This revival surprises at every turn. It is superbly executed, led by a name that should soon be as familiar in the West End as those of Michael Ball or Alastair Brammer, two other young actors nurtured by the Cameron Mackintosh stable. Charlie Stemp takes on the role written for Tommy Steele, Arthur Kipps, a draper’s apprentice in Edwardian-era Kent. His Ann is Devon-Elise Johnson, another relatively unknown performer. That may well change soon.
The energy the cast display, both young and old, astounded me. Where they get it from with all the set changes, quick costume changes, and fast lyrics I cannot fathom. Presumably an ASM stands with an oxygen tank in the wings.
Paul Brown’s sets are detailed, much more so than the minimalistic designs “suggesting” locations seen recently in the West End. I especially liked a kind of bandstand which rolled on and off as needed as part of a wonderful triple revolve in the stage, each ring able to be operated separately. Great thoughtful design employed brilliantly by designer and director Rachel Kavanaugh, complemented by video projections by Luke Halls, showing us the imaginative vision for a grand house Arthur’s future mother-in-law wants for the family, and then the more realistic house Arthur himself wants.
The story might be set long ago and the original production conceived half a century ago but it doesn’t feel dated. Perhaps this is due to the new songs from Stiles and Drew, or Julian Fellowes’s amusing book. I can’t compare with an original I haven’t seen. But for the foreseeable future, money and the class divide will always be ripe for parody and dissection, and here it is in the form of musical theatre. The audience roared with laughter at times and gave a standing ovation at the end, prematurely as it turned out because the curtain call is part of a brilliant finale involving banjos. Five stars.
Half A Sixpence at the Nöel Coward Theatre, St. Martin’s Lane, London. Produced in Chichester and London by Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatres. Original music and lyrics by David Heneker, additional and revised music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe with a book by Julian Fellowes. Previews from 29th October 2016, opening night 17th November and booking until 11th February 2017.