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A CurtainUp London London Review
Lady Be Good



Whatsoever a man shall sew, that also shall he RIP!—Jack Robinson on stitching up his torn jacket
Lady Be Good
Kate Nelson as Susie Trevor and Chris Ellis-Stanton as Dick Trevor
(Photo: Alastair Muir)
The English weather has been particularly unseasonable this year but even the rain and cold could not dampen enthusiasm for the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park production of the Gershwins' 1924 musical Lady Be Good. This, their first musical collaboration, was written for the talents of brother and sister team Fred and Adele Astaire. Its signature tune "Fascinating Rhythm" works that Gershwin magic.

Dick (Chris Ellis-Stanton) and Susie Trevor (Kate Nelson) are evicted from their mansion in Rhode Island because they are in debt. To secure their financial future, Dick proposes ditching his girlfriend Shirley (Rachel Jerram) and marrying a wealthy heiress Josephine Vanderwater (Hattie Ladbury). Susie meanwhile bumps into, and is attracted to Jack Robinson (Norman Bowman) whom she thinks is penniless like her. The Trevors' lawyer, Watty Watkins (Paul Grunert) proposes that Susie should impersonate the widow of a rich man to claim the inheritance and Susie goes along with the plan to save her brother from a loveless marriage.

This is a stylish small scale production with excellent performances from the ensemble cast. The set is giant skewed piano with double bass and drum kit. The piano keys form a stair with the piled up drum kit and it is all in very stylish black and white. Ian Talbot directs for over the top laughs because otherwise the dialogue might seem very dated. Costumes and wigs are in period and we can see how much the art of hairdressing has improved since the 1920s.

The cast can all sing and dance exceptionally well and there is lots of shimmying and the Charleston also figures. Our sibling couple, Dick and Susie, are played by Chris Ellis-Stanton and Kate Nelson. Susie has to wear a Mexican mantilla in the sub plot but she carries it off well. Norman Bowman as Jack sings a lovely duet with Susie. There is comedy choreography in the "Just Another Rhumba" number where rhumba rhymes with dumber. "I'd Rather Charleston" is tip top choreographically and looks fun! Watty Watkins (Paul Grunert) and Bertie Bassett (Giles Taylor), with his forehead curls, provide the comedy interest along with Daisy Parke (Charlotte Warren). Susie's line, "Oh Dickie it's going to rain!" gets a big ironic laugh from the long suffering British public but we did manage to see the show out the night we went holding off the wet weather!

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LADY BE GOOD
Book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Directed by Ian Talbot

Starring: Chris Ellis-Stanton, Kate Nelson, Paul Grunert, Norman Bowman, Hattie Ladbury
With: Charlotte Warren, Giles Taylor, Rachel Jerram, Thomad Padden, Steve Watts, Joseph Pitcher, Alan Bradshaw, Chris Edgerley, Hayley Gallivan, Anna Lowe, Martin McCarthy, David McGranaghan, Nicola Pinto-Sander, Gemma Sutton
Design: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting Design: Jason Taylor
Sound Design: Gregory Clarke
Choreographer: Bill Deamer
Musical Director: Catherine Jayes
Arranger: Steve Edis
Running time: Two hours 25minutes with one interval
Box Office: 0870 060 1811
Booking to 25th August 2007
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 20th July 2007 performance at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, London NW1 (Tube: Baker Street)

Musical Numbers
Act One
  • "Fascinating Rhythm"
  • "Hang On To Me"
  • "Sweet and Low Down"
  • "We'e Here Because"
  • "Fascinating Rhythm (Reprise)"
  • "So Am I"
  • "Ah Lady, Be Good"
  • "Do Do Do What You Do"
  • "Finale Act 1"
Act Two
  • "Linger in the Lobby"
  • "The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues"
  • "Just Another Rhumba"
  • "I'd Rather Charleston"
  • "So Am I (Reprise)"
  • "Oh Lady, Be Good"
  • "Little Jazz Bird"
  • "Finale Act 2"
London Theatre Tickets
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Theatre Tickets
London Theatre Walks


Peter Ackroyd's  History of London: The Biography



London Sketchbook
©Copyright 2007,

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