Barnum

The original Production of ‘Barnum’ was exciting enough but in reality it lived up to the core of the PT Barnum story – flim-flam and pretty flimsy when it came to that. So it is hardly surprising that in the CFT/Cameron Mackintosh revival they have done something to address that and rewrite to give the tale substance. So what was once a string of spectacular set pieces and songs now has a decent enough narrative to hold a contemporary audience.

That said ‘Barnum’ would not be ‘Barnum’ without the set pieces and these they pull off with great skill and style, the entire company executing amazing circus feats as well as singing and dancing. Visually it is a real treat, in the temporary tented venue which is spectacular in its own right, but the real treats of the show are American import Christopher Fitzgerald who oozes mischievous charm and Tasmin Carrol who underpins the whole affair with a strong performance as Chairy Barnum. Whilst Chairy holds things together the fanciful Phineas bounces from success to disaster and back over and over. With more than a handful of great numbers, it’s not wall-to-wall hits, this energy-filled show more than satisfies and keeps the Chichester Festival Theatre at the forefront of musical revivals.

Any misgivings I have are with the show and not with this terrific production, which whilst beautifully executed and certainly worth seeing, does not make it into the top echelons of musical theatre.

Chichester Festival Theatre, 27 July 2013

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