Crazy For You review, Open Air Theatre

Nice work if you can get it

Crazy For You is an entertaining mishmash of George & Ira Gershwin tunes winsomely attached to a thin but funny story of a rich man who wants to dance, falling in love with a poor girl whose family theatre he's about to close. This gloriously garish, high-kicking production in the open air at Regent's Park ensures the journey from failure to success, from rags to riches, and from hate to love is bright, brash and fun. What it doesn't do as a celebrated musical, is deliver the show-stoppers you'd expect from a repertoire that includes I've Got Rhythm and Nice Work If You Can Get It.

The question with such a well-structured and choreographed production - it's directed and choreographed by the award winning team of Timothy Sheader and Stephen Mear - is whether it matters. If the piece works as a whole does it matter that Bobby and Polly, the love-struck duo at the heart of the story, have undistinguished voices that often peter out in the lower registers and strain at the top?  Well, it rather does when pretty much every song is delivered, or part-delivered, by one of them.  And it is a musical, not just a dance piece.

Sean Palmer and Clare Foster are miscast leads, projecting neither personality nor power. The ensemble provides ballast for the big numbers, but there are numerous inconsequential tunes where no help is on hand.

In conclusion: George & Ira would probably have despaired at hot tunes being mauled yet grinned crazily at the spectacle of it all.  The support team is charming despite a tendency to throw some of the sharper lines.

References
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Charles Spencer review, Daily Telegraph