Bugsy Malone

This musical is adapted straight from the Alan parker movie with little or no amendments. Therefore it bears all the hallmarks of a screen production, with many short scenes (some of them very short) and no real sense of continuity. In the wrong hands this can become a show about blackouts, it can become incoherent, and it can become bity and messy and difficult to follow.

However, I am pleased to say that this production was not in the wrong hands. Blackouts were avoided and the many scenes were linked in an entertaining fashion. I particularly liked that after every death, cast came on the carry off the body followed by a violin player. In fact there were many entertaining moments in this great production.

This group has progressed year on year to the extent that they can now rival any adult group and this huge cast was full of talent. Many of the cast I am familiar with from the pantomimes staged at this venue and also the musicals staged by Kats, but MAD kids gives many youngsters a chance at principal playing and they grasp these opportunities with both hands.

Bugsy himself was given a nice deft portrayal by Jonathan Cardrick. His always disappointed sometime girl, Blousy brown was nicely judged by Kirsty Bonner. I did feel sorry her when she was stood up for the umpteenth time.

Tallulah is a bit of hard faced strumpet, and she was well played by Lucy Booker. She has one the shows biggest numbers and she handled it well.

Edward Griffiths is always a favourite of mine at MAD shows and here he was excellent as Fat Sam, the struggling night club owner trying to deal with the gang rivalry onslaught from Dandy Dan, given a nice slightly threatening portrayal by Dan Sinclair another really strong performer.

I am not going to mention everyone because the cast was so huge but these principal players really stood out. The society is fortunate in having a number of very good young male performers and they are given all the chances they deserve.

The ensemble work was well drilled, and nicely thought through. Choreography was designed to enable the cast to cope with it, but also to be as adventurous as it could be given the limited stage space, the large cast, and their varied abilities.

There was great musical support from the 5 piece band and the musical numbers all had great impact.

I must admit that Bugsy Malone isn’t my favourite musical, mainly because of its very episodic nature, but this production successfully overcame that , as was to be expected with the excellent team in place ably led by the indefatigable Claire Tapper, whose energy never ceases to amaze me.

 

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