{"id":1088362,"date":"2017-04-19T18:11:29","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T17:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8ce250469d.nxcli.io\/?p=1088362"},"modified":"2020-08-23T00:19:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-22T23:19:25","slug":"thoroughly-modern-millie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment-focus.com\/2017\/04\/19\/thoroughly-modern-millie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Thoroughly Modern Millie review"},"content":{"rendered":"
Thoroughly Modern Millie shimmies into Leeds Grand Theatre this week as part of a national tour. Made famous by the\u00a0movie adaptation featuring Julie Andrews, the tale of a dizzy flapper in\u00a0Twenties’ New York returns to the stage, now fronted by Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton.<\/p>\n
Millie Dillmount is a Kansas girl with ambitions for fame and fortune in the Big Apple.\u00a0After losing her possessions in the city, she falls into a sinister hotel run by the bizarre Mrs Meers. Joining a troupe of other aspiring modern girls, Millie seeks to find a wealthy husband to secure her success. Meanwhile, Mrs Meers is secretly abducting residents one by one\u00a0in a fiendish underground slave exchange. Can Millie find her man, or will she end up on the shelf\u00a0in Hong Kong?<\/p>\n
A dark runabout comedy punctuated with upbeat jazz numbers,\u00a0Thoroughly Modern Millie scores big laughs\u00a0in a substantial production, showcasing roaring Twenties arrangements and energetic dance routines.<\/p>\n
Rob Wicks’ musical direction is bright and dynamic, driven with blasting brass exclamations and a frantic ukulele rhythm, perfectly complimenting a plethora of lighthearted slapstick. Standout numbers include The Speed Test, an impressive exercise in rapid-fire dialogue, in addition to Only in New York which provides\u00a0Jenny Fitzpatrick\u00a0the opportunity deploy a stunning showstopping solo.<\/p>\n
Racky Plews’ direction ensures there is an authentic quality to song and dance numbers, which smoothly transition between scenes of knockabout comedy and light romance. Graham MacDuff excels in raising the roof as the perfect inebriate; milking a perilous swagger and indistinguishable slur for all its worth. Lucas Rush as Mrs Meers is also an irresistibly evil delight, edging towards pantomime in his grotesque parody of\u00a0a Chinese hostess.<\/p>\n