STOS Theatre Company’s Crazy For You – 19 November 2024, Lyceum Theatre
Review by Jacob Bush.
Following last year’s production of Barnum, STOS Theatre Company return to Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre this year with another showbiz related musical, Crazy For You. Aspiring performer Bobby Child, after being rejected multiple times by theatre producer Bela Zangler, gets sent to a small, run down town in Nevada by his mother on an errand for a bank. The errand: to close down the theatre-come-post office as they’re falling behind on mortgage payments. Perhaps slightly predictably Bobby ends up falling in love with the town’s theatre (and a girl along the way!) and we see the extents he goes to try and save and resurrect the theatre.
Bobby Child is played by Sam Widdowson in perhaps his largest, most challenging role yet. Widdowson dances well, has a good stage presence and delivers some sublime vocals. He develops a lovely and very believable chemistry with Ellie Hudson as Polly Baker, another role that is by no means easy to pull off. Hudson brings to life the headstrong, independent woman perfectly. She belts much of the score rather than singing it a legit style as it’s often heard and this is a delight to listen to. She leads full company numbers confidently, with I Got Rhythm being a highlight of the show.
Mark Harris is very entertaining as Bela Zangler, finding softer and more sentimental moments amongst the absurd and funny. The mirror scene between Harris and Widdowson gets the most laughs in the show – credit to director Jill Beckett and choreographer Katie Granger for staging this with a perfect level of precision. Louise Walker makes the most of every moment she gets on stage as Tess – she’s a joy to watch, with a fabulous rapport with Harris.
Matt Bevan is just villainous enough as Lank Hawkins, also finding moments of comedy scattered throughout. Andrew Stansall and Vivien Siberry-Scott are a tremendous duo as Eugenie and Patricia Fodor. They have a wonderful rapport and bring so much energy to the stage. Sue Claydon commands the stage as Lottie Child and Steve Mather gives a lovely performance as Everett Baker.
The standout performance of the night comes from Jess Brandao in her STOS debut as Irene Roth. Her stage presence is strong and she has wonderful rapport (or lack thereof!) with all of her co-stars (in particular Widdowson, Claydon and Bevan). She delivers wonderfully rich vocals on her rendition of Naughty Baby, a real showstopping number. It’s just a shame Irene doesn’t get more songs in the show.
The other star of this show is Katie Granger’s choreography, delivered impeccably with gusto by the talented ensemble. Granger doesn’t hold back and challenges her cast who very much rise to the challenge. The big company numbers are a great fun to watch, along with the beautiful dance duets between Widdowson and Hudson.
With plenty of catchy songs, some wonderful performances and fabulous costumes that look like they could have come direct from the West End, Crazy For You is a lovely evening. As the song goes, “Who could ask for anything more?!”
