One of things my husband and I love most about being parents is the chance to share the stories we loved most as children with our girls.
For my husband and his family, Bugsy Malone, the 70s mobster comedy classic, which made stars of child actors such as Jodie Foster and Scott Baio, was always a firm favourite and I still remember the joy on his face when we settled down one evening to watch it for the first time as a family.
Since then, it has really captured the imagination of our eldest daughter, Nina, who now is a huge fan of musicals herself. She jumped at the chance to join me at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre for Bugsy Malone’s opening night on Tuesday.
The scene is set in Prohibition era, New York. A city full of mobsters, showgirls and dreamers. Rival gangster bosses Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are at loggerheads. The custard pies are flying and Dandy Dan’s gang has gotten the upper hand since obtaining the new-fangled “splurge” gun. Now, Fat Sam and his bumbling buffoons are in real trouble.
Enter Bugsy Malone, a penniless one-time boxer and all-round nice guy, thrust not-so-willingly into the gangster limelight when he becomes the last resort for Fat Sam’s hapless hoodlums. All Bugsy really wants to do is spend time with his new love, Blousey, but that just isn’t on the cards for our hero.
Will Bugsy be able to resist seductive songstress Tallulah, Fat Sam’s moll and Bugsy’s old flame, and stay out of trouble long enough to help Fat Sam to defend his business.
It’s a lavish production with sumptuous costumes, dripping with glittering sequins which capture the glamour of the time, a clever set which changes and evolves throughout the performance, and a hugely talented cast artist of young stars who brought this classic to life for a new generation.
Charlie Burns raised the roof with his performance as Fat Sam – cheeky, witty and with comic timing second to none – he put in a showstopping performance way beyond his years. Amar Blackman was slick and sophisticated in the title role, while Avive Savannah Williams showed softness and vulnerability as Blousey, her soaring vocals filling the theatre with ease. And who could forget Tallulah, sassy, elegant and poised, played perfectly in this performance by Taziva-Faye Katsande.
It was magical watching Nina’s face light up as she watched the performance unfold. Another memory made together, which I’m sure, will last a lifetime.
Bugsy Malone runs at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre until Sunday. For tickets call 024 7655 3055 or visit: Homepage – Belgrade Theatre
By Clare Brennan
