Theatre Review: Burlesque @ The Regent Theatre

Review by Dave Stringer

Burlesque is advertised as a BIG musical and there is definitely no reason to report the production company to the Advertising Standards Agency. Make no bones about it this is a massive production that sweeps its audience along in thunderous style.

From the moment that MC Sean (Ryan Carter) introduces us to the Burlesque Lounge we in the audience cannot fail to be swept along on the driving beat of the music and movement on view in a burlesque bar.

Sean also introduces us to some of the stars of the show including Queenie (Macy Dermont Blythe), Daphne (Leah Pugh) and twins Peaches (Freya Baddeley) and Pearl (Kitzi Pink Simpson). However, star performer Nikki (Vanessa Ela Young) is habitually late and Lounge owner Tess (Faye Brookes) has to step in to complete the routine.

Enter Ali (Gracie O’Brien) a young girl from Iowa who has discovered that Tess is her biological mother. Despite a letter sent to her parent being unanswered, -Tess tends not to open correspondence to avoid creditors – she is encouraged to go to the Big Apple to make contact with her mother.

Ali is shocked at what she discovers and believes that she has entered a mere strip joint and there is chaos surrounding the establishment. Nikki has finally pushed her employer beyond the point of no return and is duly sacked while Tess’s reluctance to react to correspondence means that she has just thirty days to find the money to repay a loan. With Tess’s ex Vince (Davide Fienauri) demanding that the club be sold so that he can reclaim his share in the business, the chances of the business surviving are bleak.

In these circumstances, Ali’s arrival is a minor irritance and fortunately Jack (Tyler Davis) takes pity on the young girl and offers her a job on the bar on the strict understanding that she should have no pretentions of joining the burlesque team.

More importantly, Jack offers Ali a place to sleep in his apartment. Inevitably, the chemistry means that the couple rapidly become close. When Jack discovers that his new partner has both the moves and the voice to make it big in burlesque the partnership is complete and by the end of Act 1 the girl has made her burlesque debut.

How will Tess manage to pay off her debt? Will Vince’s nasty instincts prevail? Can the club survive without Nikki? And how will the romance between Ali and Jack progress? Those are the questions to be answered as we follow Ali get to grips with her entertainment career. And all of this leads to a barnstorming finale that has the audience on its feet.

To be fair, the plot line is fairly flimsy but it matters not a jot. This is a production that allows the music and score to sweep the onlooker along on a tsunami of movement and music. With songs written by the likes of Christina Aguilera and Sia, there are some real belters to pin the audience’s ears back but there are some delightful softer interludes delivered by O’Brien and Davis.

The choreography is absolutely breathtaking and choreographers Robin Antin and Aaron Renfree have done a superb job to showcase the excellent costumes designed by Marco Marco and Marco Morante to full effect.

The atmosphere for the audience is not just that they are sitting in an auditorium watching a piece of musical theatre but also as guests of the Burlesque Lounge. This effect is enhanced by the design of the set (Sam Perks), lighting (Joshie Harriette), videos and projection (Duncan McLean) and sound (Ben Harrison) accompanied by a live band under the leadership of Robert Wicks. The Creative Directors (Steven Antin and Racky Plews) have done a brilliant job to weld this hugely talented creative team together and create such a memorable experience.

Burlesque is simply bold, brash and beautiful. Be there to take part in the magic.

Burlesque continues until August 29^th and has a running time of approximately 2 hours 40 minutes including interval. For ticket information contact atgentertainment.com/stoke