Reputation
Other Palace studio theatre
Victoria
In this post-Weinstein , Me too era , a musical about an injustice done in Hollywood to a talented woman is about as topicalĀ as it gets. But this isĀ no sex abuse scandal ; itās the artistic crime of plagiarism.
The fresh-faced , naiveĀ Michelle, closeted with other bored rich girls in a 1930ās Paris deportment school has written a novel which she wants to see made into a film. Itās a tale of a female stenographer and a Mafia mobster.
Answering an advert in Variety, she finds her script has fallenĀ into the fraudulent hands of the aptly-named Freddie Larceny, who passes her work off as his own to a major Hollywood studio. Itās a good old-fashioned musical with lots of nice tunes and none the worse for that.
And like all morality tales we know itās bound to have a happy ending. Thereās a love interest too, to keep us gripped – between the ingenue and a rather handsome but pretty useless lawyer. Round it off with a mellifluous , melodious Gilbert and Sullivan style judge and a chorus of highly talented girls to keep the action going and it seems a sure-fire formula for success .
Altogether a pleasant first outing as composer/co-author/lyricist/producer for ex-businessman Alick Glass. The 25 songs,played with brightness and pace by director/MD Warren Wills (piano ) and Jordan Brown (double bass) are short and very sweet.
Maddy Banks as Michelle has a bright, clear voice and herĀ tunes are always pleasing to the ear. And thereās a delicious tango-paced solo Paranoia for the devilishĀ villain, played with venomous delight at concert hall volumeĀ by Jeremy Secomb to end the first half.
Cory Peterson as the slightly dippy judge is clearly having a whale of a time and his deep rich voice adds colour to the role.
This is clearly a big musical at the development stage. It needs fewer longer songs, a bit less Michelle and a lot more Larceny and a second song for the Paris night club chanteuse played on her professional debut by Priscille Grace.
Look out for a reincarnated Reputation – itās sure to be a hit.
Reputation plays at the Other Palace studio theatre, Victoria, London more info or to book tickets here:Ā
Until 14 November.
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