What amazing experience for Ollie and Sam but also for all of us. I’ve loved chaperoning and getting glimpses of them both backstage and Harry and Archie were beside themselves with excitement going to watch on the Saturday night dressed as gangsters. To be honest, our whole family and many of our lovely friends have embraced this whole Bugsy experience and I am so delighted that this has taken up our half term. How brilliant!
So photos of showtime and also some of the official photos. Many happy memories have been made over the last week for us all. xxx
‘It may be the toughest, most relentless and under paid job I have had and will ever do, but WOW! what an amazing gift it is to be Mummy to these boys’ Very proud of them both always but even more so this week when once again they surprise me with what they can do.
Bugsy
Babyface
Showtime!
Proud, Proud, Proud xxx ….and the first review says it all.
Bugsy Malone
Review Date: Friday 19th February 2016
Organisation:Swish Of The Curtain Theatre School
Venue: Bournemouth Pavilion
Wow! Swish of the Curtain have certainly lived up to their excellent reputation with this fabulous production of Bugsy Malone currently showing at Bournemouth Pavilion.
The stage show still closely resembles Alan Parker’s brilliant film of 40 years ago, although unlike the original cast who mimed to adults singing, these young people have to use their own voices. The story is simple. Bugsy Malone, a boxing promoter, meets Blousey and their on/off romance is set against a gangland war, where the performers are all children and the weapons are custard pies and splurge guns. The director, Tina Witham, has brought it up to date with wonderful staging, clever effects and a particularly ingenious way of reducing the “death” toll. All credit must go to her for managing so many, many children over several performances, with some double casting and the younger cast being divided into Dimes, Nickels and Dollars – we saw the Dimes last night and I can only guess that the other two companies will be just as good as they were.
The cast is stellar. Many of the children could be considered veteran performers, professionals really – having taken roles in major films and touring stage productions – and at times it is hard to remember that this is a local amateur show, the standard is so high. Oliver Payne plays Bugsy and is a delight, confident and talented, he holds the musical together and, at only 11, already has an impressive resume. I am sure he will succeed in his desire to be an actor. It has to be said that nearly all the children have put the same for “future ambition” in the lavish programme, apart from one or two. Max Sheppard, however, wishes to “invent and live in a new plane of reality/dimension.” Max played Fizzy and not only has a stunning voice, but also that rare quality which forces you to watch him when on stage – he dances beautifully too and “Tomorrow” was a real showstopper.
Ella Whettingsteel was a delightful Blousey, working well with Bugsy and holding her own against the feisty Talullah, played with panache by Maisie Wignall. The two gang leaders were brilliantly performed by Tom Stalley as Dandy Dan and (a comedian in the making) Dominic Wells as Fat Sam. Fat Sam’s gang were mostly older boys and their antics were a joy to watch – “Bad Guys” was certainly one of the show’s many highlights. The gang was played by Lewis Edgar, James Feilden (Knuckles), Ollie Gooch (Ritzy), Harvey Walsh (Angelo), Jack Ambrose (Louis), Arthur Janes (Snake Eyes) and Thomas Holmes (Roxy Robinson). Dandy Dan had a slightly younger gang who probably had more fun since they did most of the splurging – Bradley Spanjar (Benny Lee), Danny Lingwood (Bronx Charlie), Elliott Grimmer (Yonkers) Elliot Slee (Doodle), Lewis Valler (Laughing Boy) and Thomas Doust (Shoulders) – all were excellent cameos. There were other roles worthy of a mention, notably a suitably over the top Lena (played by Mollie Lloyd), a wonderfully bumbling Leroy (Ollie Gooch), a gutsy Louella (Evie Talbot) and a brilliant Cagey Sam (Jack Whettingsteel) – all roles having few lines, but well performed none the less.
There were many delightful moments (Polly Wolly Doodle was probably the most adorable) in this fabulous show and it would be hard for me to find anything to criticise, although there did seem to be a lot of unison singing and the few harmonies heard needed a bit more work. I seem to recall a lot more custard pies in other productions I’ve seen and can only assume costume restrictions were responsible.
The set design by Chris Witham and Richard Rafter was amazing and all credit to the brilliant lighting from James Perrett too. Choreography was excellent throughout thanks to Caroline Barnes and Musical Director Jonathan Prentice did a fabulous job, not just with the young cast, but the orchestra too.
This is a wonderful family show that will be enjoyed by adult and child alike. Don’t miss the opportunity for tonight’s performance at 19.30 or tomorrow’s matinee at 14.00. You will love it!
Reviewer:
- Penny Crichton-Seager
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and a little clip from the Swish website.
file:///Volumes/Drive%202/Photos/2016/February/Bugsy%20Malone%20Slideshow%202016%20%E2%80%93%20Swish%20of%20the%20Curtain.html