Top Hat – Aldwych Theatre, 11 June 2013

A mere 78 years after the RKO film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this stage adaptation won the 2013 Olivier Awards for Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Costume Design.

Jerry Travers is a Broadway star who travels with his friend and producer Horace Hardwick to London for their next show. Whilst tap-dancing in his hotel room, he disturbs Dale Tremont, the woman staying in the room below. During a playful argument they flirt without revealling their names to each other.

Dale is travelling to Venice to see her friend Madge and her new husband, who we know to be Horace but Dale does not. On seeing Jerry pick up a telegram for his friend, Dale mistakenly assumes that Jerry is Horace and that her friend’s new husband is a womanizer. The confusion is compounded when they all travel to Venice to meet Madge, who Dale learns is well aware of her husband’s persuit of young ladies and turns a blind eye to them. When Jerry catches up with Dale and proposes to her, she is enraged and runs to the arms of her foppish dresser Alberto Beddini. Of course all is eventually revealed and resolved, as each of the characters face the music and dance.

Despite such old fashioned material, the production successfully charms the audience without any hint of schmaltz. Gavin Lee is perfect as Jerry Travers, playful and charismatic, gliding through the tap numbers with seemingly effortless style.

Direct from Broadway, Kristen Beth Williams is equally graceful and seems to effortlessly replicate the flexible back of Ginger Rogers as she performs the trademark backbend. Together they share a believable chemistry that brings alive the golden era of RKO.

The book cheekily includes the famous quote about Ginger Rogers (often incorrectly attributed to Ginger) as a line from Dale to Jerry, that she “does everything you do, only backwards and in heels”.

There are also some excellent comic turns from Alex Gaumond as the strutting, flamboyant Beddini, and Stephen Boswell as the valet Bates who believes himself to be a master of disguise.

It’s an absolute delight from start to finish. As you’d expect, the tap dancing and general choreography are sublime, but the cast are just as impressive when singing the beautiful songs of Irving Berlin or acting out the comedy and romance. A night of pure escapism, I sat throughout with a captivated grin from cheek to cheek.

‘Top Hat’ is playing at the Aldwych Theatre until 26 October. Tickets available via TopHatOnStage.com.

Cast:
Jerry Travers – Gavin Lee
Dale Tremont – Kristen Beth Williams
Horace Hardwick – Clive Hayward (u/s Graham Vick)
Madge Hardwick – Vivien Parry
Alberto Beddini – Alex Gaumond
Bates – Stephen Boswell

Ensemble & Swing:
Maid/Lido Guest – Michelle Andrews
Hotel Guest/Swing – Caroline Bateson
Cab Driver/Hotel Guest – Jeremy Batt
Florist’s Assistant/Italian Maid – Charlie Bull
Shadow Jerry/Speciality Dancer – Alan Burkitt
Hotel Porter/Italian Waiter – Matthew Cheney
Hotel Guest/Featured Chanteuse/Countess – Louise Davidson
Maurice/Italian Singer/Skipper – Russell-Leighton Dixon
Hotel Guest/Swing – Matt Gillett
Doorman/Lido Guest – Jonny Godbold
Policeman/Assistant Hotel Manager – Ian Goss
Hotel Guest/Italian Waiter – Alyn Hawke
Speciality Dancer/Hotel Guest – Lauren Jade
English & Italian Hotel Managers/George – Paul Kemble
Hotel Guest/Lido Guest – Jenny Legg
Hotel Guest/Cab Driver – Martin McCarthy
Hotel Receptionist/Lido Guest – Grace McKee
Broadway Chorine/Hotel Guest – Debbie Paul
Hotel Guest/Swing – Holly Rostron
Hotel Guest/Swing – Callum Train
Maid/Lido Guest – Lois Urwin
Concierge/Florist/Head Waiter – Graham Vick
Broadway Chorine/Hotel Guest – Alexandra Waite-Roberts
Hotel Porter/Italian Waiter – Aron Wild
Resident Director/Standby – Fenton Gray

Creative:
Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Based on RKO’s Motion Picture
Original Screenplay – Dwight Taylor & Allan Scott
Adapted for the stage by Matthew White & Howard Jacques
Directed by Matthew White
Choreographer – Bill Deamer
Set Design – Hildegard Bechtler
Costume Design – Jon Morrell
Musical Director – Dan Jackson