Open Air Theatre, Regents Park. I doubt there's a more uplifting, toe tapping, romantic, grin inducing evening of theatrical joy in London this month then Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's revival of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. You'll probably know it from the 1950's MGM movie musical, a staple of Sunday afternoon TV. Back then nobody worried much about political correctness and it's hard to think of a more sexist story. Literally based on a Roman myth celebrating the rape of an entire town of women, someone had the absurd idea of retelling the tale and setting it in an American frontier town at the turn of the last century.
Backwoodsman Adam tricks the feisty Millie into marrying him and heading to his isolated homestead where she discovers she'll be the cook and cleaner for seven brothers. She soon civilises them in the ways of courtship resulting in them kidnapping potential brides. The odd thing is that the characters are so loveable you will them to succeed and are delighted when love breaks out all over.
It's jammed packed with fantastic songs, the best of which featured in the original film, so much better than the additional numbers from the 80s when the current stage adaptation was assembled. However the whole score now has terrific new orchestrations by the world's finest musical theatre arranger, Larry Blank. At the Park the lush sounding orchestra is supervised with typical vim by Gareth Valentine and it's a major part of the revivals success.
I've directed the piece myself and have great affection for all the songs but highlights include: Bless Their Beautiful Hide, Going Courting, Spring, Spring, Spring... and I can't get the tune of Wonderful Day out of my head.
Rachel Kavanaugh's witty direction and rising star choreograoher, Alistair David's balletic barn dance inspired choreography are a delight. The outdoor theatre itself shines as a very enticing forest glade.
Rachel Kavanaugh's witty direction and rising star choreograoher, Alistair David's balletic barn dance inspired choreography are a delight.
The chemistry of the two leads, Alex Gaumond and Laura Pitt-Pulford really sparks but all the brothers have a great rapport that shines from the stage, with particularly engaging performances from Adam Rhys-Charles and Sam O'Rourke as the youngest.
Wrap up warm, it gets very cold when the sun goes down but be prepared for an utterly beguiling and heart warming evening.
I first saw Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT on Broadway and really enjoyed the spectacle of the vast production melding projections with jaw-dropping mid air acrobatics. I wouldn’t have imagined it working in a more intimate setting but director/choreographer Racky Plews has done an incredible job in reducing the spectacle at the Arts Theatre whilst retaining all the intensity of the original. If anything it actually works better now it’s more human in scale.