Sponsored by
Review: Bugsy Malone at the Devonshire Park Theatre
IT'S half-term holiday time and once again EODS has come up with a production that's foot tapping, fun and good quality entertainment for all the family.
Bugsy Malone is this year's musical offering, set in downtown New York in the middle of the prohibition era.
All the cast – and what a talented bunch they are – are children and the majority of those are armed with custard pies and splurge guns.
Bugsy Malone is played by Oliver Taplin, who just looks so at home on the stage. As Bugsy himself would say, "The kid's a natural", and Taplin is fantastic as the show's city slicker and man of every girl's dreams.
The girl of his dreams is Blousey Brown, played by Leah Jensen, who gave a good performance but, like many of the others stars of the show, was unfortunately drowned out by the live band.
It's always great to hear live music but sadly many lines and some of the songs could barely be heard because of the volume of the musicians.
Despite that – and I would presume it's a teething problem – this is a great show with all the song and dance routines seen in the original Bugsy movie, which starred Jodie Foster way back in 1976.
All the songs are there, Fat Sam's Grand Slam, My Name is Tallulah and So You Wanna Be a Boxer, and the costumes and set design are also worthy of praise, including the lovely idea of showing a piece of film shot by the main characters in Filching Manor.
Every show has its stars and – aside from Taplin – this one is Jack Watts as Fat Sam, who was hilarious and really made the part his own – another natural on the stage, which became rather slippery towards the end thanks to all the splurge guns' residue!
A huge well done to EODS members and those behind the scenes who work so hard to get the show on the road.
The show is on tonight (Friday), tomorrow at 2.30pm and 7.30pm and ticket prices start at 12.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
