"Kipps - the New Half A Sixpence Musical"

Carlton Operatic Society.

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

To set the tone for this review, let me just say that everything about this production is of the quality that you'd expect from a West End production, at a fraction of the ticket price.

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, Flo, Sid, Pierce and Buggins, 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.

As with every production that Carlton operatic stage, they like to include as many performers as they can, so be prepared for a massive production, on every scale.

Arthur Kipps is played by Lu Anthony. This is their debut for Carlton Operatic Society, even though local theatre followers will know Lu from many other productions in the past with other societies and in various venues. Lu brings the down to earth feel of Tommy Steele's Kipps along with Lu's own flair for choreographic experience. Their voice has never sounded so good as in some of these songs, which they do more than deliver, they performs these songs. Their energy is so evident as Kipps, and there's not many scenes where they are not actually on stage. They also learnt how to play the banjo for this role in less than a month. Their chemistry with everyone is something that I know Lu develops with ease and his performance is totally believable. There really is nothing that Lu can't turn their hand to, and I know that even though they were nervous leading up to this show, it looks like everything has fallen into place for them because their performance on Tuesday night was faultless.

Ann Pornick, Arthur's childhood sweetheart, is played by Sarah Thompson. I mentioned the chemistry that Lu has, and this coupling is just so sweet, which then matures really nicely when they meet up again several years later. Sarah's voice is such a gorgeous instrument, especially highlighted in Ann's solo, "Long Ago".

Sid Pornick, Ann's elder brother and an apprentice at Shalford’s Bizarre, is played by Jonathan Jaycock. The joy of seeing different theatrical groups is seeing many actors performing for other companies at different venues, and I've seen Jonathan several times before, so I knew just how strong this cast was, just by looking at the cast list. Jonathan is a strong actor with a strong voice, both qualities shown in this role.

Lizzie Fenner plays the other corner of the love triangle, Helen Walsingham. Lizzie has a lovely clipped brogue for Helen, reminiscent of Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins". Helen is one of those characters who you do feel a little sorry for, because if it were not for her mother, maybe Helen and Arthur might have had a good shot at marriage, because Helen and Arthur really do want just a small house to live in and be happy in. Helen is educated, classy and beautiful and glides around a room more than merely walks. Lizzie is obviously perfectly cast.

Mrs Walsingham is Helen’s domineering mother. Fussy, tiresome, full of self importance. A snob. Played wonderfully by Lindsey Jaycock.

James Walsingham, Helen’s brother, is a somewhat corrupt financial advisor. He is seemingly the more favoured offspring of Mrs Walsingham and is played by James Ellison. James also doubles as the brilliantly camp photographer in the massively fun scene at Arthur's wedding where we get to experience "Flash, Bang Wallop". I almost expected the audience to boo James when he came on to take his final bows because the character James embezzled all of Arthur's money away, but they didn't.

Dan Armstrong plays both Foster and Chitterlow. Chitterlow delivers the good news to Arthur about his inheritance and advises Arthur to invest some of his inheritance in Chitterlow's play about backing the right horse. "The Joy Of Theatre" is one of those very clever theatre songs that make for a memorable few minutes in the hands and vocals of a charismatic actor, and Dan has always been charismatic, on and off stage, and also has a fine set of vocal chords. 

James Sikora plays Pierce, another of the apprentices. This is the second show that I've seen James in; the last being at Bingham as Silly Billy in pantomime. That was James' first show for about a decade, so I'm so pleased to see James making his debut for Carlton Operatic in a full blown musical theatre piece.

Buggins, another apprentice, is played by George Young, a name and face that I know really well from many theatre productions in Nottingham. For this role though, George's trademark hair was gone, and had been dyed blond; completely unrecognisable from anything else that I'd seen him in. This is also George's Carlton Operatic debut.

Flo is the head window dresser at Shalford’s Bizarre, and is played by Alison Watkins. Alison is a well recognised name and face around the local stages, and is always a welcome cast member in any production.

Playing Lady Punnet, the wealthy friend of Mrs Walsingham, is Helen Tunnicliff. Lady Punnet has hired Ann as a maid at her music evenings, which is an event that Arthur has been invited to, by Mrs Walsingham, which is where the reconciliation between Arthur and his childhood sweetheart starts.

Did I mention that it was a large cast?  Let me  tell you who the rest of them are....

Claire Collishaw (Aunt Susan), Adam Collishaw (Uncle Bert), Darren Ward (Mr Shalford), Celine McKeown (Carshot and Lady Dacre), Stacey Ireson (Hayes), Danniella Anderson (Miss Ross), Rebekah Daley (Mrs Bindo-Botting), Hannah Haywood-Cupitt (Mary), Wendy Austin-Giddings (Miss Maxwell) Eleanor Adey (Ruby), Frank Ellis (Charles), Brogan Hayes (John), Sarah Hill (Virginia), Alice Kirkby (Betty), Coragh O'Donnell (Beatrice), Helen Taylor (Mildred), Katie Waller (Mildred) and Bekki Wilson (Ada). All worthy of a mention.

There are two teams of young ensembles; Team Folkstone and Team Romney. On Tuesday night I saw Team Romney who were Caitlin Young, Eliza Szejda, Sophia Rees, Eloise Rees, Grace Moroziuk, Jacob Jacques-Phillips, Megan Holder, Emily Holder and Henry Armstrong.      

Directed by Rachael Rees, who also choreographed "Kipps". A massive amount of work has gone into the show and these dance 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". You'd expect this standard of choreographical quality from something from the West End, but who needs to pay to travel down south when we have that standard up here.

Musical Director is Chris Rees. The musical has 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 "Flash, Bang, Wallop". The sound was perfectly balanced and could have been lifted from a professional backing track, the sound was so good from this fourteen piece orchestra. The quality of the vocals from this incredibly talented cast also is proof of the immense work that has been invested over the months by Chris and the cast.

Wardrobe by Charades Theatrical Costume Hire in St Helens is another piece of this spectacular jigsaw. They are gorgeous all round.

The wonderful wigs are supplied by Wig Art Theatrical.

A large cast has to be staged managed to the second and so I applaud Stage managers Vicky Johnson, Nigel Newton and Matthew Allcock for a tight job.

The sets are excellent and supplied by Scenic Projects.

Sound by Rob Kettridge. This was so well balanced, I heard every word, spoken and sung, no missed cues anywhere. What more could you ask from a Sound Designer?

Lighting by James Vella, and when you have a Lighting Consultant like Tom Mowat, you are guaranteed a perfect lighting design from this dynamic duo, which is exactly what we got. Mentions also to follow spot operators Cathy Bodman and Simon Carter.

Hopefully my review has not been critical or over analytical, and is more than good to fair; it certainly left me more than perky and is definitely not a turkey and my indorsement is good to share. Carlton Operatic have certainly backed the right horse with this show, as proven by the standing ovations at the end of the show.

"Kipps - the New Half A Sixpence Musical" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 1 June, and so worth the price of the ticket.

Photos by Martin Holtom.