Invited| With the new stage musical version of The Greatest Showman just around the corner, it is timely to remember there is already a musical about the early life of P T Barnum which has pitched its big top at the iconic Theatre Royal this week.
This musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1980 and the following year in London’s West End was written by Mark Bramble with lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman. It is based on the early life of the man who grifts his way through life ‘humbugging’ everyone he meets with varying success.
Barnum (Matt Rawle) is, to all intents and purposes, a confidence trickster but his charm and natural showmanship, largely see him through the inevitable scrapes he gets himself into. His wilder side is also tempered by his long suffering but fiercely loyal wife, Charity (Monique Young) who is only too aware of her husbands misdeeds and nature.
The story follows the early years of Barnum’s career including meeting the beautiful opera singer Jenny Lind (Penny Ashmore) with whom he has a brief dalliance before realising that the grass is not greener on the other side and he returns to his loving wife.
It terms of the story, that is pretty much it. The brilliance behind this particular musical is in the spectacle and the music itself. Not content with having a simple band in the pit, director Jonathan O’Boyle, choreographer Oti Mabuse, and musical supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator opt for a cast of actor-musicians. The result is simply breathtaking. There are over 150 discrete instruments on the stage and every single actor in the cast plays at least one throughout the production and the sound that comes from the stage is truly magical. The opening of Act Two with a song that pretty much everyone in the audience will recognise is particularly spectacular and worth the ticket price alone for musical and visual brilliance.
Rawle’s portrayal of Barnum is stuperb in that I really did not like him. He is a scoundrel, in northern parlance a right wrong ‘un and Rawle gets that across through his rictus grins and smiley facade. Predecessors such as Michael Crawford and Jim Dale made him too homely and likeable so I really commend Rawle’s brave and confident characterisation.
Young, pitches her Mrs Barnum very effectively. She is strong-willed and powerful when she needs to me but exasperated a lot of the time. Ashmore sings the role of Lind beautifully and her comic timing is absolutely spot on. She flits around the stage like the nightingale persona Barnum has created for her.
I would also like to give a special mention to General Tom Thumb (Fergus Rattigan) who gave us a beautiful rendition of Bigger Isn’t Better among his other roles in the show. Also to Laura Sillett who effortlessly stepped into the role of Ringmaster for this evening’s performance
This ensemble must be the hardest working in the business with scene changes covered by routines that would grace any circus in the world, monumental feats of althetic dancing, and so much to remember about what needed to be where and when. It was a faultless display by everyone on that stage. There is one particularly jaw dropping moment where a member of the ensemble spins around the raked stage in an oversized hula hoop! He defies the laws of physics and how he then manages to right himself is visually staggering.
The set and costume design (Lee Newby) is also a feast for the eyes with most of the action taking place inside the feel of a big top circus tent-cum-theatre. It is really quite beautiful. Jai Morjaria’s lighting design is very effective too balancing the glare of the showman with some subtlety thrown in for good measure.
If you wanted to ‘join the circus when you were a kid’ then Barnum at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle is for you this week. Come follow the band.
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
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