Crazy for You is a dance-focused, light-hearted, comedic musical which captivates the audience with its infectious energy and undeniable charm. With its roots in the 1930’s film Girl Crazy by George and Ira Gershwin, this dance-focused, light-hearted, comedic musical has firmly established itself as one of the best shows currently gracing the stages of the West end.
At the heart of the story is Bobby Child, portrayed with brilliance by the talented Charlie Stemp, a dreamer yearning to become a dancer, but is pushed by his mother to work for a bank – with his first assignment to close a theatre in Deadrock, Nevada. It is there where he falls in love with the owner’s daughter Polly, portrayed by the captivating Carly Anderson. In order to win her heart Bobby hatches a plan to save the theatre by pretending to be Zangler and putting on a show.
The plot is simple and at times some lines can feel outdated, but it is the excellent direction and the remarkable performance of the cast transform potential pitfalls into an uproar of laughter by leaning into and embracing these moments. The script is infused with wit, filled with puns and jokes that didn’t seem to fail. Stemp’s performance is must also be highlighted – not only his exceptional dancing, but the incredible comedic physical timing. One memorable scene occurs in the second act when the real Zangler appears, and a drunken duet ensues, with the two characters hilariously mirroring each other.
If for some reason the comedic elements fail to make you smile, it will dazzle you with extravagant musical numbers which leave the audience in awe. In fact, a 5-minute standing ovation before intermission says it all. The choreography had immense creativity, incorporating props such as pickaxes or ropes to create amazing visual scenes and effects. Child and Anderson make dancing look easy, gliding across the stage with impressive lifts which further solidify their chemistry.
With humour, songs that you’ll be singing long after the curtain call and a talented cast supported by exceptional choreography, Crazy for You is an experience where you will be smiling with joy and awe. It exceeded my expectations and really – who could ask for anything more?