Thoroughly Modern Millie

A vibrant and winning performance by Astin Blaik in the title role and snappy dance routines by Jo Badenhurst were the pluses of Savoyards production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

The musical, based on the 1967 Ross Hunter movie which starred Julie Andrews, is by no means an ‘A’ list show but it does have enough entertainment value to make an enjoyable night in the theatre. The film’s convoluted plot about an innocent girl arriving in New York in 1922 and getting involved with the ‘White Slave’ market has been clarified somewhat for the stage version but not all of the problems with the story have been ironed out. The ‘White Slave’ trader role of Mrs Meers is underwritten and could do with better laugh-lines and better musical numbers. In the part Sherryl-Lee Secombe does what she can with mixed results.

Millie’s scoreis part jukebox and part newly written music and lyrics by Jeanne Tesori and Dick Scanlan. Of the new songs “Forget About the Boy” and “Gimme Gimme” both sung by Astin Blaik register the most strongly. Kim Kee as Millie’s friend Miss Dorothy gets to show-off a nice soprano range dueting with Jordan Ross (Trevor Graydon) on Victor Herbert’s “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” and “I’m Falling Love with Someone” (both originally from Naughty Marietta). It’s a funny moment which they both capture with charm. Ross and Blaik also score with “The Speed Test” a tongue-twisting lyric rewrite of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “My Eyes Are Fully Open” from Ruddigore.

Millie’s love interest Jimmy is well-played and sung by William Hinz. Jaqui Cuny as Muzzy belts “Only in New York” and “Long as I’m Here With You” as if they were showstoppers, which they are not, while Chris Fox as Ching Ho and Walter Lago as Bun Foo get the best comedic moment when they sing the old Al Jolsen song “Mammy” in Chinese with English sur-titles shown above the proscenium. It’s an audience winner.

Shane Tooley keeps the orchestra on their toes, while Kim Heslewood’s costumes are spot-on with their 1920s flapper look. Johanna Toia’s direction could have had more fizz in the first half, not helped by the slow scene-changes, but the second was as bubbly as a glass of champagne.

Peter Pinne 

Images: Millie [Astin Blaik], Miss Flannery [Shelley Quinn] and ensemble & Millie Dillmount [Astin Blaik]. Photographer: Christopher Thomas.