Reputation, The Other Palace - ★★★★ - Until November 14, 2019


Can you make a musical about plagiarism? Apparently you can. This charming cabaret musical is a lovely throwback to the simple stories and lovely music of the 1930's. It has some echoes of Chicago. Jeremy Secomb is wonderfully sleazy as Freddy Larceny who steals the work of young aspiring novelist, Michelle Grant, portrayed with delightful innocence and a backbone of steel by Maddy Banks. Michelle's lawyer and love interest played by Ed Wade is also excellent, as are the rest of the versatile cast who are our heroine's classmates and perform in other various roles throughout. The plot here is paper thin and the characters are purposefully rather two-dimensional. This is intended to be an uncomplicated night of fun with some hummable tunes and a feel-good plot, and it all works. The whole thing is a great antidote for some of the more turgid works presently on offer. The use of the small space by director, Warren Wills and choreographer, Tamsyn Salter, is excellent and both deserve full marks for their creativity. It is also a welcome change to hear voices unamplified by the ubiquitous head microphones that lead to such lifeless sound in so many current productions. For a good old entertaining night in the theatre you can't do much better than this!

 Reviewed by J.C.

  Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until November 14, 2019
Mon - Sat: 8 pm, Sat: 3 pm
The Other Palace Theatre
Nearest tube: Victoria
https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/reputation/
Map & Location: 12 Palace St, Westminster, London SW1E 5JA, UK

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