BUGSY MALONE

Urmston Musical Theatre Junior

 

Director: Eleanor Cardoza

Musical Director: James Goodwin

Choreographer: James Goodwin

 

The junior juggernaut docked for its annual presentation with a cast of 36. There was an army of front of house and behind the scenes technicians including crew, wardrobe, and make-up all working to bring this great musical to its opening night.

 

“Less is more”, so minimal stage settings gave maximum performance space for the action. The lighting set the mood giving atmosphere. The sound aided the performers but there were one or two dips in the levels. This happened to Marcus Florin during his solo; he was not fazed, continued and earned his applause. Such a learning curve, well done!

 

This society has a steady flow of young talent who, this time, had to play adult gangsters of prohibition America. The direction enabled the cast to create the varied characters and bring the story to life. They took out the rival gang’s with the notorious “splurge guns”, far more rewarding than any computer game. The fabulous score with its big company and solo pieces was well delivered and was reinforced with appropriate choreography. A special mention for the costuming, all the ‘20s style suits, gangster moll and dancer’s dresses gave credibility to all the characters.

 

Casting was strong. The gang war between Fat Sam and Dandy Dan was humorously conveyed. The speakeasy dancers and the ensemble delivered entertainingly. “So You Want to Be a Boxer” has to be one of the best company numbers in any musical.

 

There was such team work from the principals. The comedy duo of Jake Jones as Cagey Joe and Oliver Francis as Captain Smolsky showed good comic timing as the two inept law enforcers.

 

Fat Sam, played by Juliette Latham, and the non-threating hoodlums and Alex Barrett as the unflappable Dandy Dan and the Hoods carried off the turf war between them. There was plenty of splurging going on.

 

Harry Rapinett showed charm in the title role along with Niamh Mallen as “nobody’s fool” Blousey. Then there is the cool self-assured Tallulah, played by Breanna Bradshaw who along with the other support roles created a spirited interpretation of this one-off youth musical.