Based on the 1967 Julie Andrews movie, Thoroughly Modern Millie is a thoroughly old fashioned musical and is about as far away from political correctness as it is possible to get. It’s sexist, as all the women are either actresses or typists and every “modern girl’s” ambition is to secure a rich businessman husband and it’s racist, as the landlady Mrs Meers is made to look like a Geisha Girl and speaks pantomime Cantonese to her Hong Kong laundrymen but it’s so lighthearted and fun that you can just about forgive its dubious morality.
The story takes place in New York City during the prohibition era of the 1920’s. It is the story of a small-town girl who moves to the big city longing to live a thoroughly modern life. Hayley Tamaddon as Millie Dillmount is fresh and fun, delivers solid vocals and really works her socks off in the many and varied dance routines.
Lisa Bridge shows off her amazing soprano vocals as Millie’s friend, Miss Dorothy Brown. The duets featuring Millie and Dorothy in act one (How the Other Half Lives) and between Dorothy and Richard Meek as Millie’s boss Trevor Graydon in act two (Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life / I’m Falling in Love with Someone) are vocal highlights.
Michael Colbourne as Millie’s love interest, Jimmy Smith, is likeable and delivers strong vocals and acting throughout while Natalie Spriggs as the head of the office workers, Miss Flannary, displays just the right mixture of nasty and nice to prevent her from becoming a total villain.
During a career that has spanned almost five decades, Nicola Blackman has developed a presence that allows her to completely dominate the stage and she combines this with her tremendous vocal skills to really hit the spot, as Muzzy Van Hossmere, with her incredible performances of Only in New York and Long As I’m Here With You.
There is also a huge amount of comedy in the show with Lucas Rush delivering a superb performance in drag as former convict turned white slave trader, Mrs Meers, assisted by Guy Salim and Patrick Jeremy as the brothers Ching Ho and Bun Foo, and with Richard Meek’s wonderfully slapstick, and (if I’m not wrong) partly ad-libbed, “drunk” routine in act two!
Overall, this production, directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, is an over the top, fun and funny musical that the extremely enthusiastic, opening night, Devonshire Park Theatre audience thoroughly enjoys.
**** Four Stars