Set in 1920s Chicago, Bugsy Malone takes influences from the lives
of mobsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran, before mixing them together with a
cast full of kids and the infamous splurge guns. As Scott Baio, the original
film’s star put it, “you couldn’t ask for a better first big gig!”
Brilliant Theatre Arts have
brought their production to the Harlow Playhouse for a four-show run,
emphasising the “immersive/interactive” nature of the performance. As soon as I
walked through the theatres doors, I was greeted by a stern look from two
pintsize police officers and rushed away with my head bowed low to collect my
ticket.
This form of welcoming
committee worked well, however, later on in the performance, it become
irritating and distracting as cast members appeared through doorways in the
corner of my eyes before running down a flight of stairs and darting off down
another exit without contributing anything to the performance, and having to
stand up in order to allow actors to barge through the seating. As a director,
I appreciate that David Jenkins, who directed the production, has a vision that
he wanted to achieve, however it often distracted from the main action taking
place on the stage.
The emphasis for this
production was, as it should be, on the talented cast. Guy Trundle was
Bugsy, playing the slick smooth-talker well, often appearing as one of the
biggest on stage despite the fact he was physically one of the smallest! George
Ellaway and Eddie Woodley had excellent on-stage chemistry as the crime fighting
duo of Captain Smolsky and Officer O’Dreary, and employed this to very humorous
effect. Jenkins and producer, Lee Ellaway, did well in ensuring that the cast
were comfortable in expecting laughs and playing off of the audience.
Phoebe Mary Duffy was very
good as Tallulah, seemingly intent on stealing Bugsy from Blousey, played by
Elyvia Palmer who had an excellent voice. The stand out performance, however,
belonged to Lucy Lawson as Fizzy. Her rendition of ‘Tomorrow’ was better than
in the original film, and the accompanying dance with Gracie Leader was
seamless.
Amanda Black’s choreography
was clever and incorporated the entire cast, including the younger performers,
combining well with Matt Evans’ musical direction particularly well in ‘Down and
Out’.
The set, designed and built,
by Chris Musgrave from Set Blue Scenery and Sandra Urwin was possible one of
the most ambitious I have seen of a youth theatre production, working really
well, especially in providing multiple exits at varied levels whilst Emily
Brown’s lighting worked very well in depicting location.
Admittedly, I found it
difficult to buy into Jenkins’ directorial vision and believe it actually
hampered the performance; however, the more conventional elements of the show
worked well. The entire cast of Bugsy Malone showed off their talents and their
energy and commitment throughout was admirable.
Tickets for Bugsy Malone are
on sale for their performance on the 3rd of May 2015 at the Harlow Playhouse on
01279 446754. More information on Brilliant Theatre Arts can be found here
http://www.brillianttheatrearts.co.uk/
No comments:
Post a Comment