"Kipps - The New Half A Sixpence Musical" by Erewash Musical Society Youth Group".

The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

This year seems to be the year for seeing musicals and plays that I've not seen before, and this is another to add to that list. I've seen "Half A Sixpence" several times but this is the newer version. The writing team behind the stage version of Mary Poppins re-united to update this classic British musical concentrating on Arthur Kipps.

Arthur is an orphan, an over-worked draper’s assistant at Shalford’s Bazaar, Folkestone, at the turn of the last century. Along with his fellow apprentices, he dreams of a better and more fulfilling world, but he likes his fun just like any other. When Kipps unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society, it confuses everything he thought he knew about life.

Watching him wrestle with his new identity is his childhood companion and his best girl friend, Ann Pornick, who sees how Arthur is being made over in a new image by the classy Helen Walsingham. She is always there with helpful hints on how Arthur could improve himself and make his life richer and more meaningful, if only he would believe in himself, and listen to her. Both of these young women love Arthur – there is no doubt about that – but which should he listen to? With the help of his friends, Arthur learns that if you want to have the chance of living the right life, you need to make the right choices.

This new version of "Half A Sixpence", which returns to the H. G. Wells semi-autobiographical novel, “Kipps”, in order to reinvent the musical “Half a Sixpence” for the modern age, reunites book-writer Julian Fellowes, who everyone knows for writing "Downton Abbey", with George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the musical team that co-creator Cameron Mackintosh put together to create the updated stage adaptation of Mary Poppins with Disney. Julian Fellowes returns the musical to its literary roots, in a timeless and contemporary way, and Stiles and Drewe’s infectious new score blends well the original score.

Joel Dawson, who I remember from his portrayal of The Mayor in "The Wizard Of Oz" for EMUS Youth Group, plays Kipps, and he is becoming the talented all rounder that I knew that he would be. He sings, he dances, he acts and he can maintain a reputable cockney accent as well. I, for one, can't wait to see what he does, not only next, but in a few years time when hopefully he will move up and out of the Youth Group. A faultless and very enjoyable performance.

James O Boyle plays Sid Pornick, and like Joel and all of this Youth Group, he is a talent to be reckoned with, with a brilliant personality on, and I imagine off stage. I can't wait to see James in a leading role as I know he will be a very competent leading male role.

Sky Stacey plays Ann Pornick, Sid's sister and Arthur's childhood friend. Sky really makes you feel sorry for the character and you can feel her anger and frustration about his choice of wife. Like Joel, she also kept the accent up all the way through.

Katie Chamberlain plays the other corner of the love triangle, Helen Walsingham. There are no bad apples in this large cast and everyone works so well as a team. Katie plays a very convincing upper-class beau for Arthur, and her accent could have been over the top toff, but it wasn't and I liked that.

Eleanor Cooper was Mrs Walsingham, and Eleanor really steals the scene in Act two when the revelation about James Walsingham, played by Bethan Moore, comes about and Mrs Walsingham's headache. Subtle comedy performed brilliantly subtle.

Chitterlow is played by Rosey Malins and what a performance Rosey put in tonight. A wonderful character and a brilliant portrayal of that character, she really put the "joy" into the "Joy Of The Theatre", one of my favourite new tracks from the soundtrack.

This is a large cast but I really wanted to mention a couple of the young actors especially. For me there is always one person that you notice, and you can't seem to un-notice because of their stage presence. In "Kipps" it was Ellis Moore, who played among other parts Mr Maxwell. His confidence, cheekiness and the look of enjoyment on his face when in ensemble pieces was just lovely to see. You could tell he was enjoying being part of this cast and being on stage. May you never lose that confidence and cheekiness because they will take you far young man.

Another young actor who I've spotted in other productions was Harry O Boyle. In this show he played the Photographer in the "Flash, Bang, Wallop" section, among other ensemble parts. Again, he shows his enjoyment for what he does and he delivers a wonderful and natural performance in whatever role he plays.

I said it was a large cast so let's tell you who they were....

Grace Sims (Aunt Susan), Lowri Moore (Uncle Bert), Evan Hagan (Mr Shalford), Angel Coles (Carshot), Livvi Hickling (Pierce), Carys Moore (Buggins), Amy Dawson (Flo), Izzy Cole (Lady Pinnet), Seth Gorham (Hayes), Lacy Swinburne (Miss Ross), Eloise Chamberlain (Foster), Katie Fitzpatrick (Lady Dacre), Sophie Forman (Mrs Bindo-Botting), Eloise Ludlow (Mary), Martha Smart and Yasmin Aldous (Ensemble). All deserving of a mention.

Directed by Richard Dawson, who I overheard saying beforehand that there was nothing now he could do. Quite right because he has done all the hard work and, like a parent whose child is leaving home, can now only watch that child hopefully blossom on their own. Well, Richard, if this was your child, I think they will do just fine. A brilliant show and a wonderfully talented cast who obviously listened to everything that you had taught them and gave everything that you asked of them.

Choreographed by Hayden Fletcher and Abbie Lagou; it's such a big show choreographically that it needs two talented choreographers. A massive amount of work has gone into these routines and I especially loved the big numbers. "If The Rain's Gotta Fall", "Pick Out A Simple Tune" which has Hollywood style choreography written all over it, and of course "Flash, Bang Wallop".

Musical Director is Martin Lewis. Knowing this, I knew straight away that there'd be no worries at all in the music department, especially with an eleven-piece band, who sounded great.

Sound Design by Dave Dallard and Jack Clark. Just a few missed mic cues but I also felt that if the volume of the band were turned down just a smidge, that would have been better in some parts. A couple of people have said to me that I am always hard on the sound people, but I know that they strive for perfect sound, and I know that opening nights are where they get the feel of how the sound sounds like with a full audience in; believe me there is a difference between tech run throughs and a full audience sound, and I appreciate that opening nights are where the sound people tweak, so I do apologise if anyone feels I am critical of the sound people. Where would we be without them?

Lighting Design is by Richard Chamberlain, and apart from one scene where Arthur was in the shadows and Ann was lit, all was hunky dory.

The wardrobe for this musical was marvellous and very colourful, and I loved it.

The set saw several scenes which were changed efficiently and unobtrusively with a video backdrop that placed us at the scene in question, and in parts added to the glamour, especially when it came to the Walsingham House and the scene of The Grand Hotel.

A large cast has to be staged managed to the second and so I applaud Stage manager Mark Robbins and the rest of the stage crew for a tight job.

My only other thing I just thought I'd add was that there was one scene, in Act Two, with a choreographed number that may have been better moved more stage central as Arthur and co almost disappeared stage right while there was plenty of stage spare on stage left. I'm sorry I can't remember the song or scene as I was enjoying it so much. Just a thought.

A talented young cast with real talent, and a brilliant soundtrack, "Half A Sixpence", "She's Too Far Above Me", "The Joy Of The Theatre", "If the Rain's Gotta Fall", "Pick Out A Simple Tune", "In the Middle There's Me" and of course "Flash, Bang, Wallop". Brilliant choreography and some excellent character acting; it may cost just a bit more than half a sixpence, but it's well worth it and you get more than your money's worth at two hours and forty minutes of class entertainment, including the interval.

"Kipps - The New Half A Sixpence Musical" will be at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 9 July.