Go to content

42nd Street Review - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

Broadcasting on  Countywide Radio - Mondays at 4pm Acacia Radio - Mondays 9pm Affinity Radio - Mondays at 11pm Cirencester - Tuesdays at 2pm HWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pm Forest FM - Tuesdays at 7pm South Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pm Cabin FM - Wednesdays at 6pm JHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pm Drystone Radio - Thursday at 12pm Islands FM - Thursdays at 8pm Red Road FM - Thursdays at 9pm Radio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pm Sounds of Broadway - Various USA times South Devon Sounds - Fridays at 2pm Dover Radio - Saturdays at 2pm Elastic FM - Sundays 2pm Crystal Radio - Saturday at 5pm Cabin Fm - Saturdays at 5pm Image Radio - Saturdays 6pm Coast and County - Sundays at 9am Whaley Radio - Sundays at 10am Arrowesound - Sundays at 10am Barts Radio - Sundays at 11am West Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12 Noon KGH Radio - Sundays at 2pm Hereford Radio - Sundays 2pm West Surrey Radio - Sundays 2pm Humberwave Radio - Sundays 5pm Chiltern Voice - Sundays at 5pm Islands FM - Sundays at 6pm Canalside FM - Sundays at 6pm Beverley FM - Sundays at 6pm 3T FM - Sundays at 6pm Ribble Radio - Sundays at 6pm Meridian FM - Sundays at 7pm L35 Online Radio - Sundays at 8pm Guernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pm The Beat of South Texas - Various Times Phantom Radio - Sundays - 6pm West Wiltshire Radio - Sundays at 11am Conquest Radio - Sundays at 9am West Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12noon Shire Extra - Sundays 10am Swindon HBO - Sundays at 2pm Veteran Radio - Sundays at 2pm Beacon Radio - Sundays at 3pm Chiltern Radio - Sundays at 3pm County Sound - Sundays at 3pm ABC Radio - Sundays at 4pm Derwent Sound - Sundays at 3pm Hereward Sound - Sundays at 3pm Invicta Sound - Sundays at 3pm K-CBC - Sundays at 3pm Leicester Sound - Sundays at 3pm Marcher Sound - Sundays at 3pm Mercia Sound - Sundays at 3pm Penine Sound - Sundays at 3pm Radio Broadland - Sundays at 3pm Radio Hallam - Sundays at 3pm Radio Mercury - Sundays at 3pm Radio Victory - Sundays at 3pm Radio West - Sundays at 3pm Saxon Radio - Sundays at 3pm Souther Sound Radio - Sundays at 3pm Swansea Sound - Sundays at 3pm

Access menu ->
Skip menu

Broadcasting on  Radio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pm Countywide Radio - Mondays at 4pm Coast & County - 97.4 - Mondays at 11pm Carillon Wellbeing Radio - Tuesdays at 5pm Cirencester HBO - Tuesdays at 7pm Forest FM - 92.3 - Tuesdays at 7pm UK Radio Network - Tuesday at 9pm Cabin FM 96.4FM - Wednesdays at 6pm Hastings Radio - Wednesdays at 9pm South Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pm JHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pm Drystone Radio 103.5 - Thursday at 12pm Red Road FM - 102.4 - Thursdays at 9pm Sounds of Broadway - Various USA times Illuminate Radio - Saturday at 4pm Crystal Radio - 107.4 - Saturday at 5pm Conquest Radio - Sundays at 9am Coast and County - Sundays at 9am Whaley Radio - Sundays at 10am South Wales One - Sundays at 4pm Barts HBO - Sundays at 11am KGH HBO - Sundays at 2pm Hereford HOB - Sundays 2pm Storm FM - Sundays at 7PM West Hull FM - 106.9 - Sundays 5pm Islands FM - 107.9 - Sundays at 6pm Canalside FM - Sundays at 6pm Meridian FM - 107 - Sundays at 7pm Rural Radio UK - Sundays 7pm Basingstoke Radio - Sundays at 8pm Guernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pm LCR FM - 103.6 - Sundays at 11pm South Devon Sound - Fridays at 1pm HWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pm KGH - Thursdays at 7pm London Wide Radio - Various Times Islands FM - Thursdays at 8pm South Devon Sound - Friday 2pm JHR Radio - Fridays at 4pm

Skip menu

42nd Street Review

42nd Street
Sadler's Wells
(Review Complete)

42nd Street Sadler’s Wells Theatre – Reviewed 14th June 2023.

