Review: Barnum, Lyceum Theatre

There is so much to enjoy in Barnum. The circus performers are stunning. The actor-musicians are impressive and versatile. The talented principal cast has excellent vocals. There is even a huge puppet elephant, which is fabulous. 

But I was left with the feeling that the sum of the parts was better than the whole. The stage is often busy to the point of being cluttered. There were occasions where I didn’t know whether to watch the circus performers doing incredible strength moves while suspended on hoops, or the dancers or the actor/musicians or the singers. There is so much going on the narrative feels a little uneven and some scenes lack pace.

P. T. Barnum is a huge role, a massive ask for any actor and even more so for an understudy who doesn’t get the level of rehearsal or stage time to become comfortable. Tom Sterling (cover) is a very likeable Barnum, he’s a great singer and fabulous on the trumpet. Cy Coleman’s songs are wonderful, but some are very difficult to perform. ‘There is a Sucker Born Every Minute’ needs great control to sing well, there’s hardly time to take a breath. ‘The Museum Song’ is a super-fast patter requiring vocal gymnastics. Sterling handles all of Barnum’s songs with ease. A couple of his magic effects could have been a little slicker, but they all worked. The audience was entirely with him as he performed the famous tightrope walk across the stage. 

Barnum’s wife, Charity, is a total contrast to her husband. He is charming, confident and charismatic. She is quiet and down to earth. Their relationship must be believable for the plot to be effective. Monique Young‘s Charity is a little waspish and comes across as somewhat controlling rather than indulgent of her mercurial husband. Young sings the role very well, but I was left wondering how she and Barnum ever got together. There are only a few moments of warmth between them. Her death is a little sudden, one cough and she’s suddenly gone. Though the monochrome circus performers who stop juggling one by one is a poignant symbolic touch. 

Dominique Planter is fabulous in both her roles – Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world, and the Blues Singer in ‘Black and White’. Her singing voice is rich and strong, she has wonderful stage presence and great comic timing. Penny Ashmore shines as Jenny Lind with a glorious soprano voice. As she plays her harp and sings the lyrical and prophetic ‘Love Makes Such Fools of Us All’ aerial acrobats perform astonishing feats of grace and strength suspended from ribbon. Special mention to Gianpaolo Candelaria who bears his own weight and that of his partner literally single handed. Their control and artistry is a thing of wonder. 

Spectacular feats like this permeate the entire production and are not constrained to the circus scenes. Another acrobat, André Rodrigues, is amazing performing in a giant hoop, spinning at incredible angles. These talented performers effect scene changes with tumbling and handstands as they bring on items of furniture.

It’s hard to believe that this larger-than-life production started out at the tiny Watermill Theatre. The magnificent Lyceum barely manages to contain it. For pure entertainment value, this colourful and full-on production is hard to beat, but it feels more about the circus than the musical.

Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Michael Stewart
Book by Mark Bramble
Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle
Choreographed by Oti Mabuse
Arrangement, Orchestration & Musical Supervision by George Dyer
Set & Costumes by Lee Newby
Co-Choreography by Matt Nicholson
Lighting Design by Jai Morjaria
Sound Design by Tom Marshall
Circus Direction by Amy Panter
Musical Direction by Kevin Oliver Jones
Circus Instructors Iona Luvsandorj & Sabrina Joshua
Circus Consultants – Zippos Circus & The National Centre for Circus Arts
Puppet Design by Meryvn Millar & Tracy Waller for Significant Object
Puppetry Direction by Helen Foan for Significant Object

Barnum tours the UK and Ireland, starring Lee Mead until Saturday 4 July and Matt Rawle from Tuesday 11 August to Saturday 31 October.