42nd Street: The Musical

This production is wonderful. The tap dancing is beyond fantastic. Each number in the first half is standing ovation worthy. The second half drags a bit, brought down by the book (script). But still wonderful to watch and the numbers are Broadway perfect.

This is a stage production that looks like a movie. Well shot with shifting perspectives while capturing the movements. And what movements they are! The chorus and smaller roles are all handled by flawless and fun dancers and singers. The staging and chorography are as good as musical theater can produce.. And there's Clare Halse. The best tap dancer you've ever seen and one of the most winning faces you'll ever encounter. Watch this just to see her. Even when it's over, keep watching. She has a surprise for you even after the curtain call. Plenty of great songs, great dancing and a finale in a class by itself. Well worth your time. If I have one quibble with this production it would be the 'Shuffle Off To Buffalo' number that's jarringly silly and out of place. The other 95%? Perfection.

I saw the David Merrick version twice in London, and have seen this latest version 3 times in London. So to see it again after the show closed, in the cinemas was an added bonus. I left out a star (making a perfect 10) because the camera concentrated on close ups rather than showing the dancing. So I now understand why Fred Astaire wanted full length body camera work when making his films.

It is the best theatre musical ever - if you are a lover of tap dancing,, and this show has it in spades. Personal preference, but Sheena Easton made a far better Dorothy Brock than Bonnie Langford. And Clare Halse - one sensational tap dancer, should have shared the applause at the end with BL and Tom Lister.

It was brilliant to relive all the amazing dancing, but lacked the atmosphere of the live theatre. Saying that, I thought there would be a dvd to buy at the end, but sadly not. Perhaps a trick has been missed on merchandising.

Kudos to the Chorus and the actors and the actresses ,, You were great.

Freely adapted from the original - which was brilliant - but this new version is a cornucopia of talent and performance! A perfect 10 on all counts. PS filmed stage plays can raise live performances to a whole new level with cuts and closeups. This proves that.