"Showman, charlatan or both?" That is the "gist" of Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart's "zesty" 1980 musical about the famed 19th-century American showman, P.T. Barnum.
More than four decades since its Broadway debut, Jonathan O'Boyle's "high-spirited revival" of the celebrated musical has touched down at the "tiny and charming" Watermill Theatre in Berkshire, said Donald Hutera in The Times.
The show chronicles Barnum's fascinating life story, charting his rise to fame as a circus proprietor and disastrous attempt to move into politics.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At the "triumphant centre" of the 18-strong "multi-talented" cast is Matt Rawle as the titular showman. With his "chiselled features" and "nimble physicality", he "positively oozes the huckster's charisma".
The "strong chemistry" between Barnum and his "long-suffering wife" Charity (Monique Young) anchors the show, said Paul Vale in The Stage, and Penny Ashmore can "hit all the right notes" as Swedish opera singer (and Barnum's brief love interest) Jenny Lind. "Superb" supporting performances come from Fergus Rattigan as a "sympathetic" Tom Thumb, and an "expressive" Tania Mathurin as the "highly likeable" Joice Heth.
Lee Newby's set is so bright and colourful that "I felt like a child full of expectations for the excitement ahead", said Judi Herman in What's On Stage. Without "losing any of its intimacy", the theatre has been transformed into a quirky scarlet and yellow ringed circus.
The dazzling show "exudes old-world magic", said Arifa Akbar in The Guardian, and is filled with "stunning" acrobatics overseen by circus director Amy Panter and dance routines choreographed by "Strictly Come Dancing's" Oti Mabuse. The period costumes, also by Newby, are "exquisite".
But the story is "slow to emerge" and "skimpy" even when it finally does. Despite being told Barnum is a "humbug", the show "never places him in anything other than a lovable light" while skimming over his infidelity and failing to delve very far into his "controversial foray" into politics. And the "menagerie of performing animals and circus 'novelties'" feel "forgivingly glossed over".
Still, this is an "immensely beguiling production" with flawless performances that "work magic".
-
3 killed in Trump’s second Venezuelan boat strikeLegal experts said Trump had no authority to order extrajudicial executions of noncombatants
-
September 16 editorial cartoonsCartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include bad news for inflation, Brian Kilmeade's solution, and Kash Patel's dinner order
-
Fit for a king: must-visit palaces around the UKThe Week Recommends Our pick of the nation’s most magnificent residences for nobles and royals
-
10 concert tours to see this fallThe Week Recommends Concert tour season isn't over. Check out these headliners.
-
Video games to curl up with this fall, including Ghost of Yotei and LEGO PartyThe Week Recommends Several highly anticipated video games are coming this fall
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during spooky seasonThe Week Recommends As fall arrives, check out new albums from Taylor Swift, Jeff Tweedy, the Lemonheads and more
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September moviesthe week recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Spinal Tap II,’ ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘The Long Walk’
-
Don't fly by the seat of your pants. Do it the healthy way with these airborne tips.The Week Recommends Yes to stretching. Even more yesses to hydration.
-
'The Office' spinoff, a 'Mare of Easttown' follow-up and the Guinness family royalty in September TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'The Paper,' 'Task' and 'House of Guinness'
-
One great cookbook: 'Jam Bakes'The Week Recommends A guide to pristine jam-making, plus the baked goods that love them
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosisthe week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
