Review by Daz Gale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With rumours of an anticipated stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman in the works and a circus spectacular inspired by the movie heading to London later this year, we will be seeing a lot more of P.T Barnum’s story on the stage in the future. But you don’t have to wait until then as The Watermill Theatre are bringing back the original story of his life, staging Barnum as their big summer musical this year. With a well-loved story now appealing to more generations given the success of the movie, would this production be The Greatest Show… or a load of humbug?
Known for their consistent high quality of programming, The Watermill theatre in Newbury were dealt a devastating blow when they lost their annual funding from Arts Council England. Rather than be defeated or look to downscale their productions, they opted to do the opposite, raising a few eyebrows when they announced a production of The Lord Of The Rings last year. The gamble paid off with the sell-out production garnering critical acclaim, winning awards and transferring internationally. Their hard work and bold approach was recognised when they were named Theatre of the Year at this year’s Stage Awards. In very much a case of the little theatre that could, all eyes were on what The Watermill would do next – and once again, they have gone big!
Debuting on Broadway in 1980 and in the West End the following year, the Olivier and Tony award-winning musical adaptation of Barnum was last seen with a London revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2018. Based on the life of showman P.T Barnum, the musical focuses on the success of his American museum and how it led to his touring circus as well as his multiple loves and later political career – all with a touch of magic, flair and, of course, showmanship.
As with their production of The Lord Of The Rings last year, the Watermill have utilised all of their space to turn Barnum into an interactive experience. With their beautiful grounds transported to feel like you are about to enter a big top, circus performers wander around casually eating fire (as you do). This brings an extra element to the production with the informal and improvised nature of the interactions lending itself beautifully when you step inside and the show begins. It is the way Barnum himself (Matt Rawle) interacts with the audience that blurs the lines between reality and theatre, perfectly setting the tone and elevating the show when the story begins to unfold.
Jonathan O’Boyle’s direction is a big part in executing this vision, creating an experience both on and off the stage. The use of space here is inspired – who knew a rather intimate stage could be home to an elephant and a marching band amongst others? This all comes alive flawlessly thanks to Lee Newby’s stunning set design, filling every inch of the Watermill Theatre with fun and excitement, recreating Barnum’s world and welcoming us all into it. As the stage bursts with life, Oti Mabuse’s choreography thrills at every turn with a mix of actors and circus performers defying what feels humanly possible with a wide variety of slick movement, at times contemporising the story but allowing it to remain a visual spectacular.
With Barnum’s story fittingly lending itself to a stage adaptation, it feels like Mark Bramble’s book doesn’t always do this to its full potential with plot points feeling underdeveloped, whether that is a factor in the show itself or solely this production is something I can’t answer myself. While the writing is still enjoyable in itself, I longed for a bit more depth at times – with the show’s rapidly paced second act seemingly skipping ahead too quickly and never quite landing the emotional impact of a key plot development. Cy Coleman’s music and Michael Stewart’s lyrics remain glorious, from the opening moments of ‘There Is A Sucker Born Every Minute’ to the joyous finale ‘Join The Circus’. The biggest musical highlight for me comes from the rousing act two opener ‘Come Follow The Band’ building until it explodes in a stunning sequence.
For this production, the cast are required to be multi-talents. As well as circus performers joining the troupe, impressing with their dexterity and skills, the cast are full of actor-musicians, playing instruments as well as singing. I have seen actor-muso being implemented successfully and unsuccessfully in a variety of shows in the past, and am pleased to say this is one instance where the usage of it works incredibly well. In a Barnum show, you would expect to see a range of wonders and that is exactly what this cast achieve, with no humbug to be found among them.
Penny Ashmore astonishes with her phenomenal vocals as Jenny Lind, while Tania Mathurin defies her (supposedly) 160 years with a great performance as Joice Heth, delivering musical highlight ‘Thank God I’m Old’ with gusto. Onstage MD Josh Barnett oozes charisma in his turns as the Ringmaster and Bailey, with Fergus Rattigan thrilling as General Tom Thumb. One standout among the consistently impressive cast is Monique Young is P.T Barnum’s sparring partner and wife Charity. While developments in the story threatens to side-line her, this never happens with Young more than holding her own and even threatening to steal the limelight at times in a truly wonderful portrayal.
The show belongs to one man though and that is Matt Rawle in the lead role of P.T Barnum. In an incredibly demanding role, Rawle has big shoes to fill to do the character justice, but he manages this with ease. Fantastic vocals and a natural charm that allows his acting to shine through and bring the essence of Barnum to life, his stage presence is second to none. A testament to his skill are the moments he can be seen bounding through the audience, commenting on people in a great feat of improvisation. The characterisation here is faultless in a marvel of a performance. The role also requires one crucial moment where Barnum walks the tightrope. A previous production I saw didn’t manage to pull this off, but Rawle thrilled as he meticulously managed it. The tension and silence in the theatre as we waited to see if it happened is one of those magical theatre moments that will stay with me forever, amplified by the awe and adulation when he successfully managed it.
The Watermill Theatre blew everyone away with their production of The Lord Of The Rings last year and they have well and truly done it again with Barnum. With no shortage of creativity, everyone involved has come together with a singular vision to create an explosion of a world, and it has been pulled off to precision. Visually thrilling and bundles of fun, where certain elements of the story may not have translated as well as hoped, this is made up for thanks to the sensational lead performance from Matt Rawle. If there really is a sucker born every minute, consider me one as I am a sucker for this fabulous production. Well worth the short train journey from London to experience this beautiful theatre at its best, it really is the greatest show.
Barnum plays at The Watermill Theatre in Newbury, Berkshire until 8th September. Tickets from www.watermill.org.uk
Photos by Pamela Raith
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