The first review of Crazy for You (this week at The Tivoli) is in, and it’s a cracker! Linda Kirkman of SceneOne said:
IN 1930 a new musical, Girl Crazy, opened on Broadway and was a moderate success, running for eight months and with its score lauded as one of the Gershwins’ best. Fast forward to 1992 when the show, much re-written and with other notable Gershwin songs added, was re-launched as Crazy For You. It was a huge hit, winning a Tony Award for Best Musical and running for 1622 performances, and the subsequent London production racking up a three year run.
This WMT production, headed by Roy Joseph (director), John Stringer (musical director) and Suzy de Villiers (choreographer) only runs until Saturday, sadly, because the amount of love, care and sheer enthusiasm that has plainly gone into it deserves a much greater airing and those foot-tapping songs are still as enjoyable as ever.
The story is set in Deadrock, Nevada, where a New York banker and would-be performer, Bobby Child, has been sent to foreclose on an old theatre but decides instead to try to save it by calling on his chorus girl friends from NYC to join him in putting on a show. Oh, and he also falls madly in love with the only woman in the town, Polly Baker, and disguises himself as theatre impresario Bela Zangler with somewhat unfortunate consequences.
Strong characterisations in the two central roles are a must, and in this instance I really don’t think they could have been bettered. Sixteen year-old Hermione Mason, fresh from taking her GCSEs and in her first leading lady role, is an absolute natural on stage. She’s faultless as Polly Baker, singing, dancing and acting with real skill and with the loveliest of smiles. Look out for her in the West End in a few years’ time, because I’m sure she’ll be there.
Lee Redwood is rather more used to playing in drag these days – his panto dames are quite something – but he has donned more normal male attire to play Bobby Child and is absolutely superb in every way. There’s a lovely chemistry between him and Hermione and he also shows a great talent for comedy, never more so than in his ‘mirror’ scene with the real Bela Zangler, the latter excellently played by Phil Evans.
There are great characterisations in smaller roles too, not least from Sally Ager (Irene Roth) and Andy Trant (Lank Hawkins), and both male and female chorus shine, sing well and are beautifully animated. Dancing is particularly impressive, as are costumes and lighting, and there’s a smashing band too.
Who could ask for anything more?
(Read the full review on SceneOne’s Website)
