Say there, you ever see that Bugsy Malone?
He’s the wiseguy fixer who helps get Fat Sam outta one smart jam with Dandy Dan’s gang.
And he’s the fast-talking title character in one smart musical set in 1920’s prohibition-era New York. Though forget Al Capone — this feelgood show is bursting with delightful comic touch, the most wonderfully catchy tunes and a cute factor that could make Amanda Holden weep for a month of Sundays. If you’re not familiar with Bugsy Malone then I’d recommend you head to the Parish Hall Theatre to see the Walmsley youngsters’ crowd-pleasing production. It’s a tough one to carry off — but carry it off they do, thanks to all round enthusiasm and some standout performances from the cast.
Nathan Rubins in the title role exudes all the charm his fast talking, street wise character demands. He’s ably matched by leading ladies Melissa Lim (Blousey Brown) and Rhiannon Woods, as sassy showgirl Tallulah. Gangsters Jack Corrigan (Fat Sam) and Josh Horn (Dandy Dan) more than handle their fast-paced, snappy dialogue while there are show-stealing moments from Lauryn Graham (Fizzy), Thomas Stanford (Captain Smolsky) and a perfectly cast Jack Barker as Fat Sam’s knuckleheaded henchman, Knuckles.
