“A nostalgic cup of feel-good, brimming with blissful Bacharach harmonies”
Based on the 1960 film The Apartment, which starred Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, this musical incarnation first appeared almost half a century ago. With music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David and book by Neil Simon, this was almost guaranteed to be a hit. No surprises then that the original Broadway production ran for over three years and scooped two Tony Awards and a Grammy.
The story focuses on C C Baxter (Chuck) a young slightly naive junior in a huge insurance company. Keen to progress up the corporate ladder, he permits the execs at the company to use his nearby apartment for romantic liaisons in return for a key to the executive washroom.
Set firmly in the sixties and with work ethics to match (male dominated, cronyism abound and a more than liberal sprinkling of sexism), you have to watch this and realise that at the time it was written, these attitudes were the norm.
In the first act we get to meet Chuck (Gabriel Vick) and learn through some witty asides, that he is madly in love with the girl from the cafeteria, Fran (Daisy Maywood). Soon the execs at the company realise Chuck has the perfect location for them to partake in their secret trysts, his apartment, and reward him with over complementary reviews and promotion. Alas it turns out that one of the execs, Personnel Director J D Sheldrake (Paul Robinson) is using the dwelling to romance Fran.
Numbers and routines (choreographed by Cressida Carre) in the first act are pleasing, in particular ‘Turkey Lurkey Time’ at the office Christmas party. At times the pace of the actual story seemed a tad slow making the first act seem rather long.
The second act was at a much faster pace and definitely the better of the two (if we were rating by act – this would have got five stars!). It opens with Chuck drowning his sorrows at a bar on Christmas Eve and meeting the rather tipsy Marge (Alex Young). This scene is the funniest in the show and the audience were in stitches. Alex Young’s portrayal of the merry Miss MacDougall and her comic timing were a joy to watch. Her ‘owl’ jacket in itself was a hoot …
Fortunately, circumstance intervenes and Chuck doesn’t end up in flagrante delicto with Marge and as you may have guessed, does eventually get his girl. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again sealing their romance.
The absolute standout star of the show is Gabriel Burn, stunning vocal and just looks and plays the part perfectly. Daisy Maywood is the perfect Fran, and Paul Robinson is impeccable as the devious Sheldrake. Add in the music and you have a nostalgic cup of feel-good, brimming with blissful Bacharach harmonies.
A few technical hiccups didn’t spoil the enjoyment and Promises, Promises opens 2017 as a wonderful adaptation of this classic musical. Add it to your ‘go see’ list.
