Reviewed by Jodie Crawford
Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
42nd street is set in America during the hardest of times, the Great Depression. Many young people were out of work and scraping to get by. This show tells the tale of one such gal “Peggy Sawyer”, played by the incredible talented Nicole-Lily Baisden, who in search of her dream finds herself missing out on an audition for a new Broadway show. But things start to look up when she catches the eye of a big time director, Julian Marsh and Peggy lands herself a role in the chorus line, her dream come true.
Now I would struggle to tell you the plot of the show they are putting together, but the plot of it isn’t important! Not to anyone ! What matters is that due to an incident with the leading lady Peggy has the chance of a lifetime at her fingertips…will she pull it off ? There’s only one way to know: get down to the Opera house this week to find out!
42nd Street has graced stages around the world since the 1980s and still it manages to hold everything that is magical about musical theatre firmly in its grasp. I’ve seen this show countless times and still I get goosebumps during the big numbers. This show doesn’t need modernising, it doesn’t need tweaking, it just needs to be watched in all its splendour. The costumes are sublime: they are glitzy and glamorous and transport us back to a bygone era of gentlemen’s waistcoats and pleated trousers and ladies in evening gowns that twinkle in the moonlight. Hair, make up, props: All work together to take us back to a time gone by.
The cast of this production is the greatest I have seen over the years. The lead characters come together brilliantly on the stage. Samantha Womack as Dorothy Brock is a delight. She’s funny and sassy and my word, can she sing.
Michael Praed, who plays Julian Marsh, works hard to keep the narrative moving and he creates the pace of the plot with utter professionalism. His performance is flawless in every single way. Faye Tozer and Les Dennis, make for an awesome pairing, they were just so wonderful both together and in their own right.
And Nicole-Lily Baisden is without a doubt the most energetic, enthusiastic and majestic Peggy Sawyer, that I ever did see. Everything about Baisden screams Broadway. She is the quintessential Peggy Sawyer.
None of the glitz, glamour, and joyousness would be possible without the hard work of the ensemble. Note perfect, step perfect. Everything perfect. This show is relentless for an ensemble member, it’s upbeat, high impact and takes a hardworking performer to make it look so easy. The choreography is demanding, but this ensemble make it look like it’s all in a days work.
Everyone should see 42nd Street. It’s got everything. It’s not trying to be something it isn’t. It’s just there to be seen and heard. And this cast make it the most magical 42nd Street that there is.
If ever there was a show to make you wish you’d learnt how to tap dance – this is most definitely it!!
42nd Street is on at Manchester’s Opera House until Saturday 21st October tickets available here.
Opening Night 