SATURDAY NIGHT To 14 March.
LONDON.
SATURDAY NIGHT
music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim book by Julius J. Epstein.
Transfer from Jermyn Street Theatre.
Arts Theatre To 11 April 2009.
Tue-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat & Sun 3pm.
Runs 2hr 10mins. One interval.
TICKETS: 0845 017 5584.
www.see tickets.com (booking fee by 'phone and online)
Review: Geoff Ambler 19 February 2009 at Jermyn Street Theatre.
Sondheim’s early music delivered with Jermyn Street intimacy. An assured joy.
Saturday Night was written and almost produced in the 50’s but had to wait more than forty years to make it to a stage. Set in Brooklyn in the pre-crash Twenties, during the insane optimism that created spiralling stock prices and ill advised gambling on the markets, it shows a young group of friends seeking love, wealth and something to do on a Saturday night.
Gene Gorman, an aspiring but ill informed speculator, hatches a scheme to invest his friends' money on Montana Chem, which he believes is about to rocket in price. Believing his profits are guaranteed he steps into the beautiful people’s society he aspires to and meets Helen Fogel who, like him, is pretending to be something she is not: wealthy.
Gorman’s failure to achieve immediate riches leads to him spending his friend’s money on an expensive apartment and then selling his cousi'ns car to cover his debts. Yet while rash decisions abound, Helen continues to excuse his failings, waiting for him to finally discover some sense. Something he had shown no sign of. Meanwhile Gorman’s friends, doubling as the band, search for dates or at least a quarter share in a date, to avoid the nightmare of a Saturday night in alone.
Throughout this earliest of his works Sondheim’s wit and humour flows freely through his music, with numbers like the rousing 'One Wonderful Day', which closes both acts on a high. David Ricardo-Pearce as the impulsive Gorman engages enough to keep you interested in his foolish plight and while his hero inspires little compassion, Helena Blackman’s Helen plies events with drama, a little angst and several melodious delights. The rest of the company support the leads' plot and produce most of the wit, humour and great music with splendid aplomb. In particular the Joanna’s Hickman and Hollister, along with a delightful and truly versatile Charlie Cameron, are all assured, twenties girls and marvellously and endlessly watchable.
Through the energy the performances are suffused with and the intimately cosy venue in which they burst forth, Jermyn Street is currently a haven of mellifluous pleasures.
Gene Gorman: David Ricardo-Pearce.
Helen Fogel/Helene Forrester: Helena Blackman.
Celeste: Joanna Hickman.
Hank/Mr Fletcher: Nick Trumble.
Dino: David Osmond.
Artie: Lloyd Gorman.
Ray/Male Vocalist: Harry Waller.
Ted: David Botham.
Bobby/Inspector Clune: Lee Drage.
Mildred: Joanna Hollister.
Eugene “Pinhead” Gorman/Mr Fisher: Kevin Millington.
Florence/Female Vocalist: Charlie Cameron.
All other parts played by members of the company.
Director: Tom Littler.
Designer/Lighting: Will Reynolds.
Sound: Colin Hunter.
Musical Director: Tom Attwood.
Choreographer: Tim Jackson.
Costume: Victoria Johnstone.
2009-02-22 23:46:19