Upstaged Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Load those splurge guns, grab your feather headdresses and get yourself down to Fat Sam’s Grand Slam. One of the most well-loved musicals, Bugsy Malone plays at Manchester Opera House and it’s a brilliant show for the whole family.
Set in Prohibition-era 1920s New York, Bugsy Malone is a slapstick musical comedy that follows the rivalry between two street gangs. Many will be familiar with Alan Parker’s beloved 1976 film; packed with catchy songs, it launched the careers of Jodie Foster and Scott Baio. Now, a wonderful revival of the acclaimed Lyric Hammersmith Theatre production embarks on a nationwide tour.
A unique and hilarious gangster spoof, Bugsy Malone sees children take on the lead parts in the story. Backed up by an animated and energetic adult ensemble, loaded machine guns are replaced with splurge guns and custard pies, and the blood splatter is switched for whipped cream.
In a city of half-witted mobsters, madcap hoodlums and sassy showgirls, speakeasy owner Fat Sam and debonair gang leader Dandy Dan are at odds. When Fat Sam’s empire comes under threat, he calls upon Bugsy Malone, a smooth-talking and well-intentioned boxing promoter to help him out.
Boasting a wonderful canvas of memorable songs – including ‘Fat Sam’s Grand Slam’, ‘My Name is Tallulah’ and ‘You Give A Little Love’ – by Oscar winner Paul Williams, Bugsy Malone is a wholesome, fun production packed with great performances.
Drew McOnie’s slap-stick inspired choreography is a real delight, from the superbly animated ‘We Could Have Been Anything’ to the athletic ensemble performance of ‘So You Wanna Be A Boxer’. And John Bausor’s costumes capture 1920s America and further add to the parody – mini-mobsters command in sharp pinstripe suits and sequinned dancers sparkle with the glitz and glamour of the era.
Directed by Sean Holmes, the universally brilliant cast is comprised of an adult ensemble and younger actors taking the lead roles. Gabriel Payne’s Bugsy is confident and charismatic, while Albie Snelson as Fat Sam is gifted with superb comic timing and is hugely entertaining to watch. Fayth Ifil shines as Tallulah with a voice more mature than her years and Delilah Bennet-Cardy’s Blousey is played with the perfect balance of sassy and sweet.
Passionate with many laugh-out-loud moments, it’s clear to see that this production has been so much fun to make. With a running time of 2 hours (including an interval) and ticket prices starting at just £13.00, Bugsy Malone offers a memorable family theatre trip that won’t break the bank.
-Kristy Stott
Bugsy Malone runs at Manchester Opera House until Saturday 12 November 2022.