Last night Stuart and I went to see the Cy Coleman musical Barnum at The Menier Chocolate Factory in London's glitzy London Bridge Quarter.
In a nutshell: OK musical, great ensemble, poorly cast lead.
Barnum tells the story of P.T. Barnum, the "Greatest Showman on Earth", who combines razzle-dazzle with charm and brass to sell "humbug" to cheering crowds. It's an upbeat musical portrait of the nineteenth century’s greatest show-biz legend. Barnum is a colourful, dynamic spectacle full of circus, side-show acts, toe-tapping songs and more than little heart.
Laura Pitt-Pulford plays Barnum's wife Charity charmingly. Celinde Schoenmaker's Jenny Lind is in fine voice as the femme fatale, and Harry Francis's Tom Thumb is a star turn.
Sadly, though Marcus Brigstocke's Barnum is a bit of a damp squib. He's not got the voice nor the acting chops to carry off the part.
Avoid.
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