VICTOR VICTORIA. To 31 January.
London
VICTOR VICTORIA
by Blake Edwards Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse Music by Henry Mancini and Frank Wildhorn
Bridewell Theatre To 31 January 2004
Runs 2hr 20min One interval
TICKETS: 020 7936 3456
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 January
Gangsters, guns and gay nightlife, performed with perfect panache. Just when I was wondering when the next Phil Wilmott production would come along, this turns up. At the Bridewell a valuable venue for small, but not tiny, scale work (sadly threatened why, when so many buildings have come from Lottery and Millennium money, does a proven, characterful one like this, with its bold, identifiable policy, purpose and personality, have to face closure?) Wilmott directs the British premiere of Blake Edwards' musical of a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman.
It's a knowing 1970s view of a 1930s event. Victoria arrives penniless from England in the heart of exciting Paris. Only gay Paree (very gay, as is progressively revealed) doesn't want to take a trained English singer to its heart. Of course, popular culture prefers a novelty - a Polish count who's supposedly a flawless female impersonator.
The negligible plot's the sort of thing best used to hang the songs on. There are some neat lyrics, some more contrived, but despite Henry Mancini as the man with the manuscript paper there's nothing of Moon River' or Pink Panther' swooniness or eccentricity. Smart singer Victoria's first serious number would be a drag (before the real drag gets going) if it weren't for the double-bass snaking its way under the harmonies.
The score's upbeat numbers and pastiches work best, but what makes the evening is Wilmott's production, enacted by an energetic, versatile cast who chuck every gram of cheek into the mix.
Christopher Holt's gay cabaret singer motors the action with benevolent energy, while Ria Jones focuses on her forte, singing, rather than much by way of character or trying to convince us she'd pass for a man. She wisely leaves the female thesping to Emma Barton's dumbest of blondes, outloud and upfront someone who wouldn't know what to do with a brain cell if ever it rolled her way.
Jack Gunn's brisk, alert choreography's a joy. Wilmott's light handling of this traverse staging is comically contrasted by the fraught, ice-pack hugging theatrical dictator he himself plays.
There are messages about recognising who you are - but best ignore such seventies wallowings, sit back and enjoy the cabaret.
Toddy: Christopher Holt
Richard: Matthew Daines
Victoria: Ria Jones
King: Mark Halliday
Norma: Emma Barton
Squash: Stewart Alexander with: Sean Duffy, Nikki Gerrard, Alexander Giles, Edward Law, Sorelle Marsh, Gary O' Sullivan, Nick Sutcliffe, Phil Wilmott
Director: Phil Willmott
Designers/Costume: Rosemary Flegg, Jim Field
Lighting: Hansjorg Schmidt
Musical Director/Arrangements: Annemarie Lewis Thomas
Choreographer: Jack Gunn
Fight director: Marcello Marascalchi
2004-01-19 17:26:42