42nd Street

Synopsis

Chorus girl to big star story. Peggy Sawyer becomes a star overnight when leading lady, Dorothy Brock breaks her ankle and she steps into the leading role. The score includes such classics as Lullaby of Broadway, We're In the Money, Dames, Shuffle Off To Buffalo and 42nd Street.

Our Review:

2 July 2010

“Musical comedy - two of the most glorious words in the English language”, says harassed Broadway show director Julian Marsh. And 42nd Street is certainly a fine example of the genre. This 1980 musical based on the 1934 film, uses several Warren and Dubin songs from other films of the period.

In truth, this is one of the slightest of musical shows; the plot is wafer thin - even by the standards of Broadway musicals - and although there are some sparkling one-liners, some of them get a bit lost.

But who cares? This is a show that stands and falls by its musical numbers and succeeds triumphantly. Right from the frantic tap number at the start of the show, to the finale of the title song, the cast delivers in spades. Director Paul Kerryson doesn't let the pace slip for a second and there's some fantastic choreography. Perhaps the hardest working people involved are the costume makers - there are a dizzying number of changes in the show. ...

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Latest User Review

rds - 19 August 2010:

Paul Kerryson is a terrific director and he doesn't disappoint with this production. The staging is imaginative with a mirrored wall, reminiscent of A Linea Chorus Line, and with great cossies too. However he is sadly let down by a patchy company. Tim Flavin didn't find the monster in the character of the last chance director, Julian Marsh, whose choice of leading lady, Kathryn Evans, is determined by the $100,000 her love struck beau is prepared to put into his show "Pretty Lady". Some of the dance numbers were so shaky it made me wince, particularly when the couple doing the number on the bed lost it and she fell off! OK, it's Chichester, but is that really an excuse for that standard? There seems to be a general acceptance in this country that "it will do" - when I think of the brilliance and sharpness of the gypsies on Broadway and how every single goddamn one of them gives the performance of their lives, 8 shows a week! It makes me wonder what our stage schools are doing? Sharpen up the act and this show could be destined for the West End - Paul Kerryson deserves it....

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