Bonnie & Clyde the Musical

Bonnie & Clyde

Gladstone Theatre

Hoylake & West Kirby

18/9/25

 

You have to hand it to Hoylake & West Kirby they love a challenge, what a welcome for the opening night of Bonnie & Clyde the Musical. We were greeted Front of House by ladies & gentlemen looking amazing in 1930s attire, then being informed to pop into the ‘Speakeasy’ set up in the large lounge to be entertained. What a magical way to begin what was to be a very special evening.

The musical opens with Bonnie and Clyde's tragic deaths in a 1934 police ambush. The story then rewinds to their childhoods in Texas, where a young Bonnie (Jasmine Brown) dreams of movie stardom and a young Clyde (Sam Rogers)  (Picture Show) idolises outlaws like Billy the Kid. 

Bonnie & Clyde is a musical based on the true story of notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who rose to fame during the Great Depression.  After breaking out of prison with his brother Buck (Jacob McElvogue) Clyde (Elliot Tutt), an ex-convict, meets Bonnie (Leanne Burgess), a waitress, who disillusioned with her life, and wants excitement is flirting with Ted Hinton (Mickey Silverman) the local police officer. Clyde and Bonnie are immediately enamoured with each other. She shares her dreams of becoming a starlet, a poet and a singer. Clyde persuades her to sing for him ("How 'bout a Dance?")  With the promise of a glittering future, they set off down a dangerous path, only becoming more reckless and daring as they go. Buck goes to see his wife Blanche (Kaitlan Kay) at her Hair Salon, Sheriff Schmid (Liam Comer) & Ted Hinton come looking for Buck. Hidden by her customers Eleanore (Jessica Lawton), Trish (Aimee Preston) and Stella (Rebecca Keen-Powell) warn Blanche they will return.

Blanche pleads with Buck to turn himself in, she convinces him this is their opportunity to go straight. Buck does as she asks. The authorities eventually catch Clyde. On the eve of the Barrows' hearing, Blanche and Bonnie face the criticism of their friends and family for standing by their love for these criminals, but the women realise that they cannot help who they love ("You Love Who You Love"). It was superb, beautifully delivered by two very talented performers, a highlight of the musical for me.

At the hearing they find themselves with the rest of the Barrow clan, Clyde’s father Cumie Barrow (Lee Broadbere), Bonnies mother Emma Parker (Tracey Williams), Preacher (Ruby Tutt) who came to hear of the Barrow brothers' fates: Buck to be released on good behaviour and Clyde to serve another sixteen years for seven counts of robbery and a prison break. Six months later, Bonnie visits a severely beaten Clyde, who was attacked by another prisoner. The two plot to break Clyde out ("Raise a Little Hell"), Bonnie returns the next day with a gun hidden in her bra and leaves it with Clyde, who threatens to use it on the guard (Jamie Brown) if he doesn't let him go free. The prison guard obliges, and in no time, Clyde is back to stealing money to get by. While their friends and family react to the news of their escape, they take off in their 1931 roadster, excited and determined to fulfil their lifelong dreams ("This World Will Remember Us"). The musical, with music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Don Black, was celebrated for its catchy and varied score, which incorporates country, rock, including the gospel-infused "God's Arms Are Always Open, the fiery duet "Raise a Little Hell," All perfectly supported by Musical Director Jeff Broadbere and his extremely talented band. Director Ami Clewlow had an extremely talented cast, four outstanding principles, strong support actors playing a number of roles, then of course a strong ensemble and chorus. A true team productionThe production's staging was so effective, not an inch of performing space that wasn’t relevant, with clever use of projections to evoke the era and atmosphere of the time, as did the props and costumes. Congratulations production team and stage crew

Following their jailbreak, Bonnie and Clyde’s escapades are glamorized by the desperate American public during the Depression and become folk heroes.’ Made in America.’ “We may be in debt, wake up in a sweat, but let’s not forget where we were made in America.” The preacher (Ruby Tuft) condemns Bonnie and Clyde, but many others sympathise with their choice to steal, suggesting the pair is a product of their time and their country.  The preacher  represents the moral influence, delivering powerful gospel numbers that feel both uplifting yet tinged with a deeper thematic weight, reflecting the struggles and faith of this close community. This was a very stong performance from a newcomer to HAWK, well done Ruby.  Clyde suggests that Bonnie send her latest poem about their story to a big newspaper to be published. This not only gains more fame for them both, but also infuriates the Texas team of investigators to the point that Texas Governor Miriam Ferguson (Nicky Brown) interferes and recruits retired Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer (James Bennet), to hunt down Bonnie and Clyde. However, at a grocery store (Josh Leech store owner) the robbery goes wrong, recognised by a customer who asks for his autograph, Clyde panics and kills a deputy (Stuart Clay) who was ‘trying to be a hero’. When Clyde comes clean to her about his accidental transition from robbery to murder, a hysterical Bonnie wants out but finds that she's too far from what her life used to be to go back ("Too Late to Turn Back Now").

 There is an exceptional chemistry between the two lead actors, Leanne Burgess as Bonnie and Elliot Tutt as Clyde delivering divinely talented vocals on songs like "Dying' Ain't So Bad". Leanne was a charming, compelling, and intelligently portrayed Bonnie, Elliott was a charismatic, likable, yet a dangerously reckless portrayal of Clyde. Kaitlan Kays performance as Blanche, Clyde's sister-in-law, was sharp and witty with excellent comic timing. Buck portrayed as a loving husband, loyal brother, admiring the perceived freedom of the flamboyant Clyde.

Despite the pleas of their families to stop, the couple embark on a series of robberies at gunpoint, continuously evading the police and becoming the celebrities they desperately wanted to be.  In the middle of a disastrous bank raid, Clyde is shot in the shoulder. When Buck hears the news of his injured brother, in order to help Clyde, Buck leaves home, a hesitant Blanche, chooses love over law after all, accompanies him.The now “Barrow Gang” plans increasingly ambitious heists. As their fame and ambition grows, their inevitable fate draws closer. While heading back to visit their parents, a sporadic habit that the two have picked up, Clyde worries over how his family will ever forgive him for abandoning Buck and leaving him to die. Bonnie assures him that Buck's death was not his fault, but both of them begin to realise that their famous adventures are coming to an end.  At their hideaway, the boys return safely from a successful robbery, but the celebration is brief as they learn that the authorities have discovered their hideout and have them surrounded. A shootout follows, and, although Clyde and Bonnie escape successfully, Buck is fatally injured and dies in Blanche's arms. Blanche is arrested immediately. This was an amazing scene; I must mention Kaitlain Kays emotionally charged portrayal of this righteous woman swept up in criminality she hated, exceptional performance.

On May 23, 1934, in their 1931 ford roadster on a road in Louisiana, Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed and killed by police, a scene that mirrors the opening prologue. In their final song, they express that "Dyin' Ain't So Bad" as long as they die together, fulfilling Bonnie's prophecy and cementing their legacy as legendary, star-crossed outlaws.

Bonnie & Clyde is a tale of fame and glamour, crime and hardship, and above all, love. Thank you, HAWK, for an exceptional production you should be very proud.

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

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