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Bugsy Malone

Author: Tessa Davies

Information

Date
9th February 2023
Society
Chelmsford Young Generation Amateur Musical Society
Venue
Chelmsford Theatre
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Jeremy Tustin
Musical Director
Bryan Cass

This show is a perennial favourite with youth societies, including Young Gen.  This is their third production, albeit spread across more than 30 years!  It’s easy to understand why, the show is fun for the cast to perform, fun for the audience to watch and has some well-known and catchy tunes.

The script is rather disjointed, consisting of lots of individual scenes with little opportunity to maintain a consistent ‘flow’  However, Director Jeremy Tustin and Assistant Director Jill Burtenshaw deserve credit for making sure that the show moves at a good pace and the cast deserve lots of praise for delivering their performances with energy and enthusiasm.  With 53 cast members, 24 of whom were completely new to performing on stage, this must have been a challenge in rehearsals, but, happily, it all came together.

The Principals were well cast, Tommy Edwards played the title role of Bugsy with confidence, style and great characterisation.  Anna Edmondson played Blousy Brown beautifully, she has a terrific singing voice and used it to great effect.  Her solos, I’m Feeling Fine and Ordinary Fool were a joy to watch.   Fat Sam, played by Oliver Blowers, was another great characterisation, a little tentative at first but he soon got into his stride and produced an entertaining performance.   Bethany Irvine (Tallulah) and Hayden Wagland (Dandy Dan) were both strong performers, with great stage presence.  Fortune Ibrahim played Fizzy, a role that is often overlooked but does, in fact, maintain continuity to the scenes.  Her presence on stage even when she was not featured was beautifully portrayed.

The boys, in the two gangs, all produced good characters which they maintained throughout their appearances.  With eleven of them it seems unfair to pick out any single one, they were all good and had clearly taken the time to create individual characters.

The Speakeasy girls were a delight; again, with individual characters which came across well.  Their singing was strong as a group, and they executed the dances beautifully.  Which brings me to mention that the choreographer was not credited in the programme so I assume the the Director and Assistant Director were responsible for the simple but effective choreography.

I have already mentioned the size of the cast and I appreciate that, with youth performances, it is necessary to enable as many youngsters as possible to be on stage for the experience.  The sheer size of the cast as not obvious except in So you Wanna Be A Boxer.  This was just a tad chaotic but great fun. They all did extremely well, and the choreography was mainly in time.

Scenery was simple but very effective, with a standing set plus a few additions for specific scenes.  Music was at a good level, enabling us to hear the dialogue when necessary and supporting the singers well.  Costumes were excellent, in period and beautifully accessorised.  I did find that the lighting in the opening scene rather too dark but it was fine for the rest of the show and the spotlight operators were on point at all times.

I am so pleased that I was able to see this show, this is the first Young Gen show I have attended and I hope to be invited to more!  Finally, my thanks to the Front of House for making me so welcome.  The only problem?  I just cannot stop Fat Sam’s Grand Slam running round in my head!  I did say they were catchy tunes!

 

Tessa Davies

Regional Councillor

NODA East

 

On behalf of Christine Davidson NODA Rep District 8.V

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