Fresh ideas in a wonderful production

PROHIBITION America and the thoroughly modern girls such as Millie are cutting their hair, flapping, showing their ankles – and knees! – drinking to excess in the speakeasies and having a whale of a time.

You wouldn’t guess that alcohol was illegal. New York is the centre of a whirlwind of modernism and Millie (Sue Randall) is drawn there from Kansas to seek her fortune. Her grand plan is actually to seek someone else’s fortune – she plans to marry her boss. Oops! Boss Trevor Graydon (David Kilgour) falls for sweet and old-fashioned Miss Dorothy (Imogen Parker). Miss Dorothy is extremely pretty and orphaned, so at the mercy of Mrs Meers’ (Wendy Morris) white slavery scam. Millie’s plan is a goner as she falls for penniless chancer Jimmy (Sam Henshaw).

There is so much in this production to recommend it – the sets, choreography, costumes and music are first rate. Troublesome technology added some hiccups, which was a shame because these fresh ideas – particularly the screens that offered translations from Chinese - were what raised it well above the bar.

My favourite sections were where Millie gets a job as a stenographer at the Sincere Trust and also Miss Dorothy and Mr Grayden’s wonderful song Falling in Love.

There are some wonderful performances here but for me, Miss Dorothy and Jimmy were the ones to watch. They have gorgeous voices coupled with elegance and wit – very nice to watch and a dream to listen to. Thank you – it made a wonderful evening out. Highly recommended.

Jane Howard