Musicals come in many forms, some last and some fall by the wayside. One show that seems to be an evergreen is Bugsy Malone, the tale of rival gangs in 1920s New York. Originally a movie written by Alan Parker (with music and lyrics by Oscar winning Paul Williams). This 1977 screen version gave a major boost to the fledgling careers of Scott Baio and Jodie Foster among others and cemented the musical as a favourite with generations, due to its high slapstick factor.
The stage version is being revived by the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, and the dark walls and fire escapes that provide the backdrop to the stage set immmediately conjur up for us the era of Prohibition and mobsters. Adding a huge dose of colour is Fat Sam's Speakeasy, where gang leader Fat Sam intends muscling in on the territory of his long time rival Dandy Dan by the use of the new 'splurge gun'. It was perhaps a stroke of genius taking away the threat of deadly ammunition and replacing it with custard pies and gunge, thereby making this a real family friendly take on mob rule.
The slapstick OTT style of the show may not be everyones cup of tea, but it certainly had a great reception from the packed Opera House audience. Songs such as 'Bad Times', 'So You Wanna Be A Boxer?' and 'Fat Sam's Grand Slam' are expertly delivered by a cast of minors and adults, weaving together the story. True, a few of the scenes fall a bit flat from time to time but overall the pace of the story is kept, and there are some standout performances not least from big voiced Mia Lakha as Blousey whose 'Ordinary Fool' is a showstopper, Albie Snelson as Fat Sam brings the right amount of comedic heavy to the role and Aidan Oti delivers a wonderfully bleak 'Tomorrow.'
Director Sean Holmes keeps the rather thin story from dragging, bringing us slapstick and song combined whilst set and costume designer Jon Hausor delivers both the glamour of the 1920s and the faded splendour of downtown New York. The Speakeasy and an inventive car chase sequence are two examples of how the look of the show is stylish whilst true to its setting.
The cast work hard to bring the admittedly stock characters to life, and their sheer exuberance wins the audience over. Bugsy Malone has been performed in schools for decades, and it is clear that with its target audience the show is still a winner. This quality production - heading into London as soon as its tour is completed - will ensure Bugsy, Dandy Dan and Fat Sam will be around for some time yet. Get your ticket now - but learn to duck!
Rob Cope
Further details of the production can be found at the BUGSY MALONE WEBSITE
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