What’s it all about?
Kidnap, manhunts, rescues, avalanches, false paternity claims and mass brawls. No, it’s not a Jason Statham movie but a classic musical about an unruly set of male siblings’ unlikely attempts to secure spouses.
Who’s in it?
Alex Gaumond is a surprisingly smooth edged bit of rough as eldest brother Adam, charming in an overgrown man-child, misguided but ultimately sweet-natured kinda way.
Laura Pitt-Pulford, who has the perfect voice for a classic musical, brings spirit, verve and an uncompromising, uncrushable strength to the first baffled bride, Milly.
What should I look out for?
Alistair David’s stupendous choreography that first sees the be-whiskered brutes transform into eligible bachelors during Goin’ Courtin’, then brings the house down during the fantastically elongated Harvest Social sequence; a sort of line dance off, if you will…
… which segues into *SPOILER ALERT* a stonking great 14-man brawl featuring everyone’s slapstick weapon of choice, the wooden plank, staged by acclaimed fight director Kate Waters.
Also Peter McKintosh’s now traditional primary coloured costumes, which are now part of the essential Open Air Theatre musical experience in their own right.
What will I be humming?
I don’t know, but if you’re anything like me you’ll still be giggling about the lament to abstinence We Gotta Make It Through The Winter, with all is not so veiled references – ‘Cupid’s cramp’ anyone? – and carefully placed blankets.
Who was in the press night crowd?
Who can resist a musical summer evening at the Open Air Theatre? Certainly not Christopher Biggins, Alison Steadman or Bonnie Langford.
In a nutshell?
This marvellous musical of questionable ethics is as much tuneful fun as you can have in a lumberjack shirt.
What’s being said on Twitter?
Had such an amazing eve watching ‘Seven Brides’ at Regents Park. The cast are outstanding & @Alistairdavid‘s choreo is truly sensational!
— Alex Turney (@alexturney) July 23, 2015
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Lovely evening @OpenAirTheatre. @Alistairdavid has done it again! Fabulous, innovative choreography. Full of wit and charm ???????????????? #sevenbrides
— Debbie Kurup (@thedebbiekurup) July 22, 2015
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Will I like it?
Suspend moral objections for an evening and Seven Brides is the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre reaching back towards its Olivier Award-winning best again with a joyful, exuberant show packed with choreography that’ll have you giving a “yee-haw” of gleeful excitement from the stalls.
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers runs at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 29 August. You can book tickets through the theatre’s website.