Miss Atomic Bomb - Review

St James Theatre, London

***

Written by Adam Long, Gabriel Vick and Alex Jackson-Long
Co directed by Bill Deamer and Adam Long

Olivia Fines with Stephane Anelli

Miss Atomic Bomb blasts onto the St James stage with a visually impressive bang. In a show that's a chain reaction of spectacular dance work (including some delicious tap routines), choreographer Bill Deamer's fingerprints (or rather footprints) are everywhere. Deamer, who also co-directs, has a consummate understanding of the spectacular and the dancing here is amongst the best in town. 

The show demands a heavily stylised treatment, set in and around Las Vegas in the 1950s against the backdrop of the Cold War and in a time when atomic bomb tests in the region were not only frequent, they were a source of national pride. Thousands flocked to Vegas to witness the mushroom clouds from only a few miles away, ignorantly unaware of the fallout risk. Seeking to draw the crowds, the musical’s story focusses upon the Golden Goose Hotel that comes up with the idea of a Miss Atomic Bomb beauty contest as an attraction and so it unfolds.

As a historic reference point the show offers some value. There are nods to the fervent patriotism of the time, the all-powerful military, the nation's underlying ignorance, along with a McCarthyist response to the fear of Communism and Un-American activities. But whilst the show's style, for the most part, is as cleverly clichéd as a Lichtenstein cartoon, its book struggles. The plot lines are far-fetched and its endgame is just garbled. Which is a shame - because the talent on stage here is well cast and sensational.

Simon Lipkin is on top form as Lou Lubowitz the hotel manager. Lipkin only knows excellent and his neurotic/opportunistic pastiche is spot on with voice, dance and movement a delight throughout. Likewise Catherine Tate as Myrna a curious Greek fashion designer with an attitude. Tate does dumb America brilliantly - though having shone in Assassins last year (as did Lipkin), the show’s muddled book doesn't help either character.

Dean-John Wilson and Florence Andrews pick up the two other leads as Joey (Lou’s brother), a deserting soldier and Candy Johnson, a farm girl, respectively. Both are flawless and one can eagerly look forward to WIlson's Aladdin later this year. He pulls off the curious burden of pretending to be a rabbi for most of the second half, though his reflective duet with Lipkin, I’ll Stay With You offers the best of a mediocre bunch of ballads. Andrew’s character maybe trailer trash, but her feisty cowgirl commands the stage.

There's a curious cameo from Daniel Boys as a Javert-inspired repo-man out to take back Candy’s trailer. Boy can Boys sing, but as his role descends into little more than a Les Mis meta-dig it all gets just a bit too silly. Come the contest itself, Olivia Fines' Monroe-esque Sharon is a dancing celebration of the Stars and Stripes whilst Jessica Buckby's Norwegian (don't ask) Tregunta also wows with her movement.

This ain't the RSC's Oppenheimer - which last year stunned the theatre world with its fusion of nuclear horror and artistic genius, nor do the writers have the surgical skills of Kander and Ebb in dissecting some of humanity's ghastlier aspects and re-arranging them into a musical. There's work to be done here - the first half is too long, the second too crude (an election/erection gag? Really??) and the classy projected backdrops irritatingly melt under the brilliant beams of the follow spots. 

However, at the core of Miss Atomic Bomb is potentially something rather fine. Go see it for its top-notch company, Ti Green's wicked costumes, Richard Mawbey's fabulous wigs and above all Deamer's dazzling dance. It's a fun night out.

Runs until 9th April

Photo credit: Tristram Kenton

Dickens Abridged

Arts Theatre, London

****

Written and directed by Adam Long

Damian Humbley

Charles Dickens is as much a fixture of our Christmas culture as a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. So cue Adam Long, a man with impeccable form in abbreviating classic English texts and a co-founder/creator of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Having given us the Bard's complete works (abridged), Long has now moved forward a couple of centuries and fixed his canon upon the works of the great Victorian with Dickens Abridged being a hilarious 90minute zip through some of the writer's classic treasures.

Five guys play all the parts (including some female roles),with Damian Humbley mostly playing Dickens. Opening with Oliver Twist and with some lovely nods to the Oscar winning movie the humour is sharp throughout and the songs (with music all played by the talented band of actor-musicians) having a folksy acoustic guitar sound. Un-mic’d, the occasion has the air of a top-notch Edinburgh Fringe performance.

Humbley is, as always, West End gold. An Australian actor, playing an English writer who for some inexplicable reason along with the rest of the cast, is speaking with a Californian accent. (Maybe so American tourists will understand?). His waist-coated and bearded writer is a joy throughout, never more so then when as an aged and demented Dickens, he is visited by some of his fictional characters seeking revenge for the misfortune he has heaped upon them. The show does not demand an intimate knowledge of the novels, although a passing familiarity with some of the more famous books such as A Tale Of Two Cities and David Copperfield will only add to the evening’s enjoyment.

The irreverence is gorgeously affectionate. Jon Robyns, fresh out of Spamalot and playing amongst others Mr Bumble and Dickens’ wife is a scream, whilst Gerard Carey’s Tiny Tim (with electric guitar for a crutch) is another comedy gem. The guillotine moment from A Tale Of Two Cities is bloodily re-enacted (fear not though, the emphasis is on the humour rather than the horror) with an inspired moment of a decapitated Robyns on mouth organ that will stay with me for a long time.

Kit Orton and Matthew Hendrickson complete the talented company and for a clever Christmas offering, you won’t find funnier. The best of times? Undoubtedly. Dickens Abridged certainly left me wanting more!

Runs until 5th January 2014