – Howard Northover), adds real value, bringing the stage and audience to life, performing thirteen catchy and original songs with cast vocals. Musically, each song flows beautifully to embellish its respective scene, augmented by strong lyrics that add a further layer of poignancy.
Along with the great music, this is a story packed with heartfelt emotion and drama, good humour and social commentary, that engages the audience throughout. A couple of moments were perhaps a little too saccharine for me whilst a couple of scenes involving the parents felt over-played yet both resounded strongly with the audience and ultimately that is what counts.
The cast perform strongly and all deserve credit for their acting and vocals, with Johnson particularly impressive in his two cameo scenes whilst White sung perfectly as Amy, adding an emotional touch to her closing scene.
Billy Butler was, well, Billy Butler, but you wouldn’t want him any other way and his occasional appearances landed well with the audience.
Alton impressed as Louise with a strong performance and a delightful duet with Heller, whilst Fletcher brought some hope as Ellie including a moving solo and a beautiful closing duet with Heller.
Heller is simply outstanding as Danny, the glue that links and holds the whole production together. In what is a very demanding role – he is effectively in every scene – he maintains a likeable presence throughout, with strong acting and a powerful vocal that inspires and plucks at every heartstring in equal measure: bravo!
Under The Mersey Moon performs for one more night at The Floral Pavilion on 15th February at 7.30pm. For further information and tickets https://www.floralpavilion.com/event/mersey-moon/
It will also be rising in Liverpool later in the year at the Epstein Theatre from 10th to 13th November 2026, with tickets on sale from 1st March at www.epsteintheatre.com
Review Date: 14th February 2026
Star Rating: FIVE