By: Su Carroll, TRP Reviewer
Hooray for Hollywood! And Hooray for this incredible new show, a Theatre Royal Plymouth co-production which simply oozes class in a non-stop celebration of cinema.
French director Michel Hazanavicius won Best Director Oscar for The Artist and the 2011 movie was named Best Picture – an incredible achievement for a black and white, subtitled, foreign film. What appealed to audiences was his obvious love for the golden days of Hollywood musicals. The stars like Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse and films like Singin’ in the Rain, Top Hat, On The Town and An American in Paris.
I grew up on a diet of MGM musicals – perfect viewing for a rainy Sunday afternoon. You could lose yourself in a glamorous world when men had top hat and tails and women wore gowns made to be danced in.
In The Artist on stage, director and choreographer Drew McOnie creates a monochromatic world which easily transports us to Hollywood (referencing the authentic original Hollywoodland sign) and the 1920s. George Valentin is the greatest movie star in the world, thanks to a non-stop succession of heroic action movies. Everything he touches is box office gold and life is a dizzy whirl of premieres and front pages in Variety. But all is about to change. In 1927 The Jazz Singer turned silent movies into the talkies, and suddenly George finds himself out of step with cinema, and life.
In dances Peppy Miller who, as Kathy Selden did in Singin’ in the Rain, has a job that keeps her going between auditions. She’s got natural talent but a brush with hot-shot studio boss Al Zimmer dims her chances of a turn in the spotlight. But this is the movies, folks. Al knows when a star is born and Peppy is soon number one at the box office with legions of adoring fans.
As her star rises, so George’s wanes. Will there be a happy ending for them both (spoiler alert: of course there will!)
Here’s when I may run out of superlatives because The Artist is such an amazing show on so many levels. Drew McOnie and Lindsey Ferrentino have made this stage version a cinematic experience. Video designer Ash J Woodward’s clever visuals offer us subtitles, they create billboards and cinema marquee signs, they heighten the emotions. Christopher Oram’s set and costume design is pitch perfect as is lighting (Zoe Spurr) and sound (Simon Baker). Together they draw us into silent films before a cacophony of noise as talkies take over.
Robbie Fairchild and Briana Craig are George and Peppy with performances that are both energetic and emotional. It’s like the whole history of film musicals has been distilled in them. Gary Wilmot as Al has the theatrical experience to make the most of what, on paper, could be simply a supporting role. And let’s not forget man’s best friend Uggie (puppeteer Thomas Walton). I overheard audience members saying how great “the dog” was – no mention of puppets here!
With a hugely talented supporting company and a superb band, this is a phenomenal production. I loved every minute and enjoyed spotting the movie references – like the Technicolor feather dress Peppy wears in a finale which is straight out of Top Hat. Tap fans will not be disappointed either. That’s it. I’ve officially run out of superlatives. Just go see it.