AllWays Traveller Features
Sixpence for the light fantastic
Evenings at the theatre can serve up any number of emotions in those lucky (and just sometimes unlucky) enough to be in the audience.
A young Vic production of Arthur Miller's All my Sons remains one of the most emotionally draining of theatrical experiences and I have also bourne witness to some very dark and brooding staging's of both Lear and McBeth.
Other productions, at 'West End', provincial and pub theatre level, have been in turn deeply thought provoking, politically stirring, sexually charged and downright disturbing.
But when it came to the current revival of Half a Sixpence, at the Noel Coward Theatre, I enjoyed an evening that was light and carefree.
Light is an appropriate word, for Half a Sixpence is an undemanding, light hearted musical comedy.
The production is brim full of joyful and uninhibited exuberance with a cast revelling in the opportunity to entertain us.
Childhood sweethearts Arthur and Ann keep one half of a sixpence each, as a token of their enduring affection for each other, before orphan Arthur leaves home to work as a draper's assistant.
The two lose touch, several years pass and the happy-go-lucky Arthur inherits a fortune from a grandfather he never knew.
Arthur falls in love with another and then falls prey to those looking to exploit his innocent gullibility
Will money buy Arthur happiness or does he come to appreciate the value of what lies closer to home and which comes without a price tag (yes, you've guessed it).
Half a Sixpence was originally staged in the 1970s with British pop star Tommy Steele claiming the role of Arthur as very much his own.
With this reworked revival by Cameron Mackintosh there must have been concern that, without Steel's talent and personality, the production would be lacking the 'star, needed to give its new lease of life a longevity.
Not a bit of it
Charlie Stemp is suburb as Arthur and drives the production with a performance that requires him to act, sing and dance in almost every scene. It was an absolute pleasure to witness such a consummate professional at work.
The rest of the very talented ensemble sparkles around him with musical vim and vigour and perfect comic timing.
The rousing rendition of the Flash Bang Wallop finale brought the house down and I left this wonderful performance positively light headed.
Half a Sixpence is one that travellers to London will greatly enjoy even if English is not their first language.
Half a Sixpence is booking until February 2017.
The Noel Coward Theatre
St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4AU
Grand from the outside and just as impressive from the inside, the Noel Coward theatre was originally called the Albery.
It's another architectural masterpiece by William Sprague, who designed more than thirty theatres, and it is as practical as it is beautiful.
After a long and illustrious history the venue was extensively refurbished from 2005 with improvements to the foyers and corridors, a rebuilt balcony and new seating in the auditorium, upholstered in the original Damask rose colour chosen when it was first built.
The stalls bar, called Noel's Bar, has been sympathetically restored to its original splendour and the actors are happy too, with upgraded dressing rooms, two of which are affectionately named after Coward and his favourite leading lady Gertrude Lawrence, AKA Gertie.
(London Theatre Guide)
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ISSN 2634-7032
London, United Kingdom
+44 0 7764 198 286