BARNUM. To 4 June.

London

BARNUM
by Cy Coleman (music) Michael Stewart (lyrics) Mark Bramble (book)

Union Theatre 204 Union Street SE1 To 4 June 2005
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 15min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7261 9876
www.uniontheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 May

The sound of people having a good time.His trademark attitude to life, and the first song in this show, There's a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute links 19th century US impresario Phineas Taylor Barnum to the streetwise conmen of Guys and Dolls. Though this musical's not in that league it comes up well as a piece about the master of spectacle, performed in a space on the scale of General Tom Thumb, the impresario's 25 tall prize human exhibit. Here's a revival to enhance the Union's reputation for musicals.

The longer first part charts Barnum's rise, up to his relationship with operatic soprano Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale', stolen from a rival producer. (Vocally convincing, Angel Brereton creates both national and art-form contrasts to American showmanship: reserved acuity with glacial porcelain beauty.)

Barnum was always defeated by women. His beloved wife out-scammed him and calmly awaited his return from the Scandinavian siren she had urged him to book in the first place. The second act shows Barnum's political career crumbling when his wife dies, before rising to the climactic Join the Circus' as he makes his last partnership, creating Barnum & Bailey's 3-ringed extravaganzas.

The tiny Union throws actors and audience together, increasing an interactive sense of showmanship, though it puts some seats too close to absorb the full force of Andrew Lynford's larger-scale choreographic routines. And the balance between unmiked solo voices, chorus and amplified keyboard doesn't always make for clarity.

These limitations only emphasise the production's positive qualities. There's a corporate energy and conviction in the big numbers; Lynford uses linear and rotational patterns flexibly, as well as employing height and gesture.

And there are strong performances, including Chris Coughlin's Barnum, who doesn't age enough but has the bearing of a dreamer for whom showmanship is reality. Sarah-Jane Bourne's Charity has a contrastingly demure, yet quietly shrewd manner. Both show and performances make the Barnums' life-long love believable, offsetting the flim-flam all around. Natasha Cox's centenarian doing the splits and Daniel Whitley (tallest member of the cast) as the diminutive Thumb are two of a strong company making for a high energy, highly enjoyable show.

PT Barnum: Chris Coughlin
Charity Barnum: Sarah-Jane Bourne
The Ringmaster: James Thomas
Chester Lyman/Tom Thumb/Templeton: Daniel Whitley
Joice Heth: Natasha Cox
Amos Scudder/Wilton/Morrissey: Guy Newman
First Woman/Blues Singer: Debbie Chapman
Second Woman: Charlotte Milchard
Mr Stratton/Goldschmidt/Bailey: Philip Giorgi
Mrs Stratton: Wendy Morgan
Jenny Lind: Angel Brereton
Concert Mistress: Hannah Lindo
Circus Performers: Kirsty Holmes, Joanna Forest, Victoria Robeertson

Director: Paul Tate
Co-Director/Choreographer: Andrew Lynford
Lighting: Linda Edwards
Musical Director/Keyboard: Danny Whitby
Costume: Susan Hale

2005-05-22 09:00:48