FEATURING the soulful music of Dusty Springfield, Son of a Preacher Man is a new musical to the crowded theatre scene.

Written by Warner Brown and directed and choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, the show features the iconic hits of a musical legend that many of us can’t help but singalong to.

After embarking on a national tour in September, the show tells the tale of three broken hearts desperately looking for answers.

This leads them to a record shop in Soho where the son of a preacher man now lives.

It is the mission of Simon, played by Nigel Richards, to help the three strangers to understand their heartache so they can move on with their lives.

He is guided from beyond the grave by his father.

The plot is contrived and full of cliches and coincidences but finishes on a high with a feel-good and happy ending.

The enthusiasm of those on stage which includes singer Michelle Gayle and actress Alice Barlow cannot be faulted. Many of the talented cast even played musical instruments on stage.

While the musical had all of the components to create a show as memorable as the soundtrack of ‘the best female singer of the 60s’, it failed to ignite any excitement on my part.

Son of a Preacher Man plays at the Liverpool Empire until July 7.