Crazy For You

Last night was one of those unusual evenings when somebody was taking me to the theatre, in this instance to see the Regents Park Open Air transfer of Crazy For You into the Novello. I must say it was a particularly odd experience visiting a show that I knew to be - for want of a better phrase - old-school musical theatre, when I knew nothing of the plot or songs.

I have a deep-seated liking of musicals, as my readers will know and Crazy For You is a wonder of ridiculous plotting, silly situations and punchy one-liners. The music and lyrics are George and Ira and the book is Ken Ludwig - which might go someway as to explaining the strong affinity to the recently closed Lend Me A Tenor, also by Ludwig.

As much fun as I found the show it did creek awfully loudly in places and what may have been great fun to watch on a balmy evening in Regent's Park, now seems decidedly doughy in places. The costumes seem a little workaday, the set - evidently a wonder of creativity on the Regent's Park stage - behind a pros arch seems simply uninspired. The group choreography is great fun in places but individual dancing lacks joi-de-vivre.

Whilst I may have enjoyed myself a little, Crazy For You is simply a filler; a shoo-in for the awkward, uninspiring Betty Blue Eyes, which shuttered early despite the critics and West End Wendys lavishing it with superlative reviews. Personally, I would much rather have seen the meatier Ragtime get a transfer but I suppose, this was a 'safer bet' with the right size set.