AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'. To 22 January.

Sheffield

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr

Crucible Theatre To January 2005
Tue-Sat 7.30pm & Mon 3 Jan Mat 5, 8, 12, 15, 19 22 Jan 2.30pm no performance 31 Dec
Captioned 22 January 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 5min One interval

TICKETS: 0114 249 6000
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 December

A show you'll love as much as you love Fats' music, finely sung and danced.The Crucible's long proved its value as a snooker-hall; now it shows itself a revue venue. For this Fats Waller tribute show is more music than musical, recreating the songs of Fats' interwar heyday.

Philip Wilson's production makes the most of the limited theatrical possibilities, on the stylish stepped and discreetly-coloured wood-floor setting Peter McIntosh uses to evoke the period. A few tables around the stage's edge give a feel of a swish entertainment hotspot, social dances around them varying the centre-stage showbiz choreography.

Proceedings start with a lone pianist hesitantly making his way to the grand piano standing proudly solo on stage. He's soon laying into the ivories and singers emerge to begin a picture of the sophisticated Waller. The big(gish) band follows after.

Stride gets a mention, Lindy Hop is on display (choreographer Carolene Hinds is from the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, heirs to the 1920s Black American swing-dance creation). But Ain't Misbehavin ain't going out of its way to tell us anything we didn't know.

It doesn't recount Fats' life, describe his personality or explore the creative process. If that's what you're interested in, buy the programme. The show's just there for the music.

For Fatsomaniacs Ain't Misbehavin'll be unmissable. It originated in the late 1970s and probably not around Christmas-time, so no surprise Fats' Jingle Bells' isn't in the mix. Nor, despite an outline appearance of the great man's famous beaming features, is there much of his humour. His very good friends the milk and mail men don't turn up. Your Feet's Too Big' gets a look-in, but deprived of the low-note piano plod and Fats' cheerily grumbling voice it loses much of its point.

Here, though, is a Waller who can smooch up to romance and longing with the best. And the best is what's on display at the Crucible. I'd say everyone on stage is very good indeed. Except one, who judging by cast photos, is Akiya Henry.

She's outstanding, with the fizz and focus of a magnetic star. If she doesn't turn out one, then the stratosphere'll be the loser. But see for yourself.

Cast: Phillip Browne, Enyonam Gbesemete, Akiya Henry, Joel Karie, Nataylia Roni
Swings: Erina Baresh, Tristan Temple

Director: Philip Wilson
Designer: Peter McIntosh
Lighting: Tim Mitchell
Sound: Nick Greenhill
Musical Director/Additional arrangements: David Shrubsole
Choreographer: Carolene Hinds
Dialect coach: Neil Swain
Assistant director: Dominic Leclerc
Assistant choreographer: Russell Sargeant

2004-12-29 13:24:12