Review: Crazy For You,  Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield

Crazy For You tells the story of New York banker Bobby Child who is sent to the backwoods town of Deadrock, Nevada to close down its ailing theatre. He meets the daughter of the theatre owner, Polly Baker, and falls in love with her. She is unimpressed with him, so he has work to do to help save her theatre and win her heart.

The show opens in New York with Bobby in a loveless engagement with demanding Irene, and with a domineering mother. All he wants to do is sing and dance but he is unable to convince theatre impresario Bela Zangler that he has the talent. The set is evocative of 1930s New York with neon, light bulbs and art deco architecture. 

Leading man Sam Widdowson as Bobby is a very impressive triple threat. He sings, dances and acts with apparent ease and gives a top quality performance. Ellie Hudson holds her own as the feisty Polly, with impressive dancing and singing. 

The first main song and dance number is ‘I Can’t Be Bothered Now’,where Bobby is joined in his imagination by the Zangler Follies, a bevy of excellent tap dancers dressed all in pink with blonde wigs, who fill the stage with their perfect performances. Choreographer Katie Granger has done a remarkable job in this show. The dancing throughout the production is clever, witty and intricate and the dancers are all very talented.

The transformation from New York to Deadrock is done well with revolving scenery and the contrast between the two locations is very striking. The audience is taken from a lively colourful song and dance to three cowboys (Andrew Emerson, Paul Mullens and Richard Granger) slowly singing a very downbeat ‘Bidin’ My Time’ with excellent harmony work. Here we meet local bad guy, saloon owner Lank Hawkins, played by Matt Bevan, who has strong stage presence and plays exasperated frustration to perfection.

Scenery changes are performed by the cast while the action is still going on and help the show maintain a good pace. On one occasion the scene changes to inside the saloon and the cast even places Bobby from the floor to a seat. 

Polly is not interested in Bobby once she learns he has been sent to close her father’s theatre, so Bobby disguises himself as Bela Zangler, tells her he has come to save the theatre and she falls for him. The comedy highlight of the production comes when the real Zangler (played by a very funny Mark Harris) appears in Deadrock. Zangler and Bobby (dressed as Zangler) have an excellent duet ‘What Causes That’where they mirror each other’s movements while singing about the women they love not being interested in them. To work, this song demands perfect synchronicity and excellent timing, and both Widdowson and Harris are superb.

Of course everything works out in the end and all the various characters find a partner. The plot is not complicated, but the show is all about the music and the choreography and STOS Theatre Company certainly doesn’t disappoint. Musical Director Anna Wright does full justice to these wonderful Gershwin songs. All the big song and dance numbers are fabulous, particularly the exuberant ‘Slap That Bass’which has a great a capella section and improvised percussion from the cast. The songs are all visually excellent with lovely costumes, especially the feathers and glitter of the finale.

Overall this is a highly impressive production with no weaknesses. It’s very easy to forget that STOS is an amateur theatre company.  

Produced by: STOS Theatre Company
Music and Lyrics by: George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by: Ken Ludwig
Directed by: Jill Beckett
Choreographed by: Katie Granger
Musical Direction by: Anna Wright
Sound by: Nick Greenhill and team
Lighting by: Gary Longfield and team
Photography by: Roe-Parkin Creative

Crazy For You plays at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until 23rd November. Further information and booking are available here.