[ad_1]
As a baby I used to be obsessive about pigs. It might have been the truth that Babe got here out after I was 4 years previous. Or my love of the guide Charlotte’s Web. But I adored them and had fairly the gathering of pink gentle toys, together with a large Babe noticed in a Woolworths sale. This is a longwinded method of explaining how excited I used to be to see that Betty Blue Eyes was making a return to the stage. A musical. About a pig. Heaven. Betty Blue Eyes had its West End debut 12 years in the past, and it’s a delight…
Rating
Excellent
A heart-warming, superb romp of a present that can depart you buzzing all the way in which dwelling.
As a baby I used to be obsessive about pigs. It might have been the truth that Babe got here out after I was 4 years previous. Or my love of the guide Charlotte’s Web. But I adored them and had fairly the gathering of pink gentle toys, together with a large Babe noticed in a Woolworths sale. This is a longwinded method of explaining how excited I used to be to see that Betty Blue Eyes was making a return to the stage. A musical. About a pig. Heaven.
Betty Blue Eyes had its West End debut 12 years in the past, and it’s a delight to see it again on a London stage at Union Theatre. Based on Alan Bennett’s A Private Function, the present is about in post-war Yorkshire and tells the story of Gilbert and Joyce, who should not invited to a flowery do to rejoice the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. There are plans by some senior members of the city to slaughter a pig (Betty) for the event, a transfer that dangers all of them going to jail, because the animal is unlicenced. What follows is a totally British romp crammed with humour and coronary heart all through.
Joyce (Amelia Atherton) and Gilbert (Sam Kipling) are a real pleasure to observe. They’re immediately loveable and you end up invested of their story instantly. Not solely is it their stage presence and chemistry that charms, however their voices are spectacular. Kipling’s efficiency of “The Kind of Man I Am” is among the highlights of the present. One of the perks of a smaller venue is the prospect to witness the ability of an ensemble up shut, and this group of performers certain do give an excellent present. Mr Metcalf (Kane Stone) deserves a specific shout out; his enthusiasm is hilariously infectious. And Josh Perry as Henry Allardyce by some means manages to make revelations about his true emotions for Betty heart-warming – slightly than deeply disturbing, an actual expertise.
The loveable patchwork creation of Betty is an absolute deal with. Georgia Boothman manages to deliver her to life, and if Betty had come sniffing round my toes on the entrance row, I couldn’t have resisted slightly scratch of her material clad head.
The music and songs are certain to trigger a smile to erupt. Whether or not it’s the frantically but deliciously chaotic “Pig, no pig” or the rousing “Fair shares for all”. But there are additionally splendidly tender moments resembling “Lionheart”, during which a flashback to the horrors of an air raid evokes emotional depth not anticipated in such a present. It’s definitely a musical deal with that leaves you buzzing the tunes on the way in which dwelling.
The solely trigger for criticism comes due to just a few errors with the lighting not fairly hitting the appropriate solid member on the proper second (this could possibly be all the way down to solid not being in place, nevertheless it occurred a number of instances) and the sound high quality. No one is mic’d up which for essentially the most half is okay. However, there are some songs the place it’s troublesome to listen to the lead above the sound of the ensemble’s footsteps or the band. During Joyce’s triumphant second in “Nobody”, it was troublesome to listen to Atherton at instances. This was an actual disgrace as, with these points sorted, this present has the potential to knock your socks off.
Putting apart some technical points, it’s an actual delight to see this present again as soon as once more. It will depart you beaming from its pleasant silliness however with actual affection for all of the characters, even the considerably sinister meat inspector. I received’t reveal what occurs to Betty, whether or not she finds her strategy to freedom or to the desk, nevertheless it’s secure to say I received’t be hitting a bacon butty for fairly some time.
Adapted by Alan Bennett
Book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman
Music by George Stiles
Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
Directed and produced by Sasha Regan
Musical path by Aaron Clingham
Choreography by Kasper Cornish
Betty Blue Eyes performs at Union Theatre till 22 April. Further data and bookings might be discovered right here.