"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.
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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".
Still, this is an "immensely beguiling production" with flawless performances that "work magic".
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