I was absolutely chomping at the bit last night, having wanted to see this all-time great musical for years. And boy, did it perform..
Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the 1933 film, 42nd Street premiered on Broadway back in 1980 and is the recipient of multi-Tony and Olivier awards over the years.
Starring Samantha Womack as Dorothy Brock, alongside Michael Praed as Julian Marsh, Faye Tozer as Maggie Jones, Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer, and Billy Lawlor as Sam Lips, this song and dance spectacle features a host of toe-tapping songs including "42nd Street", "We’re in The Money", "Lullaby of Broadway", "Shuffle Off To Buffalo" “Anything Goes” and "I Only Have Eyes For You”.
42nd Street is a show within a show and is set in the U.S. amidst the great depression. A classic plot of rags-to-riches, we follow the story of Peggy Sawyer a young chorus girl arriving in New York from Pennsylvania, in the hope of getting her big break.
The big and beautiful band transported us to the razzmatazz of the 1930s as dancing shoes hit the stage in the first grand scale number.
Bill Deamer’s breathtaking choreography was to die for, the synchronised tap dance routines gave me goosebumps and I just wanted to get up there and join in.
And everything else? Well, that was wonderful too. An authentic set created ambience and atmosphere, the lights, glitz and glamour of Broadway and decadence of the Regency Club provided the set for the stunning costumes that sparkled and shone. Each scene change was beautifully executed with precision, as were the slick costume changes.
ALL the actors shone, ALL the Dancers shone, EVERYBODY shone, what a fabulously energetic and committed cast. It goes without saying how good Samantha Womack was, however, my show-stealing performances have to be, Billy Lawlor (Sam Lips), whose voice and dancing just swept me away, as did Nicole-Lilly Baisden (Peggy Sawyer), and a special mention for Faye Tozer (Maggie Jones) who was just glorious, I never knew she was such a talented lady.
A polished and visually stunning celebration of theatre, worthy of the West End. I could go every night and absolutely love every minute, again and again, I just didn’t want it to end.
42nd Street is at the Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 2nd September 2024 more information and tickets can be found here.
Shahnaz (Shiny) Hussain - Arts Reviewer
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