REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Grab Your Coat and Get Your
TOP HAT!
Cliffs Pavilion from Tuesday 24 February until Saturday 28 February
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Grab Your Coat and Get Your
TOP HAT!
Cliffs Pavilion from Tuesday 24 February until Saturday 28 February
Top Hat is a dazzling, Olivier Award-winning stage musical based on the classic 1935 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers RKO film. Featuring iconic Irving Berlin songs like Cheek to Cheek and Puttin' on the Ritz, this romantic comedy follows American dancer Jerry Travers as he woos Dale Tremont across Europe. Top Hat is what I would call a proper old fashioned musical and the huge set on the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend stage looked appropriately grandiose bedecked with dazzling lights and staging that spun around spectacularly for every scene change taking us from theatre venues and hotel rooms, to parks and cafes.
The show begins as it means to go on with Phillip Attmore, in the Fred Astaire role of dancer, Jerry Travers, immediately showing off his tap dancing skills with huge aplomb, joined by the rest of the ensemble, who enthusiastically tap their way through the first number. The storyline takes Jerry from the States over to a posh London hotel where he meets up with his producer pal, Horace Hardwick, who is gambling big bucks on putting on a show in town that Jerry will star in. Jerry certainly doesn’t lack any confidence and tip taps his way all over the place to the point of being ever so slightly annoying. This is backed up by the fact that fashion model and socialite, Dale Tremont, who is staying in the room below Hardwick’s and is trying to get some sleep, angrily pops up to tell him off. However, Hardwick has left the room and Jerry is faced with the full wrath of Dale’s venting but then Jerry can’t help but fall in love with her. Jerry then goes on to pursue Dale but then there is a mix up because Dale thinks that Jerry is Horace and that makes things very awkward as she is friends with Horace’s wife Madge. It then all gets rather farcical very quickly, in a cringey, kind of romantic, singing, dancing, slightly unbelievable for these days but very common in 1930s musicals type way.
Saying that Top Hat is very much of its time is probably an understatement and once you fully embrace the fact that in those days musicals were absolutely pure escapism, then you can actually sit back and enjoy the storyline unfolding in all is crazy madness. There are some fabulous characters and James Hume as Horace is simply fabulous; providing brilliant characterisation and comedy timing which probably produce most of the laugh out loud moments. In the second act, we finally get to meet the infamous Madge, his wife, played to perfection by the fabulous Emma Williams, who never disappoints. Their marital misgivings are not only hilarious but will possibly also resonate with many a couple.
Opportunities to really over-act come from James Clyde as Horace’s servant, Bates, who gleefully dresses up in disguise to spy on behalf of Horace; and the overly flamboyant fashion designer, Alberto Beddini, who is brilliantly portrayed by Alex Gibson-Giorgio flowering his role with a delightful cod Italian accent.
The show should be powered along by its principals, and Phillip Attmore and Amara Okereke as Jerry and Dale are both highly accomplished performers. Attmore’s dancing skills are top notch as are Okereke’s and their vocals work beautifully together and individually, but I just didn’t feel any real chemistry between the two, which should have predominantly been there, whereas ironically Horace and Madge’s onstage relationship really sparked.
With an audience dynamic of around the average age of sixty five-ish, it will be interesting to see how well this sells but the opening night was a little sparse. If you want to reflect and reminisce on how it was all done in the old days then you are definitely in for a treat and should check it out. The lady next to me was in raptures during the Cheek to Cheek number and clearly had a fantastic night. There are also some wonderful costumes and the choreography is phenomenal. Kudos also to MD Luke Holman and the Band who beautifully play out some amazing songs and sound superb throughout.
This show may not be for everyone but if you fancy a bit of old fashioned nostalgia along with a few light hearted laughs and classic tunes, then Top Hat should be your go to show this week!
