THE DROWSY CHAPERONE to 23 February 2008.
London.
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.
Novello Theatre.
Mon-Sat 7.45pm, Mat Wed 3pm Sat 4pm.
Runs 1hr 40min No interval.
TICKETS: 0870 950 0935.
Review: Geoff Ambler 6 June 2007.
More camp, more colour, more fun and more Strallen.
Chaperone hits the ground running when it comes to laughs. Musical theatre lampooning its own genre should be more of a risk in a West End filled with the best in the world.
Set in the home of the “Man in Chair”, a be-cardiganed Bob Martin, in a fictional 1920’s, everything that occurs springs from this author-figure’s imagination. Martin fondly introduces The Drowsy Chaperone show-within-the-show, adding titbits of gossip and history along the way, enjoying the production from his chair or wandering through a scene to get to his fridge. Martin’s performance is endearing, occasional moving and will elicit sympathy from musical lovers.
As a pastiche of everything the Twenties musical is loved for, Chaperone magnifies these qualities, becoming more camp, more colourful, bolder, brighter, faster and rib-hurtingly funny. And with Summer Strallen, whose abilities must stretch the imagination of any choreographer, the dance numbers thrill and the music complements the era and the aura the show conjures up.
Playing the stage-star heroine Janet Van De Graaff, Summer Strallen launches herself into the show with the never ending show stopper “Show Off”. Always a dazzling and memorable dancer, She takes centre stage alongside Elaine Paige, and sparkles endlessly. Vivacious, charming, lithe and so bendy, always lighting up the theatre, Strallen’s star should definitely continue on the ascendant.
Playing a frequently sozzled and drowsy chaperone, Elaine Paige deliberately upstages her youthful co-star and her solo number “As We Stumble Along” necessarily slows the show’s razzle-dazzle a little. It’s all under a hundred minutes, without an interval, and Martin keeps everything flowing, even when enjoying his own interval, cereal bar and visit to the toilet.
Fantastically overacting as the lothario, Adolpho, Joseph Alessi continues the exaggerated, well-written caricatures with which Chaperone is over endowed. And Selina Chilton as Kitty, a wannabe starlet, delivers a magnificently effervescent and squeaky performance throughout the show.
Director/ Choreographer Casey Nicholaw has produced a thoroughly entertaining masterpiece of overstatement and with the witty and knowledgeable book from Martin and Don McKellar Drowsy Chaperone is a delightful, fantastical reminiscence.
Man in Chair: Bob Martin.
Mrs. Tattendale: Anne Rogers.
Underling: Nickolas Grace.
Robert Martin: John Partridge.
George: Sean Kingsley.
Feldzeig: Nick Holder.
Kitty: Selina Chilton.
Gangster #1: Adam Stafford.
Gangster #2: Cameron Jack.
Adolpho: Joseph Alessi.
Janet Van De Graff: Summer Strallen.
The Drowsy Chaperone: Elaine Paige.
Trix: Enyonam Gbesemete.
Ensemble: Nina French, Mark Goldthorp, Paul Iveson, Sherrie Pennington.
Director/Choreographer: Casey Nicholaw.
Designer: David Gallo.
Lighting: Ken Billington, Brian Monahan.
Music Director: John Rigby.
Costume: Gregg Barnes.
2007-06-12 01:30:10