Half A Sixpence

This show ran 2 years in the West End from 1963 to 1965 and transferred to Broadway where it ran a further 511 performances. A film followed...so if it aint broke dont fix it!

This adapdation of the original show by Julian Fellowes, Cameron Mackintosh, Stiles and Drewe ditches only around 4 songs from the original show, the rest remain with alot of altered lyrics and around 7 new songs added, so it does not take a mathematical genius to work out that the show is now far too long. The first Act runs 1.20 and second 1.05 - admittedly a preview performance but without cutting some of the new songs I do not see how this can be shortened. The show on Monday evening started 5 mins late and the interval was 25 minutes rather than the advertised 20 - so the show did not finish until 10.25 - almost 3 hours!

Most of the new songs are forgetable although "Back the Right Horse" for Chitterlow and Just a Few Little Things for Kipps and Helen made their mark. But the "moments" of the show belong to the original composer David Heneker with "Long Ago" "Half A Sixpence" and of course "Flash Bang Wallop" - songs which Stiles and Drew can only dream of. So I did not think the new material - although pleasant enough -added anything other than length.

Having said that though it is a gorgeous production. Beautifully designed on a revolving bandstand in wedgewood blue with screens and projections which facilitate (noisy) scene changes. The costumes are sumptuous and the band and vocals of the company are excellent.

Despite trying to open up the story to include other characters it remains Kipps's show - it is his story after all!. A real find in Charlie Stemp as Kipps, looking like a young Michael Crawford at times with a hugely engaging and likeable personality. Certainly an actor to watch. He is well supported by a lovely portrail of Ann (his childhood sweetheart) by Devon -Elise Johnson.

A charming production (4 stars from me) - well suited to the Chichester stage with its circular bandstand and a lovely evening or afternoon out in Chichester. However, I simply cannot see the production going any further. It is an old fashioned show and I cannot see them queuing round the block in the West End to see it or on tour.

Emma Williams is excellent in this making the most of the rather thankless role of Helen Walsingham. She is given two new numbers "Believe in Yourself" and "Just A Few Little Things" - both duets with Kipps.

I'm afraid it is.Brash vulgar and tasteless.They even build Downton Abbey.Most of the audience seemed to love it.No Style or artistry.Insipid new songs. No charm. Not for me.

I've read 2 bloggers' reviews, both of which were very positive and I am really looking forward to seeing the show next week. If the show really is brash, vulgar and tasteless, maybe the genteel Chichester audience enjoys slumming it for a change?

Three from Libby Purves (Theatrecat), who found it lacked heart.

3* from The Stage
3* from What's on Stage

Lyn Gardner's review is so clinically, almost cruelly, analytical and dismissive that one wonders on what basis she awarded her second star!

Noel Coward.

....like Showboat, Mrs. Henderson and The Go Between?

Cameron will bring it in to save face and because of the few decent reviews. I'm with Lyn Gardner on this one. It's really not good enough besides a lovely design and some choreography. Dreadfully old fashioned and the new songs add nothing. It won't sell a ticket but then again he has the money to spare.

As phantom1986 said above - if Cameron has "money to spare" (burn) perhaps he should buy himself a banjo instead?

Lyn Gardner really likes nothing, she is typical terminal brig of the reviewers' world. She is typical of someone deputising for the master, who has been unleashed and wants to make an impression.

5 stars from the Evening Standard.

I expect Baz will have a scoop on this tomorrow.

I daresay Lyn Gardner sees more theatre than any other UK critic, and almost certainly the broadest range, in style, scale and location. Consequently, she has about the best understanding of the context of every show and she always travels in hope, although I agree that she is usually disappointed! And she's absolutely not one of the many lazy and pathetic critics who major on whether or not they personally "like" the show. She analyses it and tells us what it is, which is what makes her review of Half a Sixpence so gloriously and definitively damning! Although, as she chuckles in the Comments, she did try to be kind!