This is my first review for the Mayflower which is arguably my closest largest theatre and one which I’m delighted to have joined the press list for.

Top Hat made famous by the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers 1935 film is now a stage show. I’d high hopes for this production that it would demonstrate a bygone era of Hollywood glitz and glamour and it delivered on every level of expectation.

From the moment that Alan Burkitt as Jerry Travers arrived on the stage his charismatic presence, singing and superb dancing were an absolute joy.

Charlotte Gooch as Dale Tremont was spellbinding and totally captured our hearts as she glided effortlessly and her arm lines during her dances were perfection personified.

This show is a romantic comedy telling of a case of mistaken identity. The humour provided by Clive Harwood (Horace Hardwick) Rebecca Thornhill (Madge Hardwick) and particularly Sebastien Torkia (Alberto Beddini) was both fun and hilarious.

The set and lighting design by Hildergard Bechtler and Peter Mumford respectively captured the Art Deco period beautifully and both complimented each other.

Costumes by Jon Morrell were of an exceedingly high standard as was the whole of this production.

The ensemble worked magnificently hard and by the end of the dance numbers you actually felt worn out from watching, as the energy level was so high.

Choreography by Bill Deamer was phenomenal the best I’ve seen in this genre for a long time and it’s perfect execution by the immensely talented cast was captivating.

 
This show has a string of Irvin Berlin’s best loved songs that everyone would know including Cheek to Cheek, Puttin’ on the Ritz and they sounded gorgeous played by the orchestra.

As one of the song lines says “There may be trouble ahead?” Not for this show grab your Top Hat and get yourself along and see this show before it dances out of town on the 23rd of May. 

  
Top Hat is produced by Kenny Wax, and his partners on the production are Stewart Lane and Bonnie Comley, Ted Hartley, Flora Suk-Hwa Yoon and Lee Menzies.

Tickets for Top Hat (Tuesday 12 – Saturday 23 May 2015) are on sale from Mayflower Theatre Box Office tel: 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk. Ovation Restaurant bookings: 02380 711833

Awarded 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ by Caroline Hanks-Farmer @CTheatrePassion