42nd Street directed by Jonathan Church has put together along with the creative team a fast paced, toe tapping (at lightning speed, I hasten to add) humdinger of a show! Which for me has been kept as it should have been true to the original and not modernised like some of the other classics. But given a little face lift.

As the show overture plays to a star studded audience on press night, black and white projections fill the stage showing life as it was during the great depression and lays the foundations of how it was for young actors during this time to find work and a place where they could escape the worries and strife of life outside the theatre.

leading lady Peggy Sawyer (Nicole-Lily Baisden), a small town girl looking to make it on 42nd street, arrives at Penn Station with a fire in her belly, talent in her toes and a dream in her heart. Baisden’s smile lights up the stage, and her dancing feet and singing voice fill your heart with joy. You can’t help but wish her success. with this show and with her part. With ‘Anything Goes’ already under her belt, a short bio in the programme, you know she’ll be good. But what a star she was! A lot more work will be coming her way!

The plot is pretty thin and somewhat dated in places with a little sexism here and there and to be honest some slightly boring parts. But when the dance numbers come in your spirit is lifted.

Dorothy Brock (Ruthie Henshall) the has-been relying on a sugar daddy (who she really has no time) fuelling her career and her true love Pat Denning (Michael Praed) waiting in the wings. Gives a safe performance and so she should. From the subtle, unaccompanied ‘I only have eyes for you’ to the gentle ‘about a quarter to nine’. Ruthie played her part well and as her short biog’ in the programme said a multi-award winning career preceded her, you would expect nothing less. One song that shone through was You’re getting to be a habit with me.

But a voice that stood miles out for me was that of Billy Lawler played by the multi-talented Sam Lips. Wow. He was tremendous. I could have happily watched him and Nicole-Lily all night! His rich tenor voice cut through the orchestration and filled the theatre with richness and echoes as his tap shoes danced across the stage. Really was a great performance and we looked forward to his return, every time.

Adam Garcia (Julian Marsh) gives a solid safe performance, being the demanding director Julian Marsh, and he certainly came across as his character intended. My only regret was that you never got to see his brilliant tap dancing moves until the last 5 minutes of the show. Such a shame!

Another cracking performance came from Josefina Gabrielle who played Maggie Jones. Well done her. I have seen many 42nd streets, with the part of Maggie Jones, passing you by without making much of an impression, along with the likes of Bert Barry, Abner Dillon and Pat Denning. But her performance was different. She held her own and all eyes watched her when she was stage. Brilliant.

As for Bert Barry (Les Dennis, Abner Dillon (Anthony Ofoegbu) and Pat Denning (Michael Praed). Such a shame there was not much meat on these parts. Les Dennis, with his speak-singing to most of his numbers, especially ‘shuffle off to Buffalo’, which was an to me and others, a rather awkward shuffle. But you can only work with what you have been given as a part. Pat Denning popped in and out which took you off the boil somewhat, but then it wasn’t long before another great tap song lifted the mood. And finally Abner Dillon with his Texas tone, didn’t quite add much to the mix. But again. You work with what’s been written.

The ensemble were really tight in their performance both with singing in close harmonies and choreography. They were truly the backbone of the show and would execute the fast paced taps to the elegant, soft movements. They were supportive to Peggy Sawyer and you believed in their kindness. Some of the ensemble seemed to be auditioning for their own lead with your eyes often finding them amongst the crowd. Why not! You go for it!

42nd street is an old classic, but this version has a new lease of life, a freshness, being true to the original and not modernised makes this show a joy to watch. With such great show-tunes as ‘We’re In the Money’, ‘Shuffle Off to Buffalo’, ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ and the toe tapping finale.

At the end the audience stood up, myself included to pass on a well-deserved standing ovation! A night of pure pleasure. Please get to see this show before it closes on July 2nd. But if you can’t get to the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, catch this iconic show on tour.



Reviewers: Mark Bilsby and Alison Gabriel
Greasepaint and Stage Lights

Email: musicals@btinternet.com
website: www.greasepaintandstagelights.co.uk
Skip menu
Back to content