On the 6th May I had the pleasure of watching Barnum the Musical at the Wyvern Theatre.
The last time I had been to the Wyvern Theatre, I was in primary school, singing Christmas carols on the stage whilst proud parents sat glowing in the audience.
Upon returning last night, the stage had been transformed into something unrecognisable. The stage was adorned with stripes of dazzling red, yellow and purple. Lights decorated the balcony in twinkling rows and highlighted the bold “Barnum” sign in the centre.
Once the show had begun, the packed theatre’s eyes were transfixed for the entire performance. The initial number was an explosion of colour and acrobatics, featuring talented acrobats being suspended from ribbons and hoops, dancers performing incredible feats of backbends and pirouettes, and musicians playing a wide array of instruments. The circus-esque performances by the acrobats punctuated the show and offered a unique take on the musical theatre genre.
Lee Mead brought such joy and humour to the title role of P.T Barnum, with a convincing American accent, and a satisfyingly comical delivery of his lines. Waves of unanimous laughter would ripple through the crowd after every joke. Monique Young, playing the role of Charity Barnum, can also not go unnoticed. Her acting, alongside Mead, was incredibly entertaining and the way the pair bounced off each other was comedically seamless.
A highlight of the show for me was Dominique Planter’s performance of Joice Heth. Her rendition of “Thank God I’m Old” featured astonishing vocals that left everyone in awe. She brought the character to life with her acting skills and joyful choreography that captivated the audience.
Another standout performance was that of Penny Ashmore who played Jenny Lind. Though she is not Swedish (which makes her performance even more impressive as she had substantial dialogue in Swedish), she lived up to her character’s title of “Swedish Nightingale.” Her voice was angelic and emotive; a skilful operatic performance of a vocally challenging role.
The technical team truly enhanced the splendour of the performance through the gorgeous set, successful sound execution, and creative approach to lighting. A highlight of the technical department was Jumbo, the life-sized elephant puppet that made an iconic cameo during “Bigger Isn’t Better.” Fergus Rattigan’s (actor of General Tom Thumb) interaction with Jumbo was accompanied with boundless laughter from the audience- bringing the puppet to life.
The talent of the ensemble was specifically significant as most of the cast played around 2 different instruments each during the course of the musical. They also danced in perfect unison and sang in many of the show’s musical numbers. The talent they all possess is astounding.
Overall, the performance was a resounding success and if the opportunity presents itself, I would highly recommend the show to anyone if you are looking for an evening filled with laughter, excitement, and a touch of circus magic. Catch the show before it leaves Swindon after the last night on 10th May.
