Sometimes one enters a theatrical show with a completely open mind; at other times it is with a conviction that the show in question is going to be bad – but there is a subtle difference, and a gratification, in finding out whether it will be ‘bad-good’ or ‘bad-bad’.

Can’t Smile Without You, featuring all the songs of Barry Manilow, loosely tells the story of hopeful singer, Tony (Chesney Hawkes) who is offered the chance of stardom in New York. Before he eventually rejects the offer and returns to his fiancée and band, he complicates matters by falling in love with a girl, Mandy (Siobhan Dillon). As fate would have it, however, he proceeds to lose his memory and then is catapulted to stardom. Is there any hope of him regaining his one true love?

The acting is solid-oak-furniture wooden, and there doesn’t seem to be quite enough chemistry between the leading couple, although marginal compensation is provided by the efforts of Lauren (Francesca Jackson) who appears to be a bit more warm and emotive. Thankfully there is a decent amount of cheese, largely encapsulated in meaningful pauses coupled with a tinkling sound effect. It at least satisfied this reviewer to believe that the directors & writers aren’t taking themselves too seriously.

Of course, the acting merely serves to provide time for costume changes between songs. The music itself is energetically played with a talented backing band, and the singing is nothing that would be out of place at a concert. The show-stoppers of the night are “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana” – the latter being the only song with any eye-catching dancing, thanks to the lavish costumes. In all the other numbers the dancing fails to serve any real purpose, and is just another addition to the background.

So, in short: if you’re keen on Barry Manilow or else are a fan of the more home-grown Big Cheese at Potterrow, then the is undoubtedly the show for you: forgettable and harmless as opposed to awful and traumatic.