ARTISTIC director JohnPaul McCrohon chose to give this Steven Sondheim musical its British amateur debut at the Hayling Island Station Theatre.
This is of course appropriate to the true story of the go-getting Mizner brothers traversing North America and Alaska in search of The American Dream, finding it and losing it along the way.
McCrohon plays impetuous younger brother Wilson, constantly at odds with his more talented sibling Addison (Pete Westmorland).
Both gave strong, believable, performances, running the whole gamut of emotions as their fortunes changed.
Ross Cobbold provided the love-interest for Addison, as Hollis Bessemer, and the scenes between them were tenderly played.
The set worked well, with subtle changes made without disrupting the action, and Louise Helyer’s piano accompaniment allowed every word to be heard, so important in a musical.
The talented supporting cast made a great contribution but, on this first viewing, I felt the performances were much more memorable than the show itself.
Alan Johns
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