THEATRE REVIEW: Bugsy Malone at Sheffield Lyceum

“SO you want to watch a musical? I’ll tell you just one thing.”

The opening night at Sheffield’s Lyceum of Bugsy Malone (from which I’m tweaking that lyric) was a pure delight from beginning to end.

An Olivier-nominated production — highly coveted in the theatre world — it isfilled with the same heart, spirit and belly laughing humour that made the film so memorable.

This production capture Prohibition-era New York perfectly, with flappers, wisecracking gangsters in pinstripe suits and fedoras, and upmarket speak-easies.

Bugsy Malone pokes fun at this period of history in the 1920s, when alcohol production and sale was banned in the United States, poking fun wat “wiseguy” gangsters.

There is something wonderful about watching child actors grasping the dialect of the era and conveying it perfectly on stage in abundance.

The first-night audience was in stitches, greeting with rapturous laughter comedy routines which are designed for a family audience without getting into panto territory.

The vocals from Mia Lakha as Blousey brought a tear to this reviewer’s eye, and Albie Snelson as gang boss Fat Sam was a standout performer grand slam performance as the bumbling gangster, complete with slapstick shenanigans and witty lines.

Tallulah, played by Jasmine Sakyiama, captured the audience with a confidence and style which will not see you forgeting her name anytime soon.

Aidan Oti was adorable as Fizzy, Desmond Cole as Dandy Dan was a joy and Gabriel Payne brought sparkle as the title character.

And the choreography and musical numbers of “We Could Have Been Anything...” and “Fat Sam’s Grand Slam” were sublime and eye-catching throughout.

A production made of child actors earned a deserved standing ovation from the audience, who clearly shared their love of Bugsy and Co.