STAGE REVIEW OF BUGSY MALONE, BIRMINGHAM UK 2022

Birmingham Repertory Theatre 2022, Bugsy Malone 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bugsy Malone is a real delight, it is a Birmingham Repertory Theatre main stage event while the spotlight is on the city itself, as it plays host to The Commonwealth Games 2022. This fabulous feel-good show is vibrant and beautiful and mirrors Birmingham city’s vibrancy and candescence in the present moment.

The ’Bugsy’ formula, of course, stems from the gangster musical movie of 1976 written and directed by Alan Parker (1944-2020) and co-produced by David Puttnam. A quirky, unique and memorable movie because of Parker’s decision to cast children
as main players.

This stage version, directed by Sean Holmes so intuitively, has an ensemble adult cast who appear alongside a group of youngsters of tender age; all of whom show great talents as performers, with perfect timing, intonation, charisma and panache, all rather necessary attributes for a musical with American composer, Paul William’s wonderful score.

This play has the essential design elements which complement the script. It is like a moving storyboard; like a live comic book almost:

It's the ‘roaring twenties’ in a neighbourhood in downtown New York, with feuding gangster gangs up to no good. Fat Sam (Albie Snelson) heads one side; Dandy Dan (Desmond Cole) heads the other.

Albie Snelson in
Bugsy Malone (stage)
Photograph by Johan Persson

 

Desmond Cole and Georgia Pemberton
Bugsy Malone (stage)
photograph by Johan Persson

As gang member(s) from either side falls foul, the scenes are closed with a flash from a reporter’s camera, with every dead man rising and signing off with defeated exclamation 'Oh Man! Before exiting the stage.

There is no gun fire and fake blood however, in this show it is all cream splatters, pies, and lollipops. Bugsy Malone (Gabriel Payne) frequently visits the Speakeasy bar, he meets Blousey (Mia Lakha) who is a wannabe singer looking for work. Blousey dreams of Hollywood and in Bugsy’s effort to earn a few bucks and help fulfil her wishes, he gets caught up in doing a couple of jobs for Fat Sam.

Young actors Gabriel Payne and Mia Lakha
Bugsy Malone (stage)
photograph by Johan Persson

The music is live, and four musicians play the original songs from William’s movie soundtrack using a doubling of tripling of music instruments synonymous to the jazz sound, additionally Gavin Hibberd and Dan Boardman are a brass playing duo. All six play under the expert direction of Connagh Tonkinson (on piano). All songs and the musical performance has the jazz quality and reverberation spot on. The highlights include the music and dance performance of the songs Bad Guys and So You Wanna Be A Boxer which involve more of the ensemble, and noteworthy solo performances of Tomorrow by Fizzy (Aidan Oti) and Lakha’s stunning Ordinary Fool. Also, the wonderful choreography, 1920’s costume, and Art Deco settings really make this play zing with energy and razzmatazz.

Performance of Bad Guys
Bugsy Malone (STAGE)
Photograph by Johan Persson

Pictured Aidan Oti in Bugsy Malone (stage) Photograph by Johan Persson

This show has wide appeal, and it runs at The Rep for the duration and beyond the length of the Commonwealth Games 2022 -  in Birmingham until August 14th.

Review by Theatre Critic, Debra Hall who attended the press night performance of Bugsy Malone at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Friday 29 July 2022 at 19.00 hrs

**ENDS**

References

A Birmingham Rep production programme (2022) Bugsy Malone

Persson, J. production photography (2022) Bugsy Malone

Online

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