 |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
|
archive |
about
us |
links |
contact |
current | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
An
Evening with Joe Stalin the Musical Group: Cambridge University ADC |
| Andrew Chippindale | |
|
20 Million people died in the making of this musical - you'd think it would have a bit of bite, wouldn't you? Well, I'm here to tell you that the title and publicity is the sharpest edge on this show. Here is a title and concept that is the stuff of small scale West End transfers such as the footlights used to be offered in the 1960s, but there is nothing about this show that would justify it. In a way it is a shame that the musical is nominally about Stalin. As a new piece of student written musical theatre it is actually pretty good. The musicianship and performances are slick and well rehearsed, although a couple of the male leads could have done with their radio mics being turned up a wee bit. But there is such an opportunity for savage wit and satire in the face of this subject matter that no matter how talented the performers are, there is always the niggling feeling that one is watching a wasted opportunity. Sure, there are laughs to be had in the script's concept that Stalin was, at root, a misunderstood romantic and that his differences with Trotsky stemmed from the fact that they were both in love with 'Mrs Stalin'. When Trotsky smuggles himself back to Russia, disguised as a lion, to reveal that he has not been killed with an ice pick in Mexico, one cannot help but giggle, but ultimately this sort of whimsy leaves little to admire except a clutch of fine performances, notably from Hannah Whittingham as Mrs Stalin - she has star quality in spades. 30 July to 24
August.
| |