Leeds Grand Theatre, 17-22 April 2017
Thoroughly Modern Millie is Thoroughly Marvellous – a totally feel good show with absolutely no weak links at all.
It’s 1922 and naive ingenue Millie Dillmount quits Kansas for the bright lights of New York City, determined to bag herself a wealthy businessman as a husband. But things don’t go exactly to plan, as she has her money stolen, ends up living in a flophouse run by a white slave trader Mrs Meers and falls for the penniless Jimmy instead of capturing the heart of her boss.
The character of Millie is fascinating, warm, charismatic and full of bubbly personality and Joanne Clifton ticked all of those character boxes. Obviously as a Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and the current series winner she is an amazing dancer but she also has a stellar pair of lungs and a stunning voice and I found some of her solos a delight.
Her best friend Dorothy, played by Katherine Glover, is the complete opposite to Millie. Desperately trying to become an actress, she is highly poised, well dressed and has a polite exterior. Her charming vocals reach unbelievable notes, and there is an element of comedy as she is constantly singing about how in love she is whenever she first meets a man.
Sam Barrett is handsome in that boy next door way made so familiar by endless American television shows, possessing the confidence his character needs, and his vulnerability. He has a fabulous voice and he can dance – he gives the part vigour and enthusiasm.
Millie’s prospective husband, her boss Trevor Graydon III, is hilariously played by Graham MacDuff. It really is a basic requirement of the part that he can sing Sweet Mystery of Life with ease and The Speed Test with alacrity and dexterity and he was clearly up to the task. He steals the show though when playing the most hysterical drunk I have ever seen.
Jenny Fitzpatrick gives the vocal performance of the night as Muzzy Van Hossmere, effortlessly filling the auditorium with her rich, velvety voice.
Described as a musical comedy, the production certainly pulls out all of the stops when it comes to the over the top characterisation. Hotel owner Mrs Meers (Lucas Rush) presents himself as an old Chinese woman, despite actually being a wanted criminal. The two sidekicks Ching Ho and Bun Foo (Andy Yau and Damian Buhagiar) pander to his manipulative orders, and their lack of English provides great comedy. The decision to put up surtitles for the rapid Chinese dialogue is a masterstroke.
There was lots that I enjoyed about this production, the scenes in the illegal drinking club. The massed ranks of the stenographers in the office, earphone hairstyles and spectacles, coloured in green under the eagle eye of Miss Flannery (Catherine Mort) were fun. The big ensemble numbers have bags of pizzazz, and director/choreographer Racky Plews’ clever tap dancing typing pool sequence is a visual treat.
The set is magnificent, the costumes are sublime and the live band, lead by Rob Wicks, are superb – never drowning out the vocals of the performers. This is possibly the best David King Production I have had the good fortune to see
Epitomising old school musical theatre, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a show that boasts a tremendous score and excellently witty dialogue. Thoroughly Modern Millie is a thoroughly fun show which continues until Saturday.