REVIEW: Crazy For You at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

We can measure the success of a Chichester Festival season by the transfer of shows into the West End and they have a good track record of musical transfers which is now joined by the superb production of the George and Ira Gershwin musical comedy Crazy for You. Based on the music of the 1930s musical Girl Crazy with a new book by Ken Ludwig and first staged in the 1990’s, it is a joyously entertaining romantic comedy in which the fabulous score of delightfully melodic tunes provides a perfect platform for one of the great new young stars of British Musical theatre, Charlie Stemp and the fresh and exciting restaging of the choreography by director and choreographer Susan Stroman. It's simply impossible to not be enthralled and delighted by this combination. 

Stemp is a genuine star performer discovered by Chichester when he played Arthur Kipps in their version of Half a Sixpence and every bit as engaging and charming as a young Tommy Steele. He is surely destined for a career as long as Steele and experience will add that final little touch of cheeky sparkle that Steele has shown within every performance. Stemp plays Bobby Child, the wayward banker who wants to be a theatre star and moves with fluidity and grace, combining tap with balletic leaps and twirls and a knowing grin which engages the audience and cries look at me I can dance! At times it feels like he is improvising the moves in what surely is a well-rehearsed routine. He adds delightful comic timing especially in the disguise as a Bela Zangler including a wonderful recreation of a classic pantomime/musical hall Mirror routine with Tom Edden who plays the real Bela (with a touch of Groucho Marx) in which the audience is held spellbound waiting for the moment when Bela twigs what is going on. His fantasy dance routines with the leggy and lovely Follies Girls in “I Can’t be bothered now “ and “Nice Work if you can get it” are spectacular routines using the whole stage and transporting us back to a golden age of chorus line glamour. 

He meets his match in Polly Baker played by the elegant and feisty Carly Anderson and their relationship is beautifully played out through the full range of emotions but really sparkles in their big dance numbers together, especially with her gorgeous flowing gowns that accentuate every twirl. They have perfect chemistry between them. The other love stories play second fiddle, but Irene (Natalie Kassanga) and Lank (Matthew Craig) have their moment in the sultry “ Naughty Baby” and Rina Fatania and Sam Harrison make an amusing double act of the very English Patricia and Eugene Fodor. 

The choreography also shines, packed with fresh fun ideas, in some of the big Ensemble numbers like “Entrance to Nevada”, “Slap the Base”, and “Stiff upper lip” where pitchforks, saws, lengths of rope and chairs get cleverly used in the dances adding humour and variation that is wonderful to see. It is assisted by an excellent set design by Beowulf Boritt which effortlessly sets the location, enables fluid transitions between the scenes and creates plenty of space for the choreography. The move from the thrust stage at Chichester to the traditional Proscenium arch at Gillian Lynne enhances the feel as it is largely set in a traditional theatre and the magical false proscenium arch that transforms itself between scenes is very effective. The Hotel and Theatre trucks are magnificent settings with two stories, and are well integrated into the action, as in Bobby’s cleverly executed stumble down the stairs and transporting us to the wild west. 

This is a first-class production led by the irrepressible Charlie Stemp, beautifully staged and choreographed and with some delightful musical compositions. It may be a fluffy and light plot but for a summer’s (or autumn) treat, a feelgood night out and a spirit-raising occasion, it is worth the trip, and you too can see that this is a cast who can say (and sing) “I got rhythm”.

It runs at the Theatre until 20th January 2024

Review by Nick Wayne 

Rating: ★★★★

Rating: Row S, Stalls | Price of Ticket: £80