BAD GIRLS. To 1 March 2008.
London.
BAD GIRLS
by Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus music and lyrics by Kath Gotts.
Garrick Theatre To 1 March 2008.
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 3pm.
Runs 2hr 35min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 890 1104
Review: Harriet Davis 18 February
Banged up for two hours plus innocent fun.
Not the most obvious choice for adaptation, but rather fun nonetheless; Footballers’ Wives creators Maureen Chadwick and Ann McManus bring their popular TV prison drama to the West End. The transformation is pretty straightforward. The plot of the first series is condensed into just over two hours, and the highly-strung, volatile inmates are given a musical makeover. Which, by and large, works. The show’s reliance on melodrama makes the move from screen to stage relatively seamless – with any number of catchy songs to thread it all together.
Rachel Hicks (Emily Aston) is the new girl in town, put away for a measly drug charge and laboring under the false hope that dastardly prison warden Jim Fenner (undoubtedly the star of the show) will protect her from the other inmates. Unbeknown to Rachel, Fenner is a sexual predator, who shamelessly exploits his position for personal gain. Fenner rapes Rachel, who – much to the other inmates’ horror – commits suicide.
A prison riot ensues, followed by an elaborate – if somewhat preposterous – revenge plot.
Burt is excellent as Fenner; chewing up the scenery and generally basking in his own villainy. Laura Rogers plays high-minded liberal Helen Stewart, whose dedication to the well-being of the inmates frequently lands her in trouble with her superiors. In what has been zealously dubbed ‘the first lesbian musical’, Stewart is granted a tentative kiss with lifer-inmate Nikki Wade (Caroline Head).
Sally Dexter is excellent as sumptuous mobster’s wife Yvonne Atkins, and Helen Fraser convinces as Fenner’s sidekick Silvia Hollomby. The only letdown is Head, who – with her clipped tones and elegant posture – feels out of place in a prison environment.
Despite the assertions of those involved, there is nothing gritty about this production. There are few home truths presented that have not been explored in considerably more depth elsewhere; closer to Carry On than Porridge, this is high-camp, frivolous nonsense. Great songs, endless innuendo; trashy, irresistible fun.
Rachel Hicks: Emily Aston.
Prison Officer: Phil Barley.
Crystal Gordon: Camilla Beeput.
Jim Fenner: David Burt.
Noreen Biggs: Maria Charles.
Yvonne Atkins: Sally Dexter.
Shell Dockley: Nicole Faraday.
Sylvia ‘Bodybag’ Hollamby: Helen Fraser.
Justin Mattison: Chris Grierson.
The Number One: Michael Harbour.
Nikki Wade: Caroline Head.
Julie Saunders: Julie Jupp.
Denny Blood: Amanda Posener.
Helen Stewart: Laura Rogers.
Prison Officer: Rick Savery.
Julie Johnston: Rebecca Wheatley.
Prisoners: Josephine Cook, Karen Davies, Zita Frith, Lisa Marie Graham, Gillian Hardie, Natalie Tapper, Kelle Marie Walters, Sally Whitehead.
Director: Maggie Norris.
Designer: Colin Richmond.
Lighting: Tim Mitchell.
Sound: Paul Groothuis.
Sound Effects/Video: Mic Pool.
Orchestrations: Martin Koch.
Music Director: Dane Preece.
Choreographer: Ann Yee.
Fight director: Marcello Marascalchi.
2007-09-20 00:14:32