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Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino, was one of the crucial iconic Hollywood stars of the Nineteen Forties period, and this manufacturing, co-written and starring Almog Pail, is a transparent love letter to the glittering star. Whilst the solid’s model and enthusiasm is gorgeous to see and to look at, this unique present doesn’t fairly inform Rita’s story with the readability and energy wanted to do justice to her emotional and excessive profile life. The titular character’s dazzling blue cocktail costume, worn all through the primary act, embodies the Hollywood glamour of Hayworth, and the writing highlights her battle inside a male…
Rating
Good
★★★ This musical tribute to Rita Hayworth places lots of coronary heart and vitality into a brand new piece of theatre.
Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino, was one of the crucial iconic Hollywood stars of the Nineteen Forties period, and this manufacturing, co-written and starring Almog Pail, is a transparent love letter to the glittering star. Whilst the solid’s model and enthusiasm is gorgeous to see and to look at, this unique present doesn’t fairly inform Rita’s story with the readability and energy wanted to do justice to her emotional and excessive profile life.
The titular character’s dazzling blue cocktail costume, worn all through the primary act, embodies the Hollywood glamour of Hayworth, and the writing highlights her battle inside a male dominated, highly effective business, making a commendable effort to painting her sophisticated life and the usually manipulative people surrounding her. However, alongside this there are over thirty characters being performed by the 5 particular person solid, all utilising totally different props and costumes, which makes the plot tough to observe at instances. The costumes don’t do sufficient to differentiate every character and all of it turns into complicated. Similarly, the timeframes and construction of the present are advanced, with younger Rita and current day Rita usually performing concurrently in each flashbacks and narrative. This model of storytelling is exclusive and interesting however requires additional growth of readability to make sure a seamless script.
These points had been additional exacerbated by issues with sound high quality on the evening, and there have been factors the place it was tough to listen to the dialogue and singing. The latter would profit from extra energy, however the emotion behind the vocals and dedication to the roles is obvious and pleasurable.
The venue itself is a stunning, small theatre that has a clean canvas area adaptable for all sorts of efficiency. While this lends itself effectively to the in-the-round model of this musical, the usage of props proves tough and the staging is commonly sophisticated and complicated. Similarly, the raked stage set piece within the centre is a helpful point of interest that attracts consideration and is used magnificently amid the dance numbers, but it surely usually looks like an obstruction in such a small theatre.
The choreography and proficient vitality with which the present is carried out is by far essentially the most spectacular a part of this manufacturing. Jacqui Jameson’s faucet choreography is attractive, utilising your entire area brilliantly. It is fabulously carried out all through, as a tribute to Fred Astaire and Rita, Astaire’s supposed favorite dance accomplice.
This is a heartfelt try at an unique new musical that, while requiring additional growth to the script, sound design and staging, is a transparent tribute to the icon Rita Hayworth.
Written by: Almog Pail and Stephen Garvey
Directed by: Steve North
Choreography: Jacqui Jameson
Produced by: Laura Lundy, Blue Panther Productions https://www.bluepantherproductions.com/
Musical Direction: Logan Medland
Love Goddess, the Rita Hayworth Musical performs at Cockpit Theatre till 23 December. Further data and bookings could be discovered right here.