I love Anyone Can Whistle - it has some of Sondheim's best songs IMO and a very underrated Arthur Laurents book that has great depth of subtext. But I thought the Jermyn Street production was pretty unsatisfying overall - and nowhere near as good as the production at the Bridewell a few years ago.
I liked the intimate feel of the production, there were some really beautiful moments (especially during "With So Little To Be Sure Of") and the show perfectly lends itself to an actor-muso presentation. Up to a point the Brechtian style worked but for me it was a little irritating. And the decision to set the show in 1930 rather than the mid-60s when it was written and originally set was pretty ludicrous - especially as there are references in the text to things that are highly anachronistic. For example - there is mention of the United Nations (which was not formed until 1945) and a comment in the song "Simple" to most people having "two TVs" (in the 60s yes, in 1930 impossible). Either it should have been kept in the original era or the text should have been revised to accomodate the change to 1930.
Also, the decision to "un-Americanize" the setting and the accents was another ludicrous choice IMO. Again there are very American references in the text (such as the mention of the NAACP in the lyric of the song "Simple", etc.) so it makes no sense to set it anywhere else.
Performance-wise almost all the cast were excellent and David Ricardo Pearce was superb. But I thought Issy van Randwyck was pretty horrendous - her Cora came across as a kind of pantomime wicked stepmother and was more caricature than character. And her big number - "A Parade In Town" - should be a showstopper (as anyone who's heard Angela Lansbury's definitive version on the OBC recording will know) but it fell totally flat due to Ms van Randwyck's ineffective delivery.
As for the venue - I love the Jermyn Street space. But then I love intimate fringe theatre more than West End shows in general.They tend to let the piece speak for itself rather than relying on gimmicks or special effects. So on one hand I applaud this production of ACW for daring to put a different spin on the show. But unfortunately it just did not work.
I just wish I could get over to New York again later this month to see the City Center Encores production of Anyone Can Whistle if just for the fantastic cast of leads it has: Sutton Foster, Raul Esparza and the seriously awesome Donna Murphy as Cora.
THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***
Updated On: 4/4/10 at 07:41 PM