Review: Kim Tobin
The show begins as it means to go on with Phillip Attmore, in the Fred Astaire role of dancer, Jerry Travers, immediately showing off his tap dancing skills with huge aplomb, joined by the rest of the ensemble, who enthusiastically tap their way through the first number. The storyline takes Jerry from the States over to a posh London hotel where he meets up with his producer pal, Horace Hardwick, who is gambling big bucks on putting on a show in town that Jerry will star in. Jerry certainly doesn’t lack any confidence and tip taps his way all over the place to the point of being ever so slightly annoying. This is backed up by the fact that fashion model and socialite, Dale Tremont, who is staying in the room below Hardwick’s and is trying to get some sleep, angrily pops up to tell him off. However, Hardwick has left the room and Jerry is faced with the full wrath of Dale’s venting but then Jerry can’t help but fall in love with her. Jerry then goes on to pursue Dale but then there is a mix up because Dale thinks that Jerry is Horace and that makes things very awkward as she is friends with Horace’s wife Madge. It then all gets rather farcical very quickly, in a cringey, kind of romantic, singing, dancing, slightly unbelievable for these days but very common in 1930s musicals type way.
Saying that Top Hat is very much of its time is probably an understatement and once you fully embrace the fact that in those days musicals were absolutely pure escapism, then you can actually sit back and enjoy the storyline unfolding in all is crazy madness. There are some fabulous characters and James Hume as Horace is simply fabulous; providing brilliant characterisation and comedy timing which probably produce most of the laugh out loud moments. In the second act, we finally get to meet the infamous Madge, his wife, played to perfection by the fabulous Emma Williams, who never disappoints. Their marital misgivings are not only hilarious but will possibly also resonate with many a couple.
Opportunities to really over-act come from James Clyde as Horace’s servant, Bates, who gleefully dresses up in disguise to spy on behalf of Horace; and the overly flamboyant fashion designer, Alberto Beddini, who is brilliantly portrayed by Alex Gibson-Giorgio flowering his role with a delightful cod Italian accent.
The show should be powered along by its principals, and Phillip Attmore and Amara Okereke as Jerry and Dale are both highly accomplished performers. Attmore’s dancing skills are top notch as are Okereke’s and their vocals work beautifully together and individually, but I just didn’t feel any real chemistry between the two, which should have predominantly been there, whereas ironically Horace and Madge’s onstage relationship really sparked.
With an audience dynamic of around the average age of sixty five-ish, it will be interesting to see how well this sells but the opening night was a little sparse. If you want to reflect and reminisce on how it was all done in the old days then you are definitely in for a treat and should check it out. The lady next to me was in raptures during the Cheek to Cheek number and clearly had a fantastic night. There are also some wonderful costumes and the choreography is phenomenal. Kudos also to MD Luke Holman and the Band who beautifully play out some amazing songs and sound superb throughout.
This show may not be for everyone but if you fancy a bit of old fashioned nostalgia along with a few light hearted laughs and classic tunes, then Top Hat should be your go to show this week!
Review: Kim Tobin
The musical equivalent of the finest vintage champagne – effervescent, elegant and exhilarating – Top Hat is a heady romantic cocktail laced with sparklingly witty dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets and gorgeous costumes. Irving Berlin’s irresistible score includes some of Hollywood’s greatest songs: the immortal Cheek to Cheek, Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat White Tie and Tails and Puttin’ on the Ritz.
When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers. Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her heart – but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially since Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge, and Dale’s own fiery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns.
Based on the classic 1935 film which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the stage adaptation’s original West End production won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out.
With Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Top Hat is adapted for the stage by Matthew White & Howard Jacques. The UK and Ireland tour of Top Hat is produced by Kenny Wax and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.
Top Hat
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Feb
Cliffs Pavilion
Station Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS0 7RA
thecliffspavilion.co.uk
0343 310 0030
When Broadway star Jerry Travers arrives in London to open a new show, he crosses paths with model Dale Tremont, whose beauty sleep is rudely interrupted by Jerry tap dancing in the hotel suite above hers. Instantly smitten, Jerry vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her heart – but the path of true love never does run smooth. Especially since Dale has mistaken Jerry for his hapless producer Horace, who’s trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge, and Dale’s own fiery Italian admirer is planning a trip to Venice for her to showcase his couture gowns.
Based on the classic 1935 film which starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the stage adaptation’s original West End production won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out.
With Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Top Hat is adapted for the stage by Matthew White & Howard Jacques. The UK and Ireland tour of Top Hat is produced by Kenny Wax and Jonathan Church Theatre Productions.
Top Hat
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Feb
Cliffs Pavilion
Station Rd, Southend-on-Sea SS0 7RA
thecliffspavilion.co.uk
0343 310 0030
