We round up the reviews for Susan Stroman’s production, playing a limited season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
The Guardian: **** “It is a divine production that leaves us giddy, capturing the stock romance between the central couple but also the soaring romance of theatre, with its stars and sawdust allure. If there is one fluffy summer musical to watch, let this be your guilty pleasure.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “Stroman gives Stemp the room to flex his considerable stage skills with his physical comedy at the fore (think Norman Wisdom) whilst never ceasing to dazzle with his dancing (think Fred Astaire), he taps and ballrooms his way around the stage with barely a moment offstage. He is at his most captivating when he is solo and glides his way through a dreamy “Nice Work If You Can Get It” sequence.”
London Theatre1: ***** “There’s such an uplifting spirit to this production that even the theatre’s ushers, handing out flyers with details of forthcoming productions as the audience filed out, admitted that what is to follow at Chichester isn’t going to be as bright and blissful as this show.”
The Daily Mail: ***** “With more taps than Thames Water, it’s the clatter of the company’s hooves that hits you in the chest. This is showbiz razzmatazz firmly grounded in boy-girl stereotypes that suspend all distinction between fantasy and reality. Anderson’s Polly probably has the best tunes and she secures them with a voice full of summer fruits — while being flung about the stage by Stemp in a whole range of moves from ballroom blitz to barn-side swing. Stemp (who played Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins pre-Covid) leaps into shoulder high splits and can hold a tune, too.”
Portsmouth.co.uk: “The ensemble work, too, is impressive and often beyond impressive. Stroman has drilled her not-simple choreography into them beautifully and their delivery is as sharp as a razor. The group vocals are good, particularly in the smaller numbers.”
The Telegraph: ***** “Charlie Stemp affirms his status as a 24-carat stage star in this classic Gershwin musical.”
West End Best Friend: ***** “The whole cast have impeccable comic timing. In abundance, there are one-liners such as “invest in a Casino in Nevada, don’t be stupid!”, puns and slick physical comedy. We witness theatre gold in the saloon bar as the inebriated fake and real Zanglers believe they are seeing their reflections and mirror each other’s moves.”
All That Dazzles: ***** “The direction and choreography from Susan Stroman is nothing short of spellbinding. The pure precision and grand scale of the choreography in particular is amazing to witness, particularly the inventive use of props in big act one closing number ‘I Got Rhythm’.”
Musical Theatre Review: ***** “Every bit as daft as Anything Goes and just as lovable, Crazy For You is the perfect pick-me-up. Another winner for Chichester… then a West End transfer?”
The Times: **** “Thirty years after this celebration of the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin swept into Broadway it re-emerges, sleek and shiny and full of daffy humour. If it doesn’t quite have the visual allure of that ocean liner extravaganza Anything Goes — which has docked at the Barbican — the music is every bit as infectious.”
Stagereview.co.uk: ***** “Outstanding, exuberant (where did they find the energy?) and sparkling, you’d be K-ra-zy to miss Crazy For You. It’s another spangle in Charlie Stemp’s ever rising firmament. Surely the West End beckons for his blistering blockbuster of a show?”
Theatre Southeast: ***** “An exemplary company dance and sing throughout bringing this fantastic and visually stunning show to a foot stomping climax that brought the whole theatre to it’s feet in raucous appreciation.”
British Theatre Guide: “An evening of exceptional joyous entertainment, combined with total respect for every aspect of this perfectly balanced, superb production. I left on a cloud of euphoria.”
Crazy for You continues to play at the Chichester Festival Theatre until the 4th September.