Kipps

It is always refreshing to see a new show especially when it is produced with the combined talents of Director and Choreographer Anita Adams, Adam Boniface as MD and Tom Mitchell as Assistant MD it is sure to be a hit, and a great big hit it was.

The set was very simple which had an extremely large typewriter complete with keyboard filling the back of the stage and print copy on the stage and rolling into the orchestra pit as well as being on a large board. It was enhanced by a stack of exceptionally large books on stage right. All these proved to be very versatile and used in various scenes throughout the production.

Kipps, which is the latest version of Half a Sixpence starts with a young Kipps and Ann played superbly by Jasper Mead and Belle Isbister respectively, these two also appeared throughout the production, two stars in the making, I think.

I think we all know Arthur Kipps starts his working life in the drapery store of Mr Shalford which is run by him and Carshot played admirably by Dave Collins and Jason Walker respectively. Also working in the store are Kipps’ three mates, Buggins, Pearce and Sid Pornick, these were in the more than capable hands of Ryan Jones, Andre Stolarski and James Pegg who worked extremely well together, they alongside Rachel O’Pipes who played Flo made up an amazingly effective team whose singing in the various numbers was great.

Kipps has a chance encounter with Chitterlow, an actor/writer who is always on the look out for character names in one of his plays, enter David Kirk who was brilliant in this character, just the right amount of flamboyancy without going over the top, I enjoyed his duet with Kipps “The One Who’s Run Away” which was excellent.

When Kipps comes into some money one of his love interests, Helen Walsingham take a little more notice of him than she did previously, Lucy Evans was superb in this part, her singing was breath-taking and she worked very well with the others in her family, Mrs Walsingham played effortlessly by Marie Isbister, her scene with Helen and Lady Punnett played by Jane Collins were extremely funny, both Mrs Walsingham and Lady Punnett trying the outdo the other. Helen has a brother, or in this production a sister, Jamie Walsingham played by Katie Wlodarczyk, I have to say Katie did a good job of this character, but I am not sure if it worked in my opinion.

I mentioned at the start of this piece we had young Kipps and Ann, they were also joined by his Aunt Susan and Uncle Bert, although only small parts they were portrayed with ease by Rachel Thompson and Martin Isbister, both of whom also took on several other roles.

As we all know Kipps’ main love interest is Ann Pornick who he loves but then they became parted and meet up again, Ann, played with style by Lizzie Wlodarczyk, her singing was delivered effortlessly both in the comedy numbers and the softer ones.

And now we come to the title role of Kipps, for anyone to give this part credence they need to be a “Triple Threat” and that is just what Alex Wright was, he was outstanding in all three disciplines. The energy this young man had was out of this world and he used it to the best to bring out the best in the songs, dances and the dialogue.

Kipps sings many of his songs with the full chorus which is needed in this piece and there are many, some of which were in the original Half a Sixpence. Money to Burn and Flash Bang Wallop with the Apprentices and chorus are just two which need to have energy to put them over and they had just that. Helen and Kipps also need to have pathos when singing “Long Ago” which was from the original production, you could hear a pin drop when they delivered this number.

I am sure I can speak from the rest of the audience on opening night, some of whom were on their feet at the end, when I say we all thoroughly enjoyed the whole production, delivered in the usual Yeadon Theatre Company’s style.

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