Bells are Ringing

Synopsis

Bells Are Ringing is a romantic comedy musical (the film of which starred Dean Martin); Ella is a New York answerphone message service operator who cannot help involving herself in the lives of her clients, including a struggling script writer, a Marlon Brando style actor, and a dentist who wants to be a song writer and sings while he works! Add to this an unscrupulous con-man who has just started using the message service as a front for an illegal book-making racket and you have the basis of this rarely seen delightful musical.

Our Review:

Andrew Girvan - 6 October 2010

Bells Are Ringing is a glimpse into history, specifically fifties New York and the days before the advent of answering machines when those who could afford it paid answering services to take messages when they could not be at the phone.

Employed as a message taker for her Aunt's "Susanswerphone", Anna-Jane Casey plays a protagonist who lives through the lives of her clients: actors, playwrites, pet grooming services and even the Duchess of Windsor. Casey establishes herself from the musical's first number as an exceptional performer bringing a strong voice and impressive movement to the character.

Accused by her aunt of becoming too involved with those at the end of the telephone line, as well as "Susanswerphone" being mistakenly investigated by the police as a suspected escort service, Casey acts upon information she receives in her messages and meddles on behalf of her clients. As she puts it, if Romeo and Juliet had been fortunate to have an...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

Gareth James - 17 October 2010:

This is the archetypal Broadway 50¡äs musical comedy. Ella, at the Susanswerphone messaging service does much more than take messages (¡­.NO, this is 50¡äs Broadway¡­.) ¨C she¡¯s a confidante and agony aunt and provides wake-up calls and instructions & advice from Santa. The main story revolves around her help for a playwright fast going off the rails, with a farcical sub-plot of a police investigation of the activities of the answering service itself. It¡¯s one of those shows where you can leave your brain at the door and get lost in the fun and charm of it all. You even get a couple of standards for your money ¨C Just in Time and The Party¡¯s Over ¨C but the song Bells are Ringing (for me and my girl) that you can now hear in your head isn¡¯t from this show! In recent years, the pocket-size Union Theatre has given us a trio of Sondheims and a trio of new musicals, a couple of all-male G&S operettas (with a third in the pipeline) and now a second Broadway musical comedy revival to follow its excellent Pyjama Game. There¡¯s not much of a set, just a period switchboard and a few other props. They use the space sideways this time, which makes for a wider playing area. The costumes are good (though Adam Rhys-Charles really must press his first act suit ¨C you can see everything in the three-row Union seating!). Peter McCarthy¡¯s fine arrangements (particularly for Just in Time) and his small band made a big sound worthy of a big band. The choreography of Alistair David, aided by the sideways configuration, is superb and the company dance sequences are particularly thrilling. There are some excellent performances - Corinna Powlesland is spot-on as Susan and well matched by Fenton Gray as her small-time crook boyfriend Sandor and there¡¯s even a Strallen in the cast, this one called Sasi (how many of them are there and do all their names begin with S?). Gary Milner is an excellent leading man, but it¡¯s the star turn (and for once I really mean STAR) from Anna-Jane Casey which takes your breath away. She combines innocence, naivety, kindness and cheekiness with bucketloads of charm and sweeps you away on a tide of euphoric smiles. Not only can she act, but she dances as if on air and sings beautifully. This really is one of those perfect performances you catch only occasionally. Delicious! I¡¯d love to think this will have another life, as the ¡®sold out¡¯ signs have been up at the Union for some time. If you¡¯ve been, you now how I feel. If you haven¡¯t, may your luck change ¨C and you¡¯d better book for Iolanthe now; I am....

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Musical Cast: Rhys Jones Oliver!, Matilda & Bells More»