42nd Street: The Musical

I saw the David Merrick version twice in London, and have seen this latest version 3 times in London. So to see it again after the show closed, in the cinemas was an added bonus. I left out a star (making a perfect 10) because the camera concentrated on close ups rather than showing the dancing. So I now understand why Fred Astaire wanted full length body camera work when making his films.

It is the best theatre musical ever - if you are a lover of tap dancing,, and this show has it in spades. Personal preference, but Sheena Easton made a far better Dorothy Brock than Bonnie Langford. And Clare Halse - one sensational tap dancer, should have shared the applause at the end with BL and Tom Lister.

It was brilliant to relive all the amazing dancing, but lacked the atmosphere of the live theatre. Saying that, I thought there would be a dvd to buy at the end, but sadly not. Perhaps a trick has been missed on merchandising.

Having been drawn by the high rating, I was sadly disappointed. It's a pleasant enough performance but could have been so much better. The dance numbers are fantastic, however the acting ability of the cast is lacking.

If you want to see what a GREAT Stage Musical should be like, then look no further than the 1999 London Stage performance of Oklahoma!, starring Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman.

Sadly, this version of 42nd Street isn't in the same ballpark. The Original 1933 B&W movie still reigns supreme.

If I were just rating this based on the performances, I would give it 10 stars. The tap dancing is especially phenomenal. However, the show was boring, predictable, and basic. Nothing makes these characters stand out and I could predict every plot point before it happened. The songs had particularly boring lyrics and though the melodies were enjoyable, none were catchy or memorable. If you're just here to see a lot of good tap dancing, you'll probably enjoy it.

Freely adapted from the original - which was brilliant - but this new version is a cornucopia of talent and performance! A perfect 10 on all counts. PS filmed stage plays can raise live performances to a whole new level with cuts and closeups. This proves that.

This musical is the Mother of Broadway shows. Every performance is great, the musical score is beautiful. This musical will give you a glimpse of old Broadway.