There’s a “stage full of stiffs” in the Hills…

In the first few minutes of BUGSY MALONE vast numbers of bad guys are done in by vicious cream pie attacks and random bystanders are felled by crazy string machine guns. Little Chicago circa 1920s is littered with speakeasy staff and speak quickly mob bosses. By the time we get to Fat Sam’s Grand Slam and the body count is piling up, we are so glad that there are over 50 young people in the cast … we just don’t want the fun to end through lack of upright citizens.

Because, from the top of the show, Hills Musical Theatre Company’s BUGSY MALONE, performed exclusively by kids (from 10-16 years) is joyous, thrilling, incomparable community theatre. It’s a treat for all ages and a testament to what young people can do if we prepare them, support them and let ’em loose!

There’s a mob war happening, you see. Fat Sam is being out-armed by Dandy Dan who has managed to find a supplier for a secret weapon. Splurge guns! No longer are the streets slick with the failed hurlings of mano-on-mano flans, this new invention targets victims directly where it hurts. Fat Sam needs to get those guns and he has the green stuff to hire the best driver in the business, our narrator and all round good guy, Bugsy Malone.

In 1974, to keep his four kids entertained on long car trips English Filmmaker Alan Parker (who would direct a huge variety of films from FAME to MIDNIGHT EXPRESS) made up a story about a Chicago gangster from snippets of memory of films and books he had encountered. His eldest son, Alex, insisted that the story had to be about kids. When Parker decided to make a film of his amusing tale he enlisted Paul Williams to write the music and went on a talent search for young people. Jodie Foster and Scott Baio were just two names in the film and when it became a musical in 1983, Micky Dolenz from The Monkeys directed a young Catherine Zeta-Jones to wide acclaim.

Now for a new list of names. Any one of these kids could be the next generation of Australian musical theatre stars. They are remarkably talented and focused in a family friendly show with Hills MTC’s traditionally high production values.

Let’s have a quick chat about that first. Peek at the early promo images for the show and you will see kids in school musical costumes. Dangling sleeves, Dad’s cut down suit. Go and see the show now and you will see superbly envisioned costumes (Rebecca Demary- co-ordinator).

Every child’s costume fits them, so do their hats and shoes and ties and furs and fans and pom pom fringes. Each change, and there are many, gives the young artist a character to bring on with them. The showgirls look glorious in their beaded and sequined and fringed gold flapper dresses and then they come out in the second act in equally lush silver costumes. Just brilliant!

The set is detailed, easy to work on and fill and everything moves smoothly. The trees are a highlight! Not to mention the stunning set piece of the finale through the auditorium. Add to this, superb choreography (Gai Reckless-Adams) that allows the non-dancers just as much expression as the terrific dancing ensembles. The males do manly things in exciting ways and the women are sassy and proud. The big scenes where 50 plus kids bust their moves are exhilarating showstoppers in the rich tradition of Broadway.

But enough about the grownups, this is BUGSY MALONE and we are here to see the kids.

Bugsy Malone is played by Jeremy Barons and he is just fantastic. This is a young man who will go far. His ability to relate to an audience and draw them into the story is right on the money. His command of the comedy is great fun and he has a wonderful instinct for the throwaway line. He sings well, handles the movement equally comfortably and his rapport with Blowsy Brown is one of the highlights of the show.

Blowsy (Abbey Thomas) is a smart cookie. She knows when she is being given a line by a nere-do-well chiseller. Thomas has got attitude and spunk as the hard to impress would-be star. Thomas is definitely a star in this production. Boy, can she can hold an audience. When she sits on her suitcase, all alone in a smoky spotlight for “Ordinary Fool” the longing reaches out into the audience and that last note of hers was floated like a pro.

Musical Director, Mark Pigot, and his orchestra are quietly supportive and in the background for most of the show, but the sax in that scene was chilling.

Fat Sam (Ryan Morris) is a bit chilling too. He is a mean man. Morris’ acting is great and when he threatens them with a soda siphon, he means business. Great physical comedy from him as well, I laughed and laughed in one scene where he hit the deck. Dandy Dan (Jack Fahd) rocks a smoking jacket and is gallant and smooth despite the motley crew around him. The mobsters’ gangs were great fun, as was Fat Sam’s chanteuse, Tallulah (Bethany Marfleet). She was brassy yet brittle as she tried to vamp our hero.

As the observer of the mobsters’ machinations, dog’s body Fizzy (Luca Muscardo) has the perfect puppydog face. He makes us feel for this poor guy, who is obviously worth more than he’s getting. His character is consistent and even though he doesn’t say much, each appearance brings depth to poor Fizzy. His solo “Tomorrow” is really well acted. It’s sad and poignant. And there is emotional power too in the evocative dancing behind him in that song. Well executed turns, gentle soft shoe and skilled jazz. And if that white suit has puppies, I want one.

But it’s not just the lead characters, every one of the BUGSY MALONE cast is giving their all. As the bartender, Adam Pratt doesn’t speak; he is just background but he’s always engaged, busy and attentive. Xavier Rudolf who has personality plus as the magician and does a scene stealing violinist is just one of the other enjoyable ‘small’ roles and I wish I could pinch the cheeks of every one of those talented young people up there. There’s always something to watch.

The quality direction by Jan Mahoney shows in subtle ways, like cast’s flawless use of accents, but it really comes to the fore in the big scenes. When the curtain opens on Fat Sam’s place, every child is engaged. There’s side plays and by play and each has a character as they chat and interact with each other without pulling focus. And I have to mention the wonderful “Down and Out”. I was elated by the quality of work that huge ensemble put in for that dynamic, adventurous, rousing song.

But, I suppose, if I had to single out my favourite scene it would be “So You Wanna Be A Boxer”. I loved seeing all those young blokes doing their best in being bad! The voice blends were pitch perfect, the choreo was vibrant and their enthusiasm infectious. Silas Hann did a cracker job in this scene, with the recits and patter carried off with style and Hunter Munro projected a lovely ‘big, dumb’ character that got lots of laughs.

There are so many laughs in Hills Musical Theatre Company’s BUGSY MALONE. So much to enjoy and be amazed by. As sweet as a cream pie in the puss from a splurge gun toting gangster!

BUGSY MALONE is playing at Model Farms High School Auditorium-
2nd June – 7:30pm and 3rd June – 1:00pm & 7:30pm.

http://www.hillsmtc.com/