42nd Street - A New Production - London & Tour

I saw this Monday at the curve … came to the west end version pretty late but then LOVED it went 4 times it was top class spectacular…. Now I knew this wouldn’t be as spectacular of course but disappointment would be an understatement up to £60 each I only paid £15-20 each time in London ……
I’m confused 🫤 by the comments on the staircase , there was no staircase finale ?? Biggest disappointment of the night I kept thinking right ok surely they must come back on … yesssss surely …. But nope no toe tapping line of dancers it was all just dancing across the stage 😳😳😳😳 the finale was a damp squib
I thought the lead billy was very talented but looked a little old for the role , Ruthie was ok but yep played it like Norma Desmond character …. And les Dennis ?? Why ? He didn’t look well but bumbled through even shuffle off to buffalo a favourite in London was just wasted here .

For me even though I’d seen it 4 times and 2 extra in the cinema there seemed to be bits missing in this production. Parts of the story were not very clear

I did like the overall design and look of the show didn’t look cheap costumes pretty good too …….. except for the dressing room which looked naff. Them blinking 2 sets of steps were swung round that stage more times than in SpongeBob the musical !!!!

Then when . The opportunity came to use them for the finale you know the iconic walk down we wait all night for …. they put them away

2 stars ⭐️ only sadly I’d really hoped for more

Wow, incredible! Having seen the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production a large number of times, then seen some less impressive productions since, I was worried this wouldn't match expectations. But this is really excellent and I got chills from the first note.

I was a bit worried about Nicole-Lily Baisden being in the lead role. Anything Goes wasn't an excellent match for her style, but she can really dance, and it showed here.

My other concern was which version of the show they'd use. It's a different book to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production, and they haven't kept Boulevard, so I was waiting and hoping that one of my favourite songs, Plenty of Money, would still be there. Thankfully it was.

There isn't a great deal of flexibility to innovate 42nd Street. I'm assuming that the dance routines are largely contractual, although a production like this does have to operate on a lower budget than the previous production. In many ways, this suits the Pretty Lady sequences, which rely a lot on curtains, backdrops and hand moved set pieces. It also means that the Curve wasn't able to change this beyond recognition, so we still have the nice gentle musical we all love, with a very limited plot, but excellent dancing and singing.

I don't really understand the staircase comments. The staircase is used during great effect during the 42nd Street number. Unlike Drury Lane, it remains on the stage. It isn't used for the final We're In The Money reprise, as everyone dances around it, but otherwise the dance sequence is largely as the previous production, just working around the large obstacle on the stage.

I saw the previous production from the front Stalls all but one time, when I ended up in the Circle (and vowed never again). For today's matinee, I could only get Rush in the Circle. I don't usually like being so far back, but the view is clear, sound is excellent (when not disturbed by people talking over the orchestra), and it does help that this is a much smaller show (a much smaller female ensemble, although a slightly larger male ensemble).

It's always a joy to see Alyn Hawke in a lead role, although being a Jordan Crouch fan, it would be great to see his cover of Andy Lee. The cast is generally very strong, but I did miss having Chris Howell as Bert Barry.

My regret is this has sold really well and deserves a London run (or a return at the end of the tour). I'd like to see this from the front, but ticket prices are most definitely not cheap. It's also in town at the same time as the other big dance musical (Newsies) where I've been spending a fair amount of time. So I don't know how easy it will be for me to get back. Catching this on tour looks like a much more realistic option.

A decent 4 star review from The Guardian:

www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/jun/15/42nd-street-review-sadlers-wells-london-ruthie-henshall

My only previous experience of 42nd Street was a BROS amateur production at Richmond back in 2016. My memories were fairly vague but fond, so I was intrigued to see this latest version of the show.

And frankly, I was blown away. The choreo was mesmerising and the orchestra sounded fantastic. This show really does have some great tunes and comedy moments, to say it’s based on a film released 90 odd years ago!

The title number was as epic as I’d hoped. Ruthie was perfect as Dorothy Brock and I was so pleased to see Nicole Lily-Baisden getting more to do than she had in the equally opulent Anything Goes last year. But in general, so much talent up in that stage as shown in the many big dance numbers.

A first visit to Sadler’s Wells for me and I’d be happy to go again. A fine, modern theatre.

I really enjoyed this more than I’d expected. It’s a very high four stars from me. The only thing lacking from 42nd Street is a meaningful plot but that doesn’t matter when what’s on display is so captivating.

Fully agreed on Jordan Crouch. And equally baffled he hasn't had the opportunity to be a lead in anything yet. He has such a lovely presence. Always found myself watching him whenever he was on stage in Anything Goes and My Fair Lady.

I'll be honest, I hadn't planned to see this because I thought it wouldn't live up to the Drury Lane production but my friend had a spare rush ticket going so I went along. Loved it. Can't say enough good things about it. The set, while small, was very well done and effective. The lighting and sound were great. What an excellent cast. And Les Dennis was there too.

To add to what Dr Tom said about rush tickets - When my friend tried at 10 AM she was originally offered row D of the dress circle. She tried again around 10 minutes later and got centre stalls. We ended up in either J or K. Can't remember which. But a perfect view.

Also hadn't planned to see this and hadn't been particularly struck by the version I'd previously seen in the West End (the first time I'd ever had an opportunity as for a well-known musical, this hadn't seemed to come round often) but was encouraged by the reviews. However, the prices for Sadlers Wells, plus fees on top - always a bugbear when you're booking a single, cheap, ticket - made it unaffordable so I've booked for one of the subesequent tour dates. The cast will have changed slightly but for £25 I could book what I know to be an excellent stalls seat at Woking, including insurance which now covers rail strikes - the first time I've ever added insurance to any booking but as he rail dispute hasn't yet been resolved, paying a little more seemed worth it rather than risking losing the ticket cost.

Happily the blank face wasn't my experience, particularly in MFL and 42nd Street, but can understand why you wouldn't be fussed about him if it was yours!


I noticed when looking at tour tickets that Michael Praed isn't listed as Julian Marsh for the final month. Has there been any mention of who that will be? Or do people expect/assume someone from within the company will play the role for the last few stops?

Ooh, that's good to know. Thank you! Might hold off booking another city for the time being then.

I saw this ay the weekend, first trip to Sadlers Wells. I am another huge fan of the last production and I loved this! I thought Ruthie Henshall was fantastic and Nicole-Lily Baisden an absolute star.

The staging great. Of course it is the touring version so how could it match the heights of Drury Lane, but they really put on a fantastic spectacle. I very much enjoyed it. Still a really beautiful show.

les Denis aside this production is fantastic.

loved Nicola-Lilly Baisden and Ruthie and Josephina.

Sure, it's not as big as the previous two Dury Lane productions, and it never claimed to be. Here, I think Rob Jones designs for Pretty Lady are much more stylish, especially in Dames, which was very Magic Flute like. Fab. I love a painted backdrop.

The comedy really landed, the band sounded great and I want the energy of the cast.

If it was on for longer in London then I'd definitely see it again.

I really can't get over how small the cast is. Even the previous tours in 2007 and 2012 which were done on the cheap had a much bigger cast.

Those uk tours reused sets and costumes from the early 2000s Mark Bramble productions (Broadway, Stuttgart, US/Asia tours) which at that point were years old and the backdrops were starting to fade.