Half A Sixpence
Birmingham Hippodrome 8th to 20th October 2007
Starring Gary Wilmot as ‘Kipps’. A musical based on the novel by H. G. Wells.
Book by Beverley Cross, music and lyrics by David Heneker, new version by Warner Brown.
Presented by Bill Kenwright in association with the Theatre Royal Windsor and the Churchill, Bromley.

Originally staged in the West End in 1963, it later became a film starring the then ubiquitous Tommy Steele. Today the script has been re-worked and a number of new songs by Warner Brown added, “This is it” , “Finesse” but especially the emotionally show-stopping moment in Act 2 when Gary Wilmot sings “What Should I Feel?” and brings the house down!

The story is about English society of the early 20th century and how, with new money, a working class chap like Arthur Kipps could become posh through inheriting a gigantic £1,200-a-year fortune. Sadly he forgets his first love, Ann, to whom he had given a love token in the form of half a sixpence and gets involved with a posh family who spend all his money. Luckily though, he wins back Ann and an earlier investment in a play “Biff” being written by thespian Harry Chitterlow finally pays dividends much to everyone’s surprise.

West End star and seasoned song and dance man Gary Wilmot delivers a consistently energetic performance and by virtue of his role as both narrator and key character carries the show throughout.

As narrator he sets the scene and guides the audience through the story, he is an eye catching solo and group dancer, an accomplished actor and singer, but most of all he is a natural for the role of Arthur Kipps. I’ve lost count of the time this has been applied to Gary Wilmot but you cannot escape the fact that he is darn good! His list of both West End and national touring credits is impressive and the last 20 years have been a very busy time for him. He gives this show 100%+ and the audience gave him a standing ovation and called for more.

Claire Marlowe plays Kipps first love Ann and is well cast having a delightful singing voice and performs “I know what I am” with emotion. David Delve is larger than life as Harry Chitterlow and is the perfect partner for Kipps in “This is it” and “The one who’s run away”. The Walsingham family are all well played adding a lovely touch of upper crust to numbers such as “Finesse”.

Musical director Tom de Keyser and his musicians provided an evening of magical sounds that were well matched to the performers on stage and his new orchestrations have added to the overall quality of the show. Director Bob Thomson, designer Alexander McPherson and choreographer Jason Pennycooke have created an attractive show that is the perfect touring vehicle for Gary Wilmot and a talented team of players.

The most well known musical numbers such as “Flash, Bang, Wallop“, “All in the Cause of Economy“, and “Half a Sixpence” excel and there are so many big production numbers and moments that the whole evening was a joy. Based on tonight, I think that for the run here we should rename the theatre the Happidrome.

Running time 2 hours and 30 minutes including the interval.

To book tickets or see news of forthcoming plays at the Hippodrome Theatre, visit http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Review by Clive Fuller