A fun romp with catchy show tunes, writes Sophia Longhi.
It’s 1934 and film star de jour, Honey Quenelle has invited a group of friends to her home on Lone Crow Island to celebrate her birthday, but it is not only the weather that takes a turn for the worst as it appears that one of the gang has ideas more sinister than simply refusing maid Mabel’s atrocious cooking. With all the components of a delicious murder mystery – a brood of eccentric characters, a storm outside and a sprinkling of chintzy glamour – it sets the stage for a good old musical theatre feast.
Before The Night is Through, as part of The Aria’s From Page to Stage season at The Landor, does nothing really to push the boundaries of musical theatre, but does everything to satisfy the appetite for a fun romp with catchy show tunes and laugh-out-loud farce. Olivia Thompson’s script is funny and the lyrics are sweet and clever, and with music by Chris Whitehead, you are left humming your way to the interval.
With a spendid company of talented actors and singers, notable songs include the title number, Before The Night Is Through, sang gorgeously by Honey and Dickie, played by Amelia Adams-Pearce and Richard Colvin, You Can’t Believe That It Was Me, which showcased all of the cast’s voices and gave great insight to the individual characters, and Sorry, performed with utter hilarity by Jenny Gaynor as Farmonica. As well as Gaynor, Katie Brennan must be congratulated for her comical performance as the charmingly dithering Mabel, delivering Thompson’s Monty Python-esque one-liners with perfect timing and finesse.
Despite the first Act moving somewhat slowly, Act Two is when the musical really takes off with added cheekiness, inuendo and ridiculously outrageous farce, prompting much uncontrolled laughter from the audience. As a headlining show in the From Page to Stage series, Before the Night is Through is a delightfully jolly jaunt and proof that British musical theatre is alive and well.
Until 23rd February 2014
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