Theatre Review: Burlesque (Jermyn Street Theatre, London)

Featured image: Chris Holland as Rags Ryan. Photograph: Scott Rylander. Courtesy of Kevin Wilson PR.

Rating: **

Freddie’s (Linal Haft) pride and joy, The Palace Theatre, is on the brink of closing. With burlesque moving out of the theatres and into the clubs his finances are ailing as much as his audience. What’s worse, Johnny Reno (Jon-Paul Hevey), one half of the famed comedy act who are Freddie’s last hope on reviving his fortunes, just happens to be blacklisted by Joseph McCarthy’s HUAC. Whilst America bays for Johnny’s blood, can Freddie hold together his fast disappearing livelihood, and can Johnny keep his integrity over a country driven mad with paranoia?

This new musical is written by comedian Roy Smiles and Adam Meggido, creator of So So Gay favourite, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical. Whilst it is an attempt to pay homage to the 1950s American book-musical, but with a contemporary edge, what we get is a beige glaze to an old format. The story is clunky and clichéd, the characters shallow, but worst of all, the entire musical is difficult to remember.

Smiles’ banter is the only thing that holds the entire outing together. The one liners are sharp, the exchanges irreverent, and there are some genuinely funny moments, especially the dialogue between Freddie and Lula (Buster Skeggs). However, as well written as these are unfortunately it’s not enough to keep the musical from being bland.

The main issue is that the entire show lacks originality. The core narrative is something that’s been done before, with the political and ethical conundrums the book presents ham-handed and conspicuous. It’s simply nothing that any of the audience hasn’t seen before; the lead battling to keep their liberty and moral high ground against a malevolent and corrupt authority. Indeed it feels far too much like the highly praised Parade at the Southwark Playhouse, for which many of the show’s creatives worked on the production.

Meddigo’s score brims with the mediocrity of every West End show you’ve ever forgotten. None of the songs are memorable to the point where we’re not even sure if one of the numbers on the bill had been cut entirely or had simply slipped below our attention.

There are also some issues with casting. Sinead Mathias, as showgirl Georgia, struggled to project over the band in the flat acoustic of the tiny theatre space, and whilst Hevey is competent as the lead, he’s not the tenor the score demands of him, meaning his higher register lacks the power to carry his voice, and also there are a moment or two where intonation is not quite there. The entire cast also lacks charisma, but this is more because none of the characters have been written with any. The only exception is Chris Holland, who plays drunk Irishman and comedic partner to Johnny, Rags Ryan, who gives it all in swan song, ‘Rags’ Rag’, to make it the only rousing moment of the entire two and a half hours.

Other than that, there really isn’t much more to say, because there isn’t much more to it. Though the musical promises to ‘paint the town red’, you’d be better off watching it dry.

Burlesque plays at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London, SW1Y 6ST, until 18 December 2011. Tickets are £20 (concessions available). To book call 020 7287 2875, or visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk.