Crazy For You, Gatehouse Theatre

Christmas has come early to Highgate. Get yourselves over there. A year after the Open Air theatre's Crazy For You, which relied entirely on excellent legs for effect, how wonderful to find a production that draws out the story, providing some genuinely moving moments. The Gershwin musical is the story of rich Bobby who wants to dance, and stubborn Polly whose family theatre is being repossessed. By Bobby. Cue a coup de foudre and proof that they've got rhythm...

With a small cast - three delightful chorus girls are legs a-plenty - and two fabulous leads, the small traverse stage is set for two and a half hours of high octane action.  Jay Rincon - an American import - is a dazzling Bobby. Playful and slinky with a gentle voice and a comedy body - his knee slides and falls during Things Are Looking Up are cracking - he's a lovely foil to Ceili O'Connor as Polly. Her soaring voice is truly moving on showstoppers like Someone to Watch Over Me and Embraceable You.  

Grant Murphy's choreography is contained and contagious and the director, John Plews, plays to the strengths of the cast and the stage. Diversionary favourites like Slap That Bass are muted, keeping the thin storyline on track, and it really works. The one gripe is the limited lighting, which made some scenes quite dark, and Bobby's fake moustache - which kept curling like a fortune telling fish. 

In conclusion: A glorious night out. Grab a ticket and get on the northern line before the locals beat you to it. The band is terrific and, as with the Arcola's Sweet Smell of Success, it is sheer luxury watching musicals up close.

References
The Gatehouse Theatre
Alison Goldie review in WhatsonStage
Fortune teller fish