Billie-Kay and Jonny Labey in Top Hat at The Mill at Sonning. Picture: Andreas Lambis
Top Hat continues at the Mill at Sonning until 30 December 2022.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Following on from last year’s successful production of Top Hat, the production tap dances back into the Mill at Sonning for a second airing. There are a few step ball changes in the cast with leading man Jerry Travers now played by dancer extraordinaire Jonny Labey opposite Billie-Kay who repeats her 2021 role employing astute feminine wiles as Dale Tremont.
This 1935 Irving Berlin frivolous musical is more old hat than top hat but there is no denying the power of nostalgia when it is accompanied by beautifully orchestrated tap routines and evocative musical numbers from ‘Puttin’ On the Ritz’ to ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’.
Paul Kemble and Julia J Nagle make an hilarious double act as Horace and Madge Hardwick, culminating in their duet ‘Outside of That, I Love You’ performed with perfect comedic timing and cementing the endearing relationship between the two of them, while Andy Rees plays the Italian designer Beddini and Brendan Cull is the obsequious manservant Bates.
With the production rejuvenated from 2021 everything has been reused, repurposed and brought out of storage to make this a sustainable production for the Mill and although a few items have seen better days, the costumes make up for the minor issues in the set with beautiful gowns, tail suits and a bevy of shiny tap shoes.
Most impressive is the use of space. Director Jonathan O’Boyle works wonders with positioning actors up and around the auditorium and choreographer Ashley Nottingham has put together some beautiful vignettes with synchronised routines that are perfectly choreographed to fill the stage and create the feeling of a much larger production.
Julie Watterston
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