Barnum the Circus Musical
Music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart, book by Mark Bramble
Bill Kenwright Ltd presents the Watermill Theatre production
Nottingham Playhouse
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A handful of household names have tackled the role of “the greatest showman on earth”, Phineas Taylor Barnum, with varying degrees of success.
The general opinion is that Michael Crawford who originated the role at the London Palladium in 1981 and won an Olivier for best actor in a musical set the bar really high.
Others who have played the role include Paul Nicholas who was praised for his charm and confidence; Brian Conley in the Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre production who, felt critics, captured the old-school variety-entertainer spirit that the role demands; and comedian Marcus Brigstocke whose controversial casting by the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2017 divided commentators although they were grateful he didn’t imitate Crawford’s interpretation.
Now Lee Mead is taking on the part of the legendary American virtuoso. Naturally enough Mead, who came to prominence after winning the BBC series Any Dream Will Do which earned him the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End, has a strong enough voice to carry off the role of Barnum. He also has confidence and swagger when Barnum’s motivation propels him to create bigger and better shows.
Penny Ashmore (Jenny Lind). Above: Lee Mead (P T Barnum) and Monique Young (Charity) [images: Pamela Raith]
However, Barnum the Circus Musical isn’t a one-man show. More than 30 performers give the impression that a circus is really going on in front of you. Circus director Amy Panter and circus consultants Zippos Circus and the National Centre for Circus Arts have so much going on it’s difficult to take everything in as acrobats use every inch of the stage for breathtaking exploits.
The most impressive was when one of the acrobats, balancing self-assuredly on her hands, fires an arrow into a target using her feet.
Let’s not forget though that Barnum is a musical. There are excellent performances by Monique Young as Barnum’s wife Charity; Penny Ashmore as Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind whose attractiveness puts Barnum in two minds whether to leave his wife; and Dominique Planter as Joice Heth, the allegedly 160-year-old woman who’s one of the oddities of Barnum’s show.
Young is to be praised for the way she shows us a wife who tries to keep Barnum under control. Her honesty and desire for stability are the reasons why Barnum returns to her; he needs Charity more than Jenny even though his wife aims to curb his ambition.
The cast of Barnum the Circus Musical
Throw into the mix a huge elephant, advertised by Barnum as “the largest in the world” and brought to life by a number of puppeteers; contortionists, jugglers and a fire eater; and actor-musicians who play more than 150 instruments and you have a spectacular show which Barnum himself would have given his seal of approval.
Vastly experienced Jonathan O’Boyle directs with aplomb while Oti Mabuse’s vibrant choreography keeps the show moving at a thrilling pace.
Barnum the Circus Musical is a stunning production. You may not leave the theatre singing any of the songs, apart from “Come Follow the Band”, but there’s so much to remember about the show. You may want to see it a second time to check out the action you might have missed.
* This review originally appeared on the British Theatre Guide website
