4.29°C Paul T. Davies reviews Nine, presented by Platform Musicals at the Headgate.
“Art isn’t easy!” So wrote Sondheim in his musical Sunday in the Park With George, and the truism certainly is in play here. Guido is a film director and Italian megastar suffering a run of flops and, with money now sourced, devoid of ideas for his next film. His every move is monitored; he is in Venice with his wife and manager, Luisa, pursued by the press, his agent, his lover, and memories of his past and childhood. A sexual libertine, the tension arises between his desires and the Catholic strictures; indeed, his big idea is to film Cassanova, a part he clearly sees himself as. Lacking any big “hits”, it’s a musical you don’t fall in love with instantly; it takes some time to get going, but it soon works its seductive magic.
Thomas Pleasant is excellent as Guido, and, given how misogynistic the character is and cavalier towards women’s feelings, he imbues him with charm and humour, making him quite likeable. He also sings beautifully, as does the whole cast. He is the only male adult in the company (Charlie Byford making an excellent debut as 9-year-old Guido); the women rule the musical as much as they rule Guido’s thoughts. Leanne Thomas beautifully lets the pain of being his wife, Luisa, come through, and Emma Theedom steals the show as his mistress, Carla, especially in a phone sex song that had the audience in stitches! One of the show’s highlights is the song Folies Bergères, with Kim Anderson raising the roof with personality and vocality.
Another excellent routine is Be Italian, led by Jayne Sheeran as sensuous, gypsy like woman Saraghina, with a tambourine clapping troupe that is played downstage and very close to the front row. It would benefit from being moved upstage, as I’m sure many views were blocked, and it feels a bit like a health and safety incident waiting to happen! But it’s immensely enjoyable, and producer and director Andrew Hodgson is a musical theatre expert who always gets the best out of the cast. Musical Director Neil Somerville and the band are excellent, and the design is simple yet effective.
It’s a musical well worth discovering. Nine? Ten out of ten, surely.
