CRAZY FOR YOU

Electric Palace,

Bridport

TOP of the pops in 1930, George and Ira Gershwin’s songs continue to live on in this production that is full of life, love and laughter.

Hardy perennial songs such as Embraceable You, I’ve Got Rhythm and But Not For Me come to life with the help of a six-girl chorus of leggy blondes in a colourful and lively musical treat.

Bridport Musical Theatre Company engage a highly talented cast of 24 singers and dancers who pull out all the stops to present a show that is breathtaking for its choreography and vocal challenges, all performed with enormous skill and energy.

The plot takes the audience into theatre land in New York and to the backwoods of Nevada where our hero Bobby sets off to close a failing theatre but falls in love with Polly, the owner’s daughter and instead finds a way to save the day.

Leading the pack as Bobby is Greg Horton who tap dances his way to glory with the skills of a professional standard and who is a credit to the dance routines of choreographer Rebecca Mather as are the whole cast of talented tappers.

Jodie Glover is also in excellent form as the lovely Polly while musical director Lauren Glover takes on the role of Bobby’s feisty fiancée Irene.

Providing the comedy is Ally Hughes in his best Hungarian accent while the audience enjoys watching scenes change before their eyes in a show where every member of the cast deserves praise.

The pre-recorded full orchestral accompaniment helps maintain a high standard of musical excellence throughout and Dave Swaffield’s direction keeps the pace going at top speed complete with convincing American accents by all members of the cast.

And if the story line is decidedly dated and the jokes hoary with age, none of it matters in a production where Gershwin’s magical music is given rightful sparkling tribute.

There are further performances until Saturday.

MARION COX