Miss Nightingale - The Burlesque Musical

Synopsis

Maggie Brown dreams of fame as she cares for wounded soldiers in an East End hospital. With her best friend George, a Jewish songwriter fleeing the Nazis, she auditions at cabaret bars, but nobody wants their act. Then the couple meet the charismatic and wealthy Frank Conner... This musical by Matthew Bugg brings the scandals of the 1940s thrillingly to life.

Our Review:

21 January 2011

In Second World War London, singer Maggie Brown nurses wounded soldiers and dreams of fame. With the help of songwriter George, a Jewish refugee, and Sir Frank Connor, nightclub owner, Maggie becomes Miss Nightingale, the nation's sweetheart.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of wartime blackouts, a still-forbidden love is quietly blooming between Frank and George. Maggie finds herself caught up in a dangerous love triangle, when all she really wants is to be a star...

Matthew Bugg's music and lyrics brilliantly evoke 1940s Britain, and Amber Topaz is bubbly and charming as Maggie.  Richard Shelton gives a smooth and deeply sincere performance as Frank, and Ilan Goodman switches seamlessly between his role as idealistic George and clarinettist with the band, led by Musical Director Mark Biggins.

The simmering tensions between Frank and George are perfectly judged throughout, and  musical number "Could It Be" – which the impassioned...

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Latest User Review

David Hughes - 3 May 2013:

Saw this at Ipswich Just wish someone would take this musical,shake it and wake it up. Loved the idea and some songs were good but it was overlong and I applauded loudly because it finished Also the settings were drab and too many minimal scene changes took away any feeling of continuity...

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