Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - a ★★★★★ gem!

★★★★★ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Anita Loos originally wrote the novel on which Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is based in 1925. So, as it approaches its 100th birthday, thankfully Sasha Regan's new production at The Union Theatre is full of madcap vim and youthful, life-affirming vigour. With the thinnest of plots, we are quickly on-board the obligatory trans-Atlantic liner en route to Paris with a beautiful array of crazy passengers. Gold diggers, rich dowagers with a penchant for champagne, assorted wealthy, seemingly stupid men, and smart blondes and brunettes in search of husbands – not to mention the Olympic running team!

But all this is really immaterial. The super-talented eighteen-strong ensemble exploits every nuance in the charmingly farcical script and rediscovers Jule Steyn and Leo Robin's score which is jam-packed with musical theatre gold. Bye, Bye Baby, I'm Just A Little Girl From Littlerock, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and, of course, Diamonds are A Girl's Best Friend, to name a few.

Abigayle Honeywill takes on the iconic role of Lorelei Lee with great style and endless verve, ably assisted by Eleanor Lakin as Dorothy Shaw who sings and dances up a storm. This is a duo that makes a formidable musical pairing. Freddie King as Henry Spofford sings with superb presence and is the perfect foil to Virge Gilchrist as Mrs Spofford, Philadelphia's richest woman with a penchant for champagne. I must also mention Patrick Cook and Arran Bell as the hapless Lemanteur brothers, bumbling Clousseau-esque detectives – pure comedy, laugh-out-loud moments in their brief appearances.

Henry Brennan is once again at the musical helm and has achieved an excellent musical and sound balance, with some fine performances of this iconic score. Zak Nemorin's enthusiastic yet tight choreography drives the narrative with absolute joy. Whether it is Olympic runners, Lorelei's number I Love What I'm Doing with the four sailors or the many cabaret numbers.

Director/producer Sasha Regan has, without doubt, crafted a real gem of a show. And, while diamonds may be a girl's best friend, I am sure this gorgeous production will attract a myriad of new admirers - irrespective of hair colour!

Cast and Creatives

Cast

Lorelei Lee
Abigayle Honeywill

Dorothy Shaw
Eleanor Lakin

Henry Spofford
Freddie King

Josephus Gage
George Lennan

Mrs Spofford
Virge Gilchrist

Sir Francis Beekman
Tom Murphy

Gus Esmond
Aaron Bannister-Davies

Lady Phyllis Beekman
Maria Mosquera

Gloria Stark
Ashlee Young

Ensemble
Liam Dean
Patrick Cook
Lewis Rimmer
Arran Bell
Esme Bacalla-Hayes
Jo Bird
Stephen Loriot
Jasmine Davis
Florence Beaumont

Creatives

Director
Sasha Regan

Choreographer
Zak Nemorin

Musical Director
Henry Brennan

Set Designer
Justin Williams

Lighting Designer
Hector Murray

Costume Designer
Penn O’Gara

Casting Director
Adam Braham

Associate Producer
Maison Kelley

Producer
Sasha Regan

Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Book by Anita Loos and Joseph Fields
Adapted from the novel byAnita Loos

Performances

Dates 2nd – 26th October 2019
Times Tuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm Saturday and Sunday @ 2.30pm

Tickets
Full Price £22
Concessions £20
Under 18s £15

For tickets click here:  https://uniontheatre.savoysystems.co.uk/UnionTheatre.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_836.TcsWebTab_837.TcsProgramme_337729