REVIEW: Half a Sixpence at Kilworth House

The musical Half a Sixpence first came to the stage in 1963 and its romantic story of rags to riches to rags and back to riches of Arthur Kipps became a hit for Tommy Steele on film and on stage. It's rather dated feel of class attitudes and female roles was updated in 2016 by Julian Fellows with new songs by Stiles and Drewe and it is this version that the delightful covered but open-air setting of Kilworth Theatre in Leicestershire is staging this season until 28th August. Very well staged and wonderfully choreographed this is a lively and enjoyable evening entertainment with a marvellous cast who fill the spacious stage with brilliant routines. 

Although Dominic Sibanda may not have the cheeky chappie sparkle of Tommy Steele’s original Kipps, he does bring a more nuanced performance of a young man out of his depth in a new world and as he sings in one of the new songs “In the middle there’s me”. He starts uncertainly without Steele’s bravado, but we can see his love for Ann (Laura Baldwin) and his nativity in dealing with James Walsingham (Tom Pepper) who we can all see is on the make! He moves elegantly and is at his best leading the big original numbers such as in the charming “Half a Sixpence”, the delightful “If the Rains got to fall” that closes Act 1 and the barnstorming “Flash Band Wallop” which closes the show. 

REVIEW: Memories of Musicals at the Kilworth House Theatre

Kilworth House Theatre is a delightful venue for anyone living in the Midlands or who fancies a Musical Theatre night away in an elegant Grade II listed hotel. Opened in 2007 by the Producer Celia Mackay, it is a delightful setting in the woodland glade with a purpose-built well equipped 550 seat auditorium, with the lovely Staging Post log cabin next door for Theatre only visitors and the wonderful Orangery Restaurant in the Hotel for those who book for an excellent three-course preshow dinner or overnight stay just a short walk up the hill. It makes for a very convivial evening for friends and families who share a love of live musical theatre.

Of course, its usual routine of one or two fully staged musicals each season (May to September) has not been possible but instead, they have staged this August a very well-produced musical tribute to all its previous productions and a celebration of the best of Musical Theatre which is perfectly judged and welcomed by a loyal audience who I suspect knew many of the songs as well as the cast. However, this is also a very well-cast show with six artists who blend together backed by an excellent band of eight under the lively and passionate direction of MD, George Dyer. They cut the chat to a bare minimum, create slick segues between tunes and pack 48 musical items into the two-hour running time. It’s a joy to watch.