Bugsy Malone – by arrangement with Faber Music Ltd

It’s 40 years since the all child cast of the musical film had us singing along to Fat Sam’s Grand Slam, but the talented youth section of Whitby Area Musical Theatre Company had the audience singing and clapping in their seats with a sharp and lively production of Bugsy Malone.  Making her directing debut with the company, Elizabeth Jeeves, had clearly encouraged the young cast to enjoy themselves as well as ensuring that the audience did too. This whole production was well directed and congratulations must go to Elizabeth for her vision in putting it all together so effectively.
The musical direction was excellent with young people singing some challenging songs accompanied by a wonderful eight piece band.  The band didn’t over power the young voices, but enhanced this super production.  The live music really transported us to prohibition America.
The hero of the story, Bugsy Malone, was played by Jack Buck who gave us an excellent performance in the title role. This was equally matched by the performances of Bugsy’s love interest Blousy Brown played by Helena Graham and gangsters moll Tallulah played by Polly Diaz-Thompson.
Strong support was given by Sam Gower in the demanding role of Fat Sam with some very clever trips and slips going on – well done. Ben Maidment tugged at our heartstrings with his rendition of ‘Tomorrow’ when he expresses his desire to be a performer rather than a janitor.  It is the first time I have seen Dandy Dan played by a female and Amber Newton left us in no doubt who was in charge.  Leroy, played by Josh Buckle, was very much the unassuming new boxing talent and there was clever comic interaction between Adam Hodgson (Captain Smolsky) and Diego Lorains (Lieutenant O’Dreary).  There was good characterisation in some of the smaller roles and along with the chorus the entire cast maintained their characters throughout even during the scenes involving the splurge gun attacks. This group clearly has a solid future ahead of it as I was impressed by the stage presence of the younger members.
The choreography was very appropriate to the period of the show and I particularly liked the way the dance numbers began with a few cast members and then developed further as more of the cast joined in resulting in full production numbers.  The cast clearly projected their lines and the use of American accents by characters was maintained throughout. 
The set was very  effective and the use of period telephones at either side of the proscenium arch was inspired as it limited the need for props to be taken off and on in what is a very ‘busy’ show with many set changes.  The stage crew worked hard to ensure that we were moved seamlessly from back streets, to the speakeasy and various other New York and Chicago locations.    The costumes were great for the production and well done to the costume and backstage team who must have had a ‘downtown’ laundry going back stage to keep them clean following the messy splurge gun and custard pie attacks.  The props were all fitting with the period and the splurge guns certainly worked well.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the production.
 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.