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24 September 2014
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Theatre and Dance


Theatre masks
1920s' Chicago brought to life!

Review: Bugsy Malone

Mike Elliott
Bugsy Malone was written as a musical to be performed by children, and the young actors of Chelis assured the appreciative audience that live theatre has a strong future.


Offering a variety of entertainment, the show incorporates elements of slapstick, farce, panto, and comedy to blend with the music and dancing.

There's also a reasonable plot, revolving around gang warfare in 1920s' Chicago, with pies and splurge guns as weapons!

Oodles of talent

The road from floorboards to stardom for anyone in show business is littered with obstacles. However, the one defining characteristic that is essential to attain that pinnacle, whatever talent is possessed, must be charisma.

At the performance of Bugsy Malone by the Chelis Theatre Company, I saw a young man who has oodles of that indefinable ingredient. Ironically, this was the smallest, and presumably youngest, member of the cast by a distance.

Nicholas Ioannou aptly played the role of Fat Sam's gang member, Babyface. His dancing and singing drew the eye throughout. I hope to see much more of this young man in future productions.

The three male leads, Bugsy, Fat Sam, and Dandy Dan (the other gang leader), were all more than competent and word-perfect throughout. Christopher Ioannou, Sebastian Langkamer and Aaron Pengelly took these roles respectively.

However, two of the female leads caught my eye more. As the vampish Tallaluh, Jade Pickett was perfectly cast, whilst Katie Underhay, in dual roles of downtrodden Fizzy and temperamental singer Lena, impressed with both her singing and characterisation.

A triumph for Chelis

Unfortunately, I felt that the voice of Blousey Brown (Lucie Jackson), the main female lead, was a little weak for this venue, although she compensated with her acting and dance skills. Some of the numerous scene changes seemed a little cumbersome too.

However, the large chorus took the eye for superb dance coordination and clarity of voice on every number, acting as a perfect foil for the stars.

Overall, this was another triumph for the Chelis Theatre Company, who have gone from strength to strength since forming with 10 students in 1998.

As their reputation expands, more of the best young talent from the whole of the mid-Somerset area continue to join them.

last updated: 29/07/05
Have Your Say
If you saw Bugsy Malone, what did you think? Have you seen any other productions by the Chelis Theatre Company?
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hannah trego
i was a bak up sinnga on da side of the stage yay:D it waz great fun 2 do xxxxxx

Tabby Jones
I was in bugsy malone with chelis theatre company. we all enjoyed performing it and had a lot of fun. thanks to lisa and cheryl.x x x

hannah trego
i go 2 chelis nd i think were gr8 xxxx

person
we're doing bugsy at our school right now - im playing blousey. her character is difficult to interpret and so i can understand why perhaps a weaker singer but stonger actress would have been picked for this part in the production mentioned above. its hard to play a character like blousey - who's insignifficant to the other characters but actually the lead female, so well done to lucie who reportedly did it very well!

guess who!!!
bugsy malone is awesome - we doing it @ our skool - performin it in march 2006 su,m time -im dandy dan!! yay!!!

Edward
Bugsy Malone is a fantastic film. Very interesting and productive. We're doing a performance of it at my school; I'm Fat Sam! :D

Mr.America
Did you all see Abbie, she was AWESOME!!!!!!!

Laura Hind
i liked the back up singers with microphones at the edge of the stage

Kelly
We're going to do Bugsy Malone for our next peformance. The auditions for main parts are in September. I can't w8!!! I loooove doin' musicalsd and stuff like this. I get to do the three best things in the world. . . act, sing and make loads of new friends in the process

sheep139
Very Very Very Cool!!

jimmy
i think that this kind of thing is absolutley fascinating. its cool :)

me!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love it

a person with a comment
i was in bugsy malone i loved it

random person 2
lucie jackson is the most amazin person at chelis dont and shes great

domino amos
i really like bugsy malone we are doing a play of it we will have so much fun i wish i could meet the cast

random person
i was in it , it was great woooooooo

Lucy Woods
What about me? i played O'dreay, did you not like my accent? and Lucie Jackson is very talented, i shall tell Katie what you said. She'll be pleased, i don't like Chris though.

Helen Matyear
I was in bugsy malone and it was gr8 fun working on it. i would like 2 than cheril and lisa 4 there hard work and effort they put in to it !!!!!!!!!

KERRY BALMER
I LOVED IT, IT WAS THOUGHT OUT VERY WELL

Emma Lee
I thoght that it was great fun to watch. It was one of my favourites~!

sam harper
i just did a production of bugsy malone ,i wer dandy dan and i enjoyed it

Kristina
I thought Lucie was gr8! Well Done Chick!

laura
bugsy was fab, but wheres the review for the afternoon show? (Ed: Laura, if you'd like to submit your own review of a show to bbc.co.uk/somerset, follow the link at the top of the page for details! :o))

Jessica Durant
I didn't watch Bugsy Malone, I was IN it. It was loads of fun. All the hard work was worth it!

Christopher Ioannou
I havent seen any shows to do with them but i have been involved with them for about 4 years and i believe they are one of the best groups of people to work with i have ever come across

James Hughes
I went to see the show and I was awestruck. It was so tremendous. The acting, the singin the dancing. There were all brilliant. Well done Chelis

Amber Farrow
Katie's one of my friends at school!! YAY!! hip hip hooray, weldone Katie. Jade pickett rocks, like eddie izzard

robin maksimczyk
i was once a member of chelis and appeared in two peformances, bugsy malone (knuckles) and cinderella (bill) however due to school i had to give in the towel in the acting carear but when i saw the latest chelis performance i was astonished on how much my old companions had come on especially seb langkamer who used to be just a "good actor" and is now the next jonny depp! and also i would like to mention katy underhay who i found played her part very well and has voice like an oprah singer! i myself still continue with plays outside of school on the odd occasion

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