Association of Community Theatre

BONNIE AND CLYDE

Hyde Musical Society

 

Director: Nigel Griffiths

Musical Director: Paul Lawton

Choreographer: Jean Ashworth

 

This new musical from “The Great White Way” is the biographical story of two of the  iconic outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde. It is set in the 1930s, when the state of Texas was truly poverty stricken in the 1930s and when law and order was in disarray. The bloodthirsty anti-heroes captured the imagination of America.

 

The show opens with a projection of the final slaying of the infamous crime duo. An in-house, rustic, composite set gave period atmosphere and the car in the style of Clyde’s preferred getaway car, a V8 Ford, was impressive.

 

Lighting is so important to the mood of the piece; it gave a cold metallic look. The only colour is the love between Bonnie and Clyde on a date with death. Costumes made the necessary statement in keeping with the period and concept.

 

The music, script and lyrics gave a dramatic thrust to the re-telling of this bloody story. The direction brought out the best of the cast and moved the action swiftly. The singing was powerful, delivering the Bluegrass, Country and Gospel styles of the time. To complete the stirring image there was stylised movement.

 

After the opening, a young Bonnie and Clyde sang of their dreams of fame. Natalia Jacques and Alex Lythe acted out the musical number “Picture People”, displaying good stagecraft.

 

The musical covers all the major incidents of the killer twosome’s lives and we meet an array of characters. They are all important in the development of Barrow and the Gungirl’s eventual “Public Enemy” status. For example, Gavin Chadwick, took multiple roles. All the other characters and the ensemble were equally good in performance adding to the unravelling story.

 

Mathew Rigby as the Minister / Preacher gave a soulful rendition of “God’s Arms Are Always Open”. An admirer, Ted Hinton, is the cop who wants to be more than just friends with Bonnie. Zac Grenier sympathetically showed Ted’s rejection, especially in the number “You Can Do Better Than Him”.

 

Two other members of the Barrow Gang are Clyde’s brother, Buck, and his wife, Blanche. Ben Mackenzie was the older sibling dominated by his wife and younger brother. He portrayed credibly the hopelessness of Buck’s life and his one way destiny. Playing his spouse, Blanche, Helen Claire Rose sang and acted with much emotion portraying the character with reality.

 

Sad, troubled, swaggering, arrogant, killer and lover Clyde, was a broken human being. Nick West displayed all these facets as the complicated Clyde, so that you almost felt sorry for him. It was the hot blooded affair with Bonnie that fuelled their two year killing spree. Sophie Lord was the redheaded Bonnie the would be “It Girl” her performance was full of truth and believability. The only colour in Bonnie’s grey world was Clyde and her red dress.

 

The killer combination of the romanticized duo as a musical might not be to everyone’s taste. However, it is powerful and dramatic theatre with exciting music and a presentation which was well received by the audience.