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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Money To Burn
Verdict: Sparkles
London - The Venue - 29 Sep to 11 Oct 03
Money To Burn is a sparkling musical charting the life and times of spankable murderous aristo Lord 'Sit On My Face' Justin - and the dazzlingly beautiful women he encounters. It's an inspired piece of comedy, spectacular in costume and dance, with 12 delightful original songs. It's the authentic 'night out in the West End' musical, with an excellently sharp edge, and a reasonable amount of depravity. After all, The Venue's located directly under a Catholic Church. It's the least you'd expect.
Lord Justin's bust. He's sold The Kitten Club. With butler Perkins he arranges wife Lady Tiggy's murder faked as suicide. Can Justin's barrister mate Hugo keep the police at bay? What's sacked Kitten Club hostess Rosie scheming? Where did Lady Tiggy's severed head learn to sing contralto? How more raunchily can The Asset Stippers dance without the stage catching fire? Is that Captain Bob Maxwell at the helm of the Lady Ghislaine? Is everything as it seems? And where does Justin buy his rather fetching underwear? All's revealed (though not, fortunately, of Lord Justin).
Peter Blake drives the show as the the appalling, misogynistic, bumbling and deluded Lord Oliver Justin. With a magnificent voice in song and speech, Peter Blake plays the role with the rich humour it requires, and a fine sense of the ridiculous. He creates a Justin brimming with charisma, a characterisation that's oddly lovable.
Sarah-Louise Young (FRA03 - Best Actress) delivers a superbly loathable Lady Tiggy Justin. Her screen close-up as Tiggy's severed head, (singing Never Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead) is a truly astonishing performance. The remarkable purity of Sarah-Louise Young's voice features in several of the songs, and she plays a number of other characters, each with grace and elegance. As one half of The Asset Strippers, she delivers the dance highlight of the show.
Perry Benson provides much of the comedy as the not-so-loyal downtrodden butler, Barry Perkins. It's a masterful piece of characterisation, lovingly delivered, and a fine piece of minimalist acting - and nimble dance. Gabrielle Noble plays Rosie Kane with acute observation in each of Rosie's disguises, and magnificent accents. It's a performance of elegance and subtlety, the better to bring out the inspired comedy she creates.
Tony Kemp positively oozes ambivalence as slimy Hugo, director of the Kitten Club and barrister-at-law. Tony Kemp's subtle performance provides a central engine to the drama, his elegance of movement and dialogue a theatrical delight - it's a fine performance. From the moment she appears in the opening scene singing Money To Burn, Camilla's Angel intrigues - and her superb voice delights. Angel's an essential piece of continuity, but Camilla invests her with much more, creating a character around her. Her dance, with Sarah Louise Young, as The Asset Strippers, is sublime.
Money To Burn creates theatrical magic from its fine ensemble work - its tight cast of 8 playing many roles. The final two, listed in the programme as Ensemble / Understudy, are very much more than this drab description suggests. Rachel Lynes and Graham Martin put in spectacular work as bailiffs, ships' crew, dancers and chorus singers. Rachel Lynes looks excellently naughty in her Kitten Club uniform, Graham Martin is rather more demure in his. Both dance with style and sing with élan.
Daniel Abineri - author and director - creates a fine, original and engaging entertainment. It's a well-directed show, with a lot of experimental, risky technique, that comes off spectacularly. Much of that spectacle is the result of the astonishing costume design by David Shields (designer for Naked Flame - Fire Down Under!, winner FRA03 - Best Farce), and his enlightened design of the set. Music is live and on stage, from the six gifted musicians forming The Fat Katz. Choreography of the stunning dance and movement sequences throughout the show is by Michele Thorne.
Wonderful.
****** CREDITS ******
SONGS (in sequence): Money To Burn. In The Red (And Feelin' Blue) (Where Oh Where Has My Money Gone?).
Broadway Show (Why Can't My Life Be Like One Of Those Broadway Shows?).
(He's Got) Money To Burn (Reprise). Piggy Dead, Bacon Saved. Never Gonna Quit (While I'm Ahead) (You Rotten Bastard). (Interval). That's What I Like (Whack Me, Smack Me). Ain't No Shame In Fame. Bankrupt
Lustin' For Justin (The Asset Strippers). (We're Going) Offshore. The Dirty Dagger Of Deceit. (The Game Is Over) Money To Burn (Reprise). (Fight) Fire With Fire.
CAST (programme starring order):
Peter Blake - Lord Oliver Justin. Sarah-Louise Young - Lady Tiggy Justin. Perry Benson - Barry Perkins. Gabrielle Noble - Rosie Kane. Tony Kemp - Hugo. Camilla - Angel. Rachel Lynes - Ensemble / Understudy. Graham Martin - Ensemble / Understudy.
MUSICIANS (programme order): The Fat Katz: Clive Dunstall - Musical Director / Keyboard / Vocal Arranger. Frazer Snell - Double Bass / Bass Guitar. Paul Robinson - Drums. Kevin Keating - Guitar. Ian Spencer - Trumpet. Paul Fawcus - Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute. Andy Barnwell - The Fat Katz Manager, for Musicians Unlimited.
COMPANY (programme order):
Daniel Abineri - Book, Music & Lyrics / Vocal Arranger / Original Image Concept / Director / Producer. Simon Wallace - Musical Supervisor / Arranger / Vocal Arranger. David Shields - Set / Costume Design. Nick Richings - Lighting Designer. Michele Thorne - Choreographer. Richard Ryan - Sound Design. Simon Gooding - Production Manager. Siobhan Houlihan - General Manager / Producer. Paul Savident - Associate Producer / Marketing And Press Management. Parry - Associate Producer. Ann Vosser - Casting. Douglas Turnbull - Company Stage Manager. Jessica Chu - Deputy Stage Manager. Louise Rustuccia - Assistant Stage Manager. David Morgan - Wardrobe Supervisor. Daniel Samson - Sound Operator. Natasha Kirby - Sound Number 2. Keith Cunningham, Inda Bunyan - Production Accountants. Simon Gudgeon - Production Carpenter. Keith Johnson, Lee Threlfall - Production Electricians. Jim Beagley - Programmer. Mark Cornwell - Production Sound Engineer.
Andy Latham Scenery - Set Construction. J&C Joel; Glenroyd Mills - Drapes. Whitelight - Lighting. Wigwam Acoustics - Sound. Comtec - Projection Equipment. Boo Williams - Costume Supervisor. Deborah Aungiers & Rita Best - Costume Makers. Rachel Schwartz-Holsord - Shark Maker. Prav Menon-Johansson - Make-Up Design. Anita Bruce - Additional Tiggy Make-Up. Nick Liseiko - Photography. Lawrence Lawry - Production Photography. The Sarah Mitchell Partnership - Press. Chris West - Original Commissioned Painting. Richard Arnold - Print / Advertising / Programme Design / for Paul Savident. The Venue: Parry. Kym Whitehorn - General Manager. Alex Alexandre - Deputy Manager. Special Thanks To: Sarah Ripley & Lamda - Props. Gavin Douglas & Matt Mills - Camera Work. Trumpers Of Jermyn Street - Gentlemen's Hairdressing. Viva Vegas Casino Hire & Sales - Chips & Rake. Steph's Restaurant - 39, Dean Street - Cocktail Shakers. Mumm Champagne - Champagne. Absinthe - Abinthe. Hastings Printing Company. Josephine Buchan. First Public Performance 29 September 2003.
END
John Park
reviewed Thursday 9 October 03 / The Venue
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
