Could Chesney be magic in Manilow musical?

3:30pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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Will Chesney Hawkes be magic in the new Barry Manilow musical? Kerry Ann Eustice talks to the One and Only to find out

As I wait for Chesney Hawkes to break from rehearsals (a tight schedule means it's already run over 40 minutes) I realise I'm quite excited. Well, he's a bit of a 1990s icon isn't he? Whichever your stance - pop legend or one-hit wonder, his is a name few have forgotten.

When we're introduced he's friendly, sweet and enthusiastic. (And he's always like this, the stage manager informs me later.) Although much slimmer than I expect, those pretty-boy looks take me back to Buddy's Song, the film which launched the infamous single, me singing the One and Only on karaoke aged 11 and dancing to it in the student union at 18.

He may have been labelled a one-hit wonder by the meaner among you (and those who choose to ignore his songwriting achievements) but that single has built and shaped a career for Chesney, something he's the first to admit.

"Well, it's kept me in the way I've become accustomed over the years," he laughs.

"To be honest, it's so much fun to play. You just play the first chord of it and everyone just goes nuts, so I can't help but love playing it.

"I'm proud of the record, it's stood the test of time obviously and people still want to listen to it, and it's nappies on bums."

With One and Only out of the way, we're free to talk about the next chapter in Chesney's career, playing the lead in Can't Smile Without You, theatre impresario Bill Kenwright's latest musical based on the hits of Barry Manilow.

"I was at the school picking up my kids, and I had a phone call from my manager saying Bill Kenwright wants to meet you with the possibility of doing the lead part in a musical," said Chesney of how his casting came about.

Obviously he was keen but also about to embark on a family holiday, so Chesney was called to Kenwright's office that same day.

"I literally dropped everything, well obviously got my kids looked after, I didn't just tie them up round the back," he jokes.

So quicker than you can say Could it be Magic, Chesney was in Kenwright's London office, singing Mandy for the first time ever and running through the script with the director.

"A couple of days later I got the call saying it's yours if you want it'.

"Life has a habit of throwing curved balls at you sometimes. This is not what I planned for, in fact, I had loads and loads of other plans for this year which I've dropped to do this."

Those other plans include getting the word out about his new eight-years-in-the-making album, Another Fine Mess. A blend of sweet pop and rocky ballads (quite The Feeling-esque), but he feels delaying the long-time coming record he's proud of will be worth it.

"It's an opportunity I can't turn down, especially with the possibility of it going to the West End."

The show, Can't Smile Without You, tells the story of an up and coming young boy band, led by Chesney's character Tony, who audition for a New York reality TV show, a la X-Factor.

"It's an interesting one. There's quite a lot of acting and a lot of drama stuff involved in it, but its firmly tongue in cheek.

"My character gets beaten up and loses his memory, that part of it is quite tragic, but it's in the best possible taste," he says while adopting a camp accent and pose.

Chesney compares the show to pop musicals such as Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You and says Manilow's key changes and sweeping strings work very well in musical theatre.

Chesney's musical tastes include Radiohead and "old school stuff" such as John Lennon, Elvis Costello and Stevie Wonder. He's not quite a fanilow (pet name of the uber dedicated Barry followers) but he likes Manilow too.

"God, yeah. How can you not like Bazza?"

There been talk there's a possibility the man himself might come and see the show. I tell Chesney I'm thinking of launching one of News Shopper's famous, award-winning campaigns, Bring Barry to Bromley'.

"That would be brilliant," he laughs. "I would sign the petition, but not for opening night.

"Imagine Barry Manilow on the front row taking notes."

"A lot of the arrangements involved in this musical are iconic to the Fanilows," Chesney added. "There's a medley in there which he does every single show. They all know it, word for word. It's a lot to live up to. It's tough isn't it, filling the great man's shoes."

Can't Smile Without You opens at The Churchill, Bromley, August 28 to Sep 6. 0870 0606620.

At The Orchard, Dartford from Sep 8 to Sep 13. 01322 220000.