Thursday, July 01, 2010

42nd STREET
Chichester Festival Theatre

023.06.10

Get out your tap shoes, Francis ...”
42nd Street comes to the open Chichester stage, in an glorious production full of tinsel, glitter and slightly camp pastiche.
Where tradition had a front tab curtain raised just enough to see those dancing feet, Paul Kerryson's brilliant opening saves their shoes till last, as the dancers rise from the floor on a giant trap.
Choreography was by Andrew Wright, who made those Berkeley/Broadway dance clichés come up new minted.
The well worn plot follows the progress of chorine Peggy Sawyer [Lauren Hall] from hoofer to leading lady, replacing the injured diva Brock [the excellent Kathryn Evans], whose fading charms are cruelly sent up in In The Shadows.
Back projection, a wall of mirrors, opening occasionally to reveal the outstanding orchestra, fronted by the dapper, balletic MD Julian Kelly.
Tim Flavin, a man whose career is synonymous with the best musical theatre, was the exacting director Julian Marsh, singing a great Lullaby of Broadway, and the writers of “Pretty Lady” - the Comden and Green of this parallel universe – were engagingly played by Louise Plowright and Christopher Howell.
But it's really all about the spats, the golden tap shoes and all that fancy footwork – exhausting and exhilarating to watch.
Congratulations, kids, that was darn good ...”

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