Bugsy Malone

When the curtain opened to the lonesome figure of Fizzy (Jack Elliott), I knew we were in for something different. His performance throughout was excellent. From there we went into the action with the rival gang members, the principals, the nightclub singers, and all the other roles and company of street gangs, reporters, gamblers, announcers, Chinese laundry, and gun runners etc: what enthusiasm and energy and fun by all in this great production. A splendid effort by this Junior group to present a complicated plot. The lads enjoyed the splurge guns and the gals enjoyed being flappers. Bugsy was played by Jack Hutchins trying to resolve the many problems with the rival gangs whilst in pursuit of Blousey, India Wells Miller, who carried this part with conviction. A really strong and polished portrayal in song and acting of the would-be nightclub singer;

Rosie Griffiths as Tallulah made a good siren with the strong voice and sultry tones of the night club singer, and not forgetting her team of backing group (and how good they looked) and one of the stars of the show was Freddie Newman as Fat Sam who got well into his part and was a good copy of James Cagney, with his gang with the pies who just could not keep up with Morgan Booloozian as Dandy Dan and his gang with the splurge guns and all that sticky mess: what a time was had by these two gangs and how enjoyable. There were far too many in the cast to mention them all by name but my eye was caught by the little violin player following the dead, Cameron House and Brynley Griffiths as the Police Captain and Lieutenant, Charlie Clark as Babyface, Luc Oratis as Knuckles, Ollie Sheeran as Leroy Smith and Mary Mothersole as Dotty. In fact I think the children did extremely well, they all got their characters right and I think the two gangs were great and seemed to enjoy every minute.

 An excellent set, well managed. My compliments to the Stage Crew for the excellent effort and clever planning of the moveable flats and for coping with all the ‘splurge’. Also many congratulations to the wardrobe department for making that myriad of colourful costumes in all those sizes from very small to not so small. The young orchestra were great and the sound and lighting departments made sure that every word could be heard and cast all seen at all times.

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