Review by Paul Towers, 24/6/25
42nd Street by Michael Stewart
& Mark Bramble, music & lyrics by Harry Warren, & Al Dubin
Directed & choreographed by Lee proud
Produced by Celia MacKay
At Kilworth House Theatre til Sunday 13th July
2025
42nd Street is the ultimate
backstage musical. If you want to be pedantic it is ‘just’ a jukebox musical
but it is so much more.
In 1930’s America inexperienced actress Peggy
Sawyer (Mia Kobayashi) is wide eyed and naïve as she gatecrashes the auditions
for Julian Marsh’s (Lewis Griffiths) latest show, Pretty Lady. Marsh’s career
is on the line as his writers Maggie Jones (Rosie Strobel) and Bert Barry (TJ
Lloyd) scrabble around to tweak the songs for the show. The star, Dorothy Brock
(Michelle Bishop) is already past her prime and is only leading the show
because she has brought her sugar daddy Abner Dillon (Pete Gallagher) on board
to sponsor the tour.
Right from the off Peggy has attracted the
eye of the juvenile leading man, Billy Lawlor (Brian O’Muiri) who shows her the
ropes. Also being shown the ropes is Dorothy Brock’s boyfriend Pat Denning (Tim
Rogers) who is being careful to avoid Dorothy’s sugar daddy.
While Dorothy’s acid put downs are tolerated
for the sake of the show it is with a sigh of relief when she falls and breaks
her ankle. Cue a scramble for someone to take over the lead and save the show. Despite
having been fired by Julian Peggy is persuaded to return to the company as the
only one with enough talent to pull off the lead at short notice. Julian Marsh
drills Peggy to the point of exhaustion to get her ready for opening night and
sends her out on stage with the iconic words "You're going out there a
youngster, but you've got to come back a star!", and she does.
This all allows for a slew of songs,
virtually every one of them hummable. While the lead actors play out the story
it is the exceptional ensemble who tap their hearts out in almost every scene.
Their energy and enthusiasm is plain to see and really makes the show shine.
Lee Proud’s direction and choreography are
once again spot on with an adaptable set by Philip Wilcomb making full use of
the limited stage. A full orchestra of 10 is presided over by Rick Coates
and gives a fullness to the show.
So come and meet those dancing feet at the
sublime Kilworth House Theatre this summer. This year we are being spoiled as
Grease is also taking up residence from 29 July til 7 September.
Pics: Fox Corporate Photography
https://www.kilworthhouse.co.uk/kilworth-house-theatre/
https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/
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