“Bugsy Malone” by Erewash Musical Society Youth Group
Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton

I remember seeing the original Alan Parker film when I was a teenager and loving the fact that kids were playing adults and they had "splurge guns". It's also one of the rare films that i actually went out and bought on DVD.

What's it all about then for anyone not knowing of this brilliant film?

Ok, picture the scene. It’s 1929, Gangster warfare in New York, Dandy Dan's hoodlums terrorise the district, exterminating undesirables with their new weapon splurge guns. His rival is Fat Sam Stacetto, who runs the Grand Slam Speakeasy, but Fat Sam's gang still use old fashioned pies. Fat Sam engages the help of Bugsy Malone, a smooth city slicker who hitherto has been more occupied in sweet talking Blousey Brown, a would be girl singer. With Bugsy's help, Fat Sam escapes from a frame up but he learns later that Dandy Dan's mob have splurged nearly all his gang. There's only one hope left. Fat Sam pays Bugsy 400 dollars in exchange for more help.

This is the first time that I have had the chance to see the stage version of the musical, and realise that transposing a classic film to the stage is not always as easy as it first may seem.

The first thing that hits you is the set and the large "Bugsy Malone" sign in lights and the lighting, which is brilliant. That teamed with the sound design already sets you up for an enjoyable night. All thanks for Dave Dallard, Dave Martin and Harvey Tavener.

Great to see the orchestra on stage, and their sound really evoked the era of the musical, especially that lovely muted trumpet (Mick Glover) and drums (Ben Glover), but the whole orchestra, under the musical direction of Amy Glover - the rest of the orchestra are not named Glover by the way.

Joel Dawson (Bugsy Malone) was just briliantly cool throughout.

Alice Renshaw (Blousey Brown) has one of the loveliest voices that i have heard for one so young. I was so pleased that several of her spots were done accapella which really gave us the full tone of her voice.

James Christian (Fat Sam) is a youngster that i have seen before, and yet again he caught my eye with his wonderful character play, and I love his ad libs.

Joe Langley (Dandy Dan, Fat Sam’s rival) has a cool aura about him, a lovely sense of comic danger.

Ben Kirkland (Knuckles, Fat Sam’s right hand man) is a natural on stage.

Tom Baddiley (Fizzy) really did make me sit up with his featured spot, "Tomorrow". He has a great voice and I can't wait to hear what he sounds like in a few years time if this is what he can offer now.

Emily Bridge (Tallulah) really puts on a show at the start of Act Two with the song "Tallulah". She really performs this song and merited the massive round of applause she, and the ensemble around her received.

Will Robbins (Leroy Smith), Ethan Fletcher (Cagey Joe) and another brilliant ensemble section was just another highlight for me with the gym scene in "So You Wanna be A Boxer"

The two cops on the case made me smile Oli Hickling (Captain Smolsky) and Rob Cattanach (O' Dreary).

It's not that often that a minor role can cause such reaction from the audience but in "Bugsy", Dylan Hoole as "Baby Face" just strolled on and stole the whole scene in Act Two. Now I am not going to say why, and how the scene was stolen but the applause he received was enough to raise the roof of The Duchess Theatre.

A massive ensemble who worked really well together and they actually looked like they were having as much fun on stage as we were having watching them.

Produced and Directed by Georgina Kemish, whose love of this musical is easy to see, especially as "Bugsy" was the first ever musical that she performed in, and where her passion for musical theatre stemmed from.

The choreography for this musical was excellent and all thanks to Hattie Kemish.

Loved the costumes which really gave a particular flavour in keeping the essence of the period.

I was also really impressed by the accents that this cast maintained throughout.

Now, i know this was only first night and normally adjustments are made after opening night so here comes the picky bit.

The scene changes could be tightened up and I noticed a couple of empty stages. With the large cast and ensemble, getting every one where they should be when they should be there is a mammoth job and I felt that on the whole the stage crew did a cracking job. It just needs a tweak or two, but that will also come from the actors as well as the stage management.

The energy in this show is wonderful and everyone gives 110%, and that is just one reason why I enjoyed my night at the Duchess.

“Bugsy Malone” is at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton until Saturday 9 February