Bonnie & Clyde by Ivan Menchell, lyrics by Don Black, music by Frank Wildhorn
Directed & choreographed by Nick Winston
Produced by Adama Entertainment
Theatre Royal Nottingham until Saturday 18 May 2024 and then touring
We all know the broad outline of the story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, outlaws who shone brightly and briefly before being shot down in a blaze of infamy the same way as Thelma & Louise or Butch Cassidy and The Sunshine Kid.
This is a musical version of the story previously told in many forms over the years, most notably in the 1967 film with Warren Beatty and Fay Dunaway.
20 year old Bonnie Parker (Katie Tonkinson) scrapes a living in a diner in Depression hit 1930 America when she meets 20 year old Clyde Barrow (Alex James-Hatton) on the run after breaking out of prison with his brother Buck (Sam Ferriday). Clyde fixes her battered car and the die is cast as the youngsters fall in love.
Bonnie has aspirations to be an influencer 90 years before the term was invented while Clyde wants to be a gangster like his idol Al Capone. Together they egg each other on as Clyde commits bigger and more fatal criminal acts resulting in deaths.
In so many ways the current waves of lawlessness in both the UK and US are just history repeating itself.
Together they go on the run from the law utilising the peculiar to America idea of crossing state lines to avoid capture.
Of course no matter how far they run the law will eventually catch up with them and they are finally gunned down in a police ambush.
Tonkinson as Bonnie shows a great talent for singing, as does James-Hatton’s Clyde. The vocals are great. Ivan Menchell’s book manages to lighten the often dark story with comedy and Nick Winston’s direction and choreography enliven the stage. The set by Philip Witcomb along with lighting by Zoe Spurr and video by Nina Dunn envelope you in the privations of the period.
My sole criticism would be that by having the fatal shootout at the beginning meant that the romantically tender song Bonnie sings to Clyde at the end as they prepare for their final outing is a bit anti-climatic.
Bonnie & Clyde runs at The Theatre Royal Nottingham until Saturday 18th May 2024 and then continues on tour.
https://bonnieandclydemusical.com/
