Kipps: The New Half a Sixpence Musical
Curtain Up Productions
Grimsby Auditorium
08 - 11 February 2023
"What a triumph!" - a line from the show but also apt given the mammoth challenge taken on by Curtain Up Productions with their latest offering. Directed by David Wrightam, this show is going to delight audiences this week. It bring scale and splendour to the stage at the Grimsby Auditorium, and coupled with its engaging leads the spectacle will impress even the harshest critics of amateur theatre. Wrightam has excelled himself, as he brings out the best in his cast and his hallmark attention to detail is clearly evident in this show. Every little detail is considered and finessed - and it is clearly evident on stage.
Half a Sixpence is a traditional, well-loved British musical based on HG Wells' novel Kipps: the story of a simple soul, about an apprentice draper who finds himself as a suddenly-rich, man-about-town rubbing shoulders with those who had previously sneered down their noses at him. In 2016, impresario Cameron Mackintosh committed what many thought might be sacrilege, he reinvented the show and changed its name to Kipps. It made a star of its leading man, Charlie Stemp, requiring him to sing, tap dance and play the banjo - all while barely leaving the stage during the show. To stage this as an amateur company requires tremendous faith in finding the right leading man to star in the show. Curtain Up Productions have done just that in bringing Kaius Calver-Hart to the Auditorium as the eponymous Arthur Kipps.
To say that the set for this show is spectacular is an understatement. No simple painted backgrounds, this set is a swiftly moving entity that makes many demands on the stage crew but it moves so smoothly, and when it does the audience will have their breath taken away. The technical challenge in using a set of this nature is humungous, but it pays dividends giving the production a lavish look worthy of professional theatre. So too, the wardrobe on this show. I have rarely been as impressed by the cut of some of the costumes on stage in this show. They look truly beautiful and enhance the performances magnificently. Scott Howson-Smith's work is inspirational and helps to create a credible world of lavish extravagance.
The show's music is wonderful with some excellent new songs by Stiles and Drew, alongside the more familiar Flash, Bang, Wallop etc. As returning Musical Director, Simon Percy has drilled his cast and chorus magnificently. There are heavenly harmonies backing stunning lead performances and no stone is left unturned in encouraging the entire ensemble to stretch itself musically. His orchestra is equally impressive providing superb backing to those on stage. The music in turn, succeeds in leading the choreography as everyone is given a series of challenging routines by Chloe Hallam and Kirsty Channon. Mention should also be made of Hayley Wrightam's work in the early stages choreographing some of the big chorus numbers too. I found the dance work to be visually exciting, neat and clean. Well done to all involved.
In terms of the performers, it is difficult to think that Curtain Up could have unearthed a better lead than the afore-mentioned Kaius Calver-Hart. As a bold and brave performer, he never shies away from a challenge and embraces everything that is thrown at him - including learning to play the banjo and learning to tap dance for the role. He is an exciting lead with charisma and cheeky charm. The society did well when they gave him the role of Arthur Kipps.
It is a pleasure to see a series of youthful leads in a production of this nature too, the other lead performers all manage to bring something special to their performances. Arthur Kipps is, essentially, a young man torn between two lovers. His childhood sweetheart is Ann Pornick. The role is being shared between Ruth Blanchard and Sophie Burgess. Although I saw Sophie in the role during the performance I reviewed, I have been assured that Ruth is an equally impressive performer and I regret that I will not see her perform the role. Instead, I saw the supremely talented and engaging Sophie Burgess as Ann. Sophie has a refreshing cuteness in her performance and plays the unrequited love brilliantly as Arthur dimly ignores all the hints she drops. Blessed with a fantastic singing voice, Burgess will charm the audience in every performance she gives. Her smile is infectious and she is totally credible in the role. It was a pleasure to witness her duet with Kirsty Channon as the two were clearly having so much fun.
Arthur's other love interest is played beautifully by Kennedy Gardiner, a consummate performer of musical theatre. She brings sophistication, grace and poise to the role and looks astonishingly beautiful in her costumes. They are worn as to the manor born. One cannot help but feel sympathy for Gardiner's Helen Walsingham. She is a sparky young woman who is bright, resourceful and energetic. Yet with the privileged background come certain expectations and she allows herself to be manipulated by her mother. Nobody seems to really care what Helen wants, and Gardiner conveys that with real sensitivity.
This youthful triumvirate of actors really lead the way in bringing the world of Kipps to life and everyone in the ensemble rises to that level of performance as a result. There are some wonderful cameos, Sarah Jane Hagerup is magnificent as Mrs Walsingham and plays the hard-done-by melodramatic victim so well in Act Two. Her "grieving" and self-pity is a joy to behold. Andrew Bailey as Chitterlow is a ball of energy and his wonderfully warm vocals give his characterisation a depth that the audience will enjoy.
The apprentices including Scott Howson-Smith, James Gosling, Alex Raines and Kirsty Channon give a sense of fun, camaraderie and esprit-de-corps. David Phillips is a commanding shopkeeper, Stephanie Mayes is fun as Lady Punnet and Phil Jones is a deliciously slimey James Walsingham. Helen Kent and Drew Jackson play Arthur's family, and impressive support is provided in other named roles by Charlotte Mayes, Kim Taylor, Caroline Wright, Jane Day, Michelle Scott, Melanie Fox, Nigel Brammar, Ian Jones and Jonathan Cadd.
Other chorus members include Georgina Birkenshaw, Sarah Calver-Hart, Casey Foyle, Jess Hughes, Kelly Lane, Stephanie Mayes, Sheran McCallion, Emily Mooney, Wesley Moxon, Gemma Newman, Anne Perrin, Jeannine Ridha, Kerry Ward and James Wood.
The show runs from tonight until Saturday 11th February at Grimsby Auditorium and is a real treat. Tickets are still available and you would do well to catch this impressive offering as spectacle on this scale is hard to come by!
Andy Evans - 08 February 2023
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