For me musical theatre means a chance to sit back, relax and wait to enjoy all those well known songs and wonder at the dancing, sets and costumes.
Well, tonight it wasn’t quite like that, Leonard Berstein’s almost forgotten Wonderful Town was not full of familiar songs and the fantastic cast was not full of household names and perhaps the whole thing was better for it.
The exception to this rule of course is Connie Fisher (Winner of the BBC’s How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?) who was quite simply sensational, her fabulous comic timing, gawkiness and girl next door appeal had the audience eating out of her hand. She played the older of two sisters moving from Ohio to New York to seek their fortunes. The younger sister was played by Lucy Van Gasse and their harmonies together were a treat.
Set in New York’s bohemian Greenwich village in the 1930’s, , the story follows the lives and loves of the sisters from their below ground ‘apartment’ to their involvement with the Vortex club and introduces many characters based on real life people who lived in the village at that time.
Nic Greenshields played the role of Wreck Loomis and used his height to great advantage with Tiffany Graves as his girlfriend they were a must watch couple. Michael Xavier and Lucy Van Gasse were both classy and, I have it on good authority, pitch perfect throughout.
The production numbers were exceptional, the dancing and singing were from the top draw without exception. The entire cast exuded energy and gusto, it would have been difficult to pick out my favourite ensemble piece – if it hadn’t been for the amazing, hilariously funny and very enterprising rendition of My Darlin’ Eileen which was the introduction to the foot tapping, feel good second act.
Hats off to Andrew Wright the Choreographer, such innovative and polished routines delivered with precision timing and sharpness throughout – the whole cast really couldn’t have done any better.
This musical has the best of everything – great scores, clever words, and its genuinely funny. This production used all of this to its best advantage suffice to say I had a wonderful evening watching Wonderful Town at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Wonderful Town is at the Theatre Royal Plymouth until 30th June 2012, following this it will continue on its National tour. For information about tickets to see this in Plymouth please click here or for more information on the show and the tour please click here.
I went to see Wonderful Town last night at The Theatre Royal Plymouth, as I wanted to see the amazing Connie Fisher live on stage after becoming a fan when I watched the BBC’s How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? And she didn’t disappoint! Andrew Lloyd Webber said she would be perfect for Funny Girl and he was right. She was fortunate to have funniest lines in the show, which she enhanced with her body language and excellent comic timing. She certainly has a gift for comedy. Obviously it’s not all about Connie…. and she leads a terrific cast of singers, I particularly enjoyed the harmony singing of the superb male chorus in the hilarious My Darlin Eileen, showing their versatility and strength as probably the best part singing I’ve ever heard. The choreography was animated and physically uplifting being preformed with immense enthusiasm by the entire company.
It was unusual for me to watch a musical and not know any of the musical numbers but actually if found that quite refreshing.
Well done to the entire cast as I had a lovely evening.
Wonderful Town – Theatre Royal Plymouth
Last night I watched the amazing cast of Leonard Bernsteins Wonderful Town. What a great show and why have we left it so long to produce it in this country. The cast were all superb without exception and how refreshing to hear songs which, for the most part, are not known to the British audience. Although the story line may lack a little in content the fantastic production numbers more than made up for the writing.
A perfect set with fantastic lighting throughout, well worth a visit if you’re in the Plymouth area but hurry because it will be leaving for another wonderful town soon.
We went to see Wonderful Town yesterday afternoon and were blown away with the energy and humour it exuded. Congratulations to Andrew Wright the choreographer and the orchestra because the music and dancing were superb; lots of steps and moves I have never seen before. Connie was wonderful also Lucy Van Gasse. However all the cast were brilliant. For instance the men had to be Portuguese for the conga number and Irish Policemen for the hilarious Eileen number. The set was clever, everyone moved stuff around (beds became something else for instance) with such style and timing. What a shame there were so many empty seats!
Why aren’t people more adventurous?
Go to the terrible Starlight Express or the brain numbing Sister Act and you will see no empty seats.
This show was refreshimg because it is unknown. Funny, great tunes, big band music, but most of all a cast obviously enjoying the show and supremely polished made this one of the best shows in Plymouth for a long time.
Unlucky for those who didn’t fill the empty seats…