Invited| Review by Stephen Stokoe
Irving Berlin’s Top Hat – The Musical
Sunderland Empire Theatre
18th November 2025
There is something wonderful about an old school, toe tapping, glitzy and glamorous musical and Irving Berlin’s Top Hat ticks every single box and then some. From the extravagant and splendid opening tap routine to the final curtain, it is jam packed with Berlin’s classic songs such as Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, Let’s Face the Music and Dance and Putting on the Ritz with which the show opens.
The story is pretty much a farce interspersed with song and dance showstopper spectaculars which was the de rigueur of musicals back in the golden days of Hollywood and MGM – but with some amazing performances from the cast and the ensemble it is great fun.
American singer/dancer/all round entertainer, Jerry Travers (Phillip Attmore) is brought over to London by impresario and producer Horace Hardwick (James Hume) to headline his latest production largely because he needs to make pots of money to keep his wife, Madge (Sally Ann Triplett) in the manner to which she has become accustomed. While in London, Jerry meets model Dale Tremont (Amara Okereke) and falls hard for her much to the chagrin of benefactor and clothing designer Alberto Bedini (Alex Gibson-Giorgio) who has his own sights set on the affections of his walking clothes horse.
The plot itself is pretty flimsy and relies totally on Tremont not asking Travers his name but that does not stop the laughs coming thick and fast with some fabulous one liners and quips in the script (Matthew White and Howard Jacques) from all the cast as most get thoroughly confused about who is who and more importantly who is with who.
Aside from some stunning choreography (Kathleen Marshall who doubles as the director) the ensemble are also tasked with keeping the flow going with some slick and beautifully staged scene changes in which not one of them dropped their character. They were also thanked with some dance off sequences in which they were allowed to show their dancing prowess and get some well deserved applause for themselves.
Attmore channels both his inner Fred Astaire with more than a seasoning of Gary Wilmot with some stunning dancing and a twinkle in his eye that would be the fall of angels. Okereke is elegant and feisty in equal measures as she struggles with her growing attraction to her new found beau tempered with her loyalty to her friend the current Mrs Hardwick. The two sing beautifully together and there is a genuine spark as they glide across and occasional bicker on the stage.
Hume is delightfully hapless as the rather feckless Mr Hardwick and his scenes with his man servant Bates (James Clyde) are great fun. In fact, the very hard working Bates who has to battle with several costume changes drives the story along and his performance is as immaculate as the Dowager Duchess dress he wears in act two.
Speaking of costumes (Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh), they are all wonderfully presented and period appropriate. They add to the spectacle as they definitely should in such a lavish and glamorous production. It does not surprise me that the set which is almost a character in its own right throughout the production was also designed by McKintosh. The actors, costumes and the set all compliment this show perfectly along with a professional lighting design from Tim Mitchell.
There are almost two elements to this show. There is the ‘Top’ which is the story – a tale of love, loss and confusion and the ‘Hat’ which is the songs and the dancing. One without the other would definitely not work. Providing the music is a spectacular orchestra which really does justice to Irving Berlin’s music. This is led by musical director Stephen Ridley and numbers 11 which makes for the rich and rounded sound needed for these timeless classics.
As the night draw in and we edge inevitably towards the festive season, Top Hat is just the ticket to get you into the mood. Face the music and dance your way to Sunderland Empire Theatre for this toe-tapping and frenetic musical farce and blow your clumsy and fluffy little clouds away.