Darlington Hippodrome – until 8 August 2019
3***
This show is definitely one of two parts. Stunning performance but not quite as good production. With no programmes available, the lovely Nic at Darlington Hippodrome managed to find me a cast list or I would be lost as to who to praise and who to grumble.
Puttin’ on the Ritz is from David Kings Spirit Productions and is currently on tour around the UK after a tour in Australia. It covers the golden age of Hollywood with songs from Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. The vocalists Katherine Glover, Robyn Tempest, Tamara Eden, Sean Smith and Miles Braithwaite are incredibly talented and the dancers Chloe Gatward, Shaunna Olley, Gemma Taylor, Daniella Hyner-Anderson, Charlie Barker, Lewis Herring, James Chew and Dan Holland help to lift the amazing vocals with stunning footwork. The second act concentrates on the stars of the time – Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Al Jolson and The Cotton Club.
The singing is fabulous, evoking memories of glamour of a bygone era and the dancers are spellbinding – performing many different types of choreography from waltz to a Charleston which had an audience member up on the stage joining in – he looked like he was having a whale of a time.
Unfortunately what the performers gave the production took away. The costumes which should have been dazzling were lacking. The hems were down, they had bald patches where sequins had fallen off, the appliqué was unstitched, feathers were missing and the fans looked like they were held together with luck. The men appeared to be wearing each others clothes, with nothing actually fitting anyone. During the staging of Putting on my Top Hat, the male singers managed to find tailcoats and top hats but not white ties – a simple issue easily remedied if someone just took 5 minutes to check their outfits either before or after their wear.
The sound was made up of backing tracks which sometimes drowned the singers and when there was tap dancing the track seemed to be dubbed with extra taps to make it sound like more people were on the stage.
This could be a glorious show, the potential is there, with just a bit of care and a little bit of money spending it could be spectacular. However, the predominantly elderly audience all seemed to be enjoying themselves and that is all that matters