Tag Archives: Jamie Birkett

“Oliver!” at the Gielgud Theatre

The heros of another hit new musical, Why Am I So Single?, are young friends who share a love of Lionel Bart’s 1960 show. It might strike you as odd that such Gen Z figures admire the old musical. It shouldn’t. As Cameron Mackintosh’s latest revival, via Chichester, illustrates, the piece is solid as ever and a foolproof crowd-pleaser.

Bart’s is a smart adaptation of the Charles Dicken’s classic (of course, it helps that we all know the story), cleverly stripping out the moments suitable for songs. And what songs! There’s not a tune most of the audience doesn’t recognise, and is each catchy, with a smart, distinctive spin on Victorian music-hall traditions indicative of in-depth knowledge. 

Although the cast is superb (there are four Olivers and I’m confident each is excellent) and the ‘ahh’ factor from watching young performers is present, the roles for children are carefully controlled. The focus is on the grownups who, as well as working expertly with their charges, get the chance to shine.

Katy-Secombe-and-Oscar-Conlon-Morrey-credit-Johan-Persson
Katy Secombe and Oscar Conlon-Morrey

There are super comic turns from Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Katy Secombe as Mr Bumble and the widow Corney, as well as the Sowerberry funeral directors, played by Stephen Matthews and Jamie Birkett. Aaron Sidwell’s Bill Sikes is suitably villainous, but there weren’t too many boos for him at the end – a little tortured angst in the performance makes him interestingly sympathetic. Shanay Holmes’ Nancy belts out her numbers to rapturous applause. And the star of the show is, of course, Fagin, performed here by the estimable Simon Lipkin with a surprising physicality. It’s great to get some energy into the role, although you might miss the threat Fagin should feel around Sikes (Lipkin looks as he might start a fight). Lipkin does especially well next to his young co-stars – there’s an appropriate sense he is the leader of this pack that is a pleasure to watch.

The production has a further strength. The direction and choreography are from Matthew Bourne. While Oliver! doesn’t lend itself to big dance numbers, Bourne’s eye for movement adds immeasurably. Marshalling the large cast around Lez Brotherston’s dynamic set is made exciting, and a touching sense of vulnerability is created with gestures matching the sentimentality of the piece to perfection. Both Bourne and Bart are bold in their treatment of Dickens – and the result is an old favourite you’ll be happy to have more of.

Booking until 29 March 2026

www.oliverthemusical.com

Photos by Johan Persson

“A Flea In Her Ear” at the Tabard Theatre

A cast of six share 15 characters in this French farce, which provides much of the fun in a fresh and foul-mouthed adaptation of Georges Feydeau’s classic, translated by Sacha Bush and directed by Alex Sutton. With its doppelgänger plot line, costumes and accents summarise characters and performers stand in for colleagues, creating a conspiratorial air to the ooh la la comedy that gets the audience as high as the Montgolfier brothers by the interval.

The second act is a disappointingly bumpy ride, with too much running about and far too much fainting. The production’s strengths are in the details. Fun songs comprised of random French words are a highlight, along with camp touches, knowing glances and fun with national stereotypes, ‘Allo ‘Allo! style.

Dominic Brewer and Haley Catherine play (mostly) the couple whose rupture conjugale drives the plot, seldom dropping a beat. Rachel Dawson is superb as their posh friend Lucienne, likewise Richard Watkins as their nephew with a (sorry) funny speech impediment. Good taste often leaves the stage – especially in scenes at the Pussy Cat Hotel with Watkins’ Austin Powers-inspired manager – but this team lands the laughs.

Jamie Birkett is a natural comedian, getting a great deal from her doctor character’s moustache on a stick. For sheer variety of accents, she is neck and neck with Clark James, who plays a violently jealous Spaniard and a Brummy insurance clerk. Just to even things out, Birkett and James share the cameo of the one Brit to appear (in Union Jack underpants, of course). Minor set malfunctions are taken in James’s stride – showing how focused as well as funny his performance is – he and the flaky wallpaper panels aren’t the only brilliant moments in a très jolly night out.

Until 23 April 2016

www.tabardweb.co.uk

Photo by Tom Bezant