Go to content

Top Hat UK Tour - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

Skip menu

Broadcasting on  Countywide Radio - Mondays at 4pmCinque Ports Radio - Mondays 7pmAcacia Radio - Mondays 9pmRadio Shields - Mondays at 11pmCirencester - Tuesdays at 2pmHWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pmForest FM - Tuesdays at 7pmUK Radio Network - Tuesdays 9pmSouth Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pmCabin FM - Wednesdays at 6pmJHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pmDrystone Radio - Thursday at 12pmIslands FM - Thursdays at 8pmRed Road FM - Thursdays at 9pmRadio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pmSounds of Broadway - Various USA timesSouth Devon Sounds - Fridays at 2pmDover Radio - Saturdays at 2pmElastic FM - Sundays 2pmCrystal Radio - Saturday at 5pmCabin Fm - Saturdays at 5pmImage Radio - Saturdays 6pmCoast and County - Sundays at 9amWhaley Radio - Sundays at 10amArrowesound - