HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. To 10 September.
Chichester
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
Music & lyrics by Frank Loesser book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock & Willie Gilbert
Chichester Festival Theatre In rep to 10 September 2005
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Tue, Wed Thu, Sat 2pm
Audio-described 18 June 2pm, 8, 15 July, 5 August, 2 September
Runs 2hr 50min One interval
TICKETS: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 2 June
How to succeed at Chichester without becoming really trying.In 1961 How To Succeed introduced the musical as satirical cartoon. But satire refers back to reality, and lit by post-Enron irony it seems tame stuff, while fun about advertising executives' job insecurity hardly answers for the era of The Hidden Persuaders, Vance Packard's 1960s study of how advertisers get round people's conscious decision-making.
Here, the good end up promoted, the bad end up cleaning the windows; that is what Broadway musicals mean. And a dose of good home-cooking in store from the adoring secretary fulfilling her destiny as executive wife. That's cued a song before scheming hopeful J Pierrepoint Finch's got his beak round the door of his first office.
Ironic is it - with all those secretaries lined-up along the sides of Chichester's wide-open, shallow-thrust season's stage? This show at least looks good, predominantly grey with great filing-cabinet stacks sheering away in perspective. They're fitting, being 2-dimensional too.
Director Martin Duncan still allows for an enjoyable time to be had if thoughts of major musicals are switched off with mobile phones, leaving the production's pace and wit to round out the better songs such as The Company Way', sung initially by long-serving postroom boss Twimble (Teddy Kempner, looking archetypal), making the point that whoever rises and falls he'll be receiving his humble paycheck.
From low to high, Kempner doubles as deus ex company machine, Board Chair Womper (not a decently-named character for him all evening). Joe McFadden has charm as Finch, face muscles lighting up to an aural ping' and sudden white light as an opportunity presents itself. Good work too from James Bolam as Chief Executive Biggley, henpecked and knitting more than his brows, plus Fiona Dunn as Finch's good angel.
Plus peachy performances from David Langham as well-connected mother's boy Frump, Finch's wannabe nemesis. Gangly and lovably villainous he soon reveals himself a hoofer extraordinaire. And Beverley Klein, her compact figure the opposite of Langham's, as the stern boss's secretary with a malleable interior who slides in superbly on the second-act big number to show how the Brotherhood of Man's enhanced by a sensational sisterly top line.
The Voice of the Book: Alistair McGowan
J Pierrepoint Finch: Joe McFadden
Gatch/Benjamin Ovington/Priest/Cop: Gary Milner
Jenkins: Grant Anthony
Tackaberry: Melvin Whitfield
Peterson: Nolan Frederick
Toynbee: Philip Sutton
Bratt: Trevor Jones
Miss Kruymholtz: Nina French
Madilyn: Anna Lowe
Karen: Alexis Owen-Hobbs
Donna: Ruth Anderson
Laurie: Claire Parrish
Cindy: Leanne Rogers
Rosemary Pilkington: Fiona Dunn
Smitty: Sophie-Louise Dann
JB Biggley: James Bolam
Bud Frump: David Langham
Miss Jones: Beverley Klein
Mr Twimble/TV Announcer/Wally Womper: Teddy Kempner
Hedy La Rue: Annette McLaughlin
Director: Martin Duncan
Designer: Francis O'Connor
Lighting: Chris Ellis
Sound: Matt McKenzie
Musical Director/Orchestrator: Richard Balcombe
Assistant director: Paul Higgins
Season Installation Designer: Alison Chitty
Dance Captain: Anna Lowe
2005-06-05 11:46:04