SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewLady Be Good
|
Whatsoever a man shall sew, that also shall he RIP!—Jack Robinson on stitching up his torn jacket
|
Kate Nelson as Susie Trevor and Chris Ellis-Stanton as Dick Trevor
(Photo: Alastair Muir) |
Dick (Chris Ellis-Stanton) and Susie Trevor (Kate Nelson) are evicted from their mansion in Rhode Island because they are in debt. To secure their financial future, Dick proposes ditching his girlfriend Shirley (Rachel Jerram) and marrying a wealthy heiress Josephine Vanderwater (Hattie Ladbury). Susie meanwhile bumps into, and is attracted to Jack Robinson (Norman Bowman) whom she thinks is penniless like her. The Trevors' lawyer, Watty Watkins (Paul Grunert) proposes that Susie should impersonate the widow of a rich man to claim the inheritance and Susie goes along with the plan to save her brother from a loveless marriage.
This is a stylish small scale production with excellent performances from the ensemble cast. The set is giant skewed piano with double bass and drum kit. The piano keys form a stair with the piled up drum kit and it is all in very stylish black and white. Ian Talbot directs for over the top laughs because otherwise the dialogue might seem very dated. Costumes and wigs are in period and we can see how much the art of hairdressing has improved since the 1920s.
The cast can all sing and dance exceptionally well and there is lots of shimmying and the Charleston also figures. Our sibling couple, Dick and Susie, are played by Chris Ellis-Stanton and Kate Nelson. Susie has to wear a Mexican mantilla in the sub plot but she carries it off well. Norman Bowman as Jack sings a lovely duet with Susie. There is comedy choreography in the "Just Another Rhumba" number where rhumba rhymes with dumber. "I'd Rather Charleston" is tip top choreographically and looks fun! Watty Watkins (Paul Grunert) and Bertie Bassett (Giles Taylor), with his forehead curls, provide the comedy interest along with Daisy Parke (Charlotte Warren). Susie's line, "Oh Dickie it's going to rain!" gets a big ironic laugh from the long suffering British public but we did manage to see the show out the night we went holding off the wet weather!
|
LADY BE GOOD
Book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson Lyrics by Ira Gershwin Music by George Gershwin Directed by Ian Talbot Starring: Chris Ellis-Stanton, Kate Nelson, Paul Grunert, Norman Bowman, Hattie Ladbury With: Charlotte Warren, Giles Taylor, Rachel Jerram, Thomad Padden, Steve Watts, Joseph Pitcher, Alan Bradshaw, Chris Edgerley, Hayley Gallivan, Anna Lowe, Martin McCarthy, David McGranaghan, Nicola Pinto-Sander, Gemma Sutton Design: Paul Farnsworth Lighting Design: Jason Taylor Sound Design: Gregory Clarke Choreographer: Bill Deamer Musical Director: Catherine Jayes Arranger: Steve Edis Running time: Two hours 25minutes with one interval Box Office: 0870 060 1811 Booking to 25th August 2007 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 20th July 2007 performance at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, London NW1 (Tube: Baker Street) Musical Numbers Act One
|
|
London Theatre Tickets Lion King Tickets Billy Elliot Tickets Mary Poppins Tickets Mamma Mia Tickets We Will Rock You Tickets Theatre Tickets |
