Having enjoyed Top Hat The Musical immensely last time I saw it in November, I was more than happy to see it again in March, particularly since I found my seat at The Lowry in Salford, ready for another evening of this glittering celebration of 1930s Hollywood glamour. Like last time, I took my mum along as my plus one, who is always a good sounding board for any theatrical or dance event, particularly since she is a great lover of 1930s glamour. Although this is exactly the same show with exactly the same script, this latest version flows so much more smoothly than last time round.
Having seen Don Quixote at The Lowry a few weeks ago, I have been reminded of the versatility of this theatre, which lends itself so well to any event that has a strong dance element, and Top Hat makes full use of this fantastic space. I am also pleased to note that the excellent dance, camp humour, and Irving Berlin songs are still as delightful as ever. The escapism of the original 1930s movie, in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers starred, is still very much evident in this version. We are treated to the story of Jerry Travers, an American dancer who comes to London and instantly falls in love with beautiful Dale Tremont. What follows is a timeless farce of mistaken identity, in which Dale Tremont believes that Jerry Travers is Horace Hardwick, a married man. What follows is a whirlwind tour from luxury hotels in London to the romantic canals of Venice.
The magic of this second performance is the combination of the original cast members with the new talent, and the beautiful way this show manages to combine its four main characters. Phillip Attmore is back as the role of Jerry Travers, and his performance still represents a master class in refined tap dancing with effortless charm in spades. He is accompanied this time by Nicole-Lily Baisden as Dale Tremont, and she plays this role with remarkable poise and shines with a performance full of radiance and sophistication.
Another important role in the storylines is played by James Hume as the flustered Horace Hardwick and Emma Williams as his wife, Madge. Although she only comes into the show in the second half, she immediately makes a lovely and brisk impact with her excellent timing. The interaction between James Hume and Emma was also much more captivating than the first time around, showing the chemistry between the two actors to be finely honed and effortless. I also found the slapstick work with James Hume to be much more enjoyable than the first time around, and this is still one of the highlights of the show.
The rest of the cast also puts in a fantastic level of energy and humour into the performance, and it is clear they have gelled as a cast. James Clyde is back as Bates, the scene-stealing, interfering valet, working beautifully again with James Hume as Horace Hardwick. Zak Edwards also makes a superb debut as the flamboyantly stylish Italian designer Alberto Beddini, providing many laugh-out-loud moments.
This is all carried on at a fast pace with much enthusiasm by the director and choreographer, Peter McKintosh. His exquisite set design, together with the breathtaking costumes designed by Yvonne Milnes, whisks you away immediately to the glamour of the golden age of entertainment.
Top Hat The Musical is still a stylish, captivating, and hilarious musical extravaganza. It is still working beautifully with its audience to ensure they have a fantastic night out at the theatre. My mum was equally impressed on her second visit, and the standing ovation at the finale was well deserved. Do not pass up the chance to see this sparkling, feel-good extravaganza!
Tickets can be purchased via this https://thelowry.com/whats-on/top-hat-tmqc
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Written by James for Canal St Media.