★★★★★ Top Hat The Musical: The Musical That's Putting On The Ritz at Sheffield Lyceum

Photography by Johan Persson

Put on your top hat, white tie and tails: Top Hat the Musical has arrived in Sheffield!

We have been itching to see a classic musical for the past few years, and Top Hat was the perfect remedy. Complete with romance, tongue-in-cheek humour and epic tap numbers, this one will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Top Hat tells the story of American dancer, Jerry Travers arriving in London to star in Horace Hardwick’s new show. While tapping away in Hardwick’s hotel room, Travers irritates their downstairs neighbour, the beautiful Dale Tremont, who ends up confusing the men with each other which, of course, leads to slapstick misadventures for all involved. Plus a lot of tap dancing.

Tony and Olivier award-winner Kathleen Marshall’s choreography was perfectly suited to both the story and the cast. 'Puttin’ On The Ritz' was sensational. The routine combined authentic tap styles with more contemporary ones, paying homage to the original while keeping a new and exciting feel.

Additional tap choreography was provided by Phillip Attmore, who gave Gene Kelly a run for his money in his performance of Jerry Travers – some of the cleanest wings and time steps I’ve ever seen. To compliment his tip-top tap expertise, Attmore is a real triple threat with a voice like velvet and the ability to convey his character’s thoughts the with slightest raise of an eyebrow.

Amara Okereke is no stranger to Sheffield Theatres, having starred in their production of A Streetcar Named Desire last year. She shone as Dale Tremont on the Lyceum stage just as she had done in the Crucible, as if built from glamour, humour and grace. Okereke is a real star.

The Hardwicks were played by James Hume and Kirsty Sparks. Sparks is the first cover for Madge, and I felt so lucky to see her performance; her comedic ability is second to none. She mentioned on Instagram that it had been a while since she had stepped into Madge’s shoes, but you would never have guessed it, particularly during hers and Hume’s performance of 'Outside of That, I Love You' – a joyous demonstration of their comedic chemistry and vocal ability.

Other stand-out performances include those of theatre legend, James Clyde as Bates and the scene-stealing Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Alberto Beddini. Both had the audience in the palm of their hand, eagerly waiting to see what hilarious innuendo or brilliant costume they’d come out with next.

Speaking of costumes, the design for this show was impeccable. Designed by Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh, the costumes were some of the best I’ve ever seen. From the show girl feathers to Beddini’s leopard print socks and suspenders to Tremont’s iconic ballgown – the details effortlessly enhanced the mood of the scene.

Top Hat is a sign of its time, but if you’re able to look past some outdated ideas and “I hate my partner” jokes, this really is one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen. While it is exciting to see new ideas, particularly with the inclusive incline of modern theatre, there is something to be said about the simple stories and romance of classic musicals.