One minute I was sitting happily in my seat anticipating the wonders of the performance ahead; the next, the ensemble of Barnum were in the audience; juggling, performing acrobatics, extracting ‘willing’ volunteers to help them with their tricks. Sitting in the middle of a row, I thought I was safe. How wrong I was! Out of every member of the sell-out opening night of the show, it was me that one of the performers decided to sit on whilst juggling. A thoroughly enjoyable experience, I can assure you. After this fantastically mad and wild opening to the show before the curtain even rose, the audience knew they were in for a fabulous and frivolous time.
Barnum tells the tale of P.T Barnum, the ultimate showman, exploring his life, relationships and struggles as the most famous American of his time and his eventual rise with James Bailey to create the Barnum and Bailey Circus, or as it was called at the time – The Greatest Show on Earth. Whilst this performance wasn’t the ‘Greatest Show’ ever, it certainly was a strong contender! Brian Conley’s central performance as Barnum was spectacular, his acting and American accent were so convincing, a fellow audience member actually thought he, and the entirety of the cast were American. His cheeky, unscripted asides and constant interaction with the audience, combined with his talents for fire-eating, tightrope walking and singing made Barnum a role he was meant to play and he clearly revelled in it.
Whilst this performance wasn’t the ‘Greatest Show ever’, it certainly was a strong contender!
Conley’s chemistry with actress Linzi Hately, playing the role of Barnum’s wife, Chairy, made any scene with the two particularly poignant and believable. Similarly, Chairy’s love rival Jenny Lind’s (Kimberly Blake) breathtaking operatic performance whilst suspended high above the stage, was a standout moment of calm brilliance in the sea of motion and action that was the rest of the show.
Brian Conley’s central performance as Barnum was spectacular.
As you can probably tell, the performance was a musical about a circus, therefore the ‘razzle dazzle’ factor was set to high. Indeed, the set was absolutely fantastic and, as a Nottingham native, the best and most diverse use of the Theatre Royal’s stage I have seen in my many years of going to performances there. An elephant on stage, a sign bearing down and aerial silk performers descending from above, all combined to create a fabulous sense of the circus on a relatively small stage compared to the theatre’s sister stage, the Royal Concert Hall.
The best and most diverse use of the Theatre Royal’s stage I have seen.
Costume designer, Paul Wills had similarly excelled and no expense had been spared on the lavish, colourful and beautiful costumes, with even the ensemble changing costumes several times. It is worth noting the talents of the ensemble cast, each being talented dancers, singers and circus performers. Not a trick, note or dance step was missed and even the setting of a table was highly choreographed and turned into an acrobatic routine! The band got in on the action too, appearing on stage and outdoing themselves in the fabulous Museum Song, when Conley was literally singing so fast I couldn’t tell a word he was saying (a positive thing I assure you!)
Not a trick, note or dance step was missed.
Overall, the show was a riotous, colourful extravaganza combining the novelty and brilliance of the circus with the romantic, autobiographical tale of Barnum, to create a musical that astounded and aesthetically pleased. My only qualm would be that there was so much happening at once in the ensemble scenes that I had no idea where to look and have probably missed out on fabulous action on the other side of the stage. The finale of the musical, with the audience singing along, led to a standing ovation for the cast, a feat I predict will be repeated throughout the course of the show’s run here in Nottingham.
9/10 (1 mark off for being sat on!)
Amy Wilcockson
Barnum is running at the Theatre Royal in town until Saturday 14th February. For more details see here
