OUT OF THIS WORLD. To 25 September.

Chichester

OUT OF THIS WORLD
by Cole Porter Book by Dwight Taylor and Reginald Lawrence revised by Greg MacKellan Additional material by Jeremy Sams Based on Amphytrion by Plautus

Chichester Festival Theatre In rep to 25 September 2004
Mon-Sat 7.30pm Mat Thu & Sat 2pm
Audio-described 6,20 August, 10 September
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 01243 781312
www.cft.org.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 4 August

Thoroughly divine and heavenly, by Jupiter.Be thankful for mortality. If the ancient Greeks had lived to see the gods they'd painfully created in the images of human conditions reduced to wholesome US midwest family types, well it'd'ha killed 'em. Yet, as Olympus meets Hollywood on a Greek excursion, Chichester's rare revival could keep you humming all summer songs, wit, performances, sets and choreography. It's all great.

Back in ancient Rome comic dramatist Plautus wrote about king-god Jupiter's predilection for turning up in various shapes for sex with mortal women. Here, in a faint echo of Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost - where American brashness sees off olde Englishe spook the god from Mount Olympus, aided by his family, meets up with the mighty of Hollywood: gods created by humans in their own flesh if ever.

It's possible to feel sympathy for Nicolas Colicos. Putting on that grey beard every time, only to have the most limited lead role in the piece. Disguised as a diminutive mortal, Jupiter pursues screen goddess Helen Vance on her honeymoon. So it's Simon Greiff who has the fun stretching his mouth to accommodate Colicos' booming offstage Olympian tones.

It all works in a varied whirl of song. No knockout number, maybe, but plenty of melodic hooks and lyrical wit. Like I Sleep Easier Now', the older woman's, and goddess's, answer to youthful yearnings, sung by showbitch-columnist Isadore and Juno, Jupiter's wife hot on the old goat's (or whatever today's creature is) tail.

You must have seen my column'/'Is it Doric or Corinthian?' the writers could assume knowledge not much utilised in musical theatre today. And, here incorporating later additions, the script's spiced up with more than paprika. The happy solution's found in bed and, beds being kept offstage, there's a fair mix of couplings left to the imagination.

Martin Duncan's direction is swift and witty. Francis O' Connor's set has the Hollywood sign, Greek temples and several contented sheep popping up as the action moves around. Big dance opportunities aren't frequent but Vanessa Gray devises a couple of impressive production numbers. In all, a show that consistently hits the spot.

Jupiter: Nicolas Colicos
Juno: Anne Reid
Mercury: Richard Dempsey
Diana: Anna Lowe
Minerva: Julie Atherton
Venus: Sophie-Louise Dann
Night: Julie Barnes
Day/Anthea: Alexis Owen-Hobbs
Echo/Marika: Helen Goldwyn
Lethe/Leda: Daniele Coombe
Apollo/Local Boy: Steve Elias
Mars/Dean Hussain: Chris Jarman
Bacchus/Local Boy: Dean Hussain
Janus/Strephon/Local Boy: Andrew Spillett
Morpheus/Local Boy: Ahmet Ahmet
Poseidon/Harry/Local Boy: George Couyas
Helen Vance: Fiona Dunn
Isadora St John: Darlene Johnson
Art O' Malley: Simon Greiff
Chloe: Clare Foster

Director: Martin Duncan
Designer: Francis O' Connor
Season Installation Designer: Alison Chitty
Lighting: Peter Mumford
Sound: Ken Hampton
Musical Arranger/Director: Richard Balcombe
Choreographer: Vanessa Gray
Dance Captain: Steve Elias
Assistant director: Phillip Breen
Assistant designer: Gary Underwood
Assistant musical director: Dan Jackson

2004-08-06 15:17:37