4 days Ago
Before I even start to review Newsies Jr, I have to say I was blown away by the clever programme that accompanied the performance. Since the story, within the show, is about the newsboys strike in New York in 1899, making the programme into a rolled up, yellowed newspaper was genius. Hats off to Steve Bailey and Michael McCaw for their inventiveness.
The cast of Newsies take a bow (Picture: Ian Cheeseman) Just like the professional version of Newsies, which I saw a couple of times at Wembley’s Troubadour Theatre, Drama Dept made the show as immersive as possible with Newsies handing out the rolled up newspapers as we approached the start of the show and dancing in the aisles several times during an exciting evening. One of the worries I had, ahead of watching this Am/Dram version - and an under-18 version at that - was that it would disappoint me, as I loved the professional show I saw in London. I needn’t have worried.
The cast of youngsters were all talented from the leads to the ensemble. Jack Lightfoot as Jack was a terrific lead. On this showing he might emulate George Crawford, once of Mossley Amateur Operatic Society, who played the part at the Troubadour.
Beth Morgan, as journalist Katherine, played the subtleties of her character as perfectly as when she sang solo or danced in the big numbers. Surely she’s a star of the future. In truth she’s a star already.
Harry O’Connor led Seize the Day beautifully and Luka Francis Mountford impressed me as Crutchie. It’s a great story with a gorgeous score by the genius Alan Menken, who also wrote the music for Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act and many, many more wonderful shows. The show is not as well-known as some others, so I enjoyed listening to members of the audience being pleasantly surprised by how good the show was, as well as heaping praise on the talented performers.
The dancing blew me away in the professional show, so these youngsters had a lot of expectation on their shoulders from me, so Carolynne Crowder’s choreography had to be special, and it was. Dancing is a big part of this show and it was top class. This show runs at Hyde Festival Theatre until Saturday 19th April, miss it at your peril!.
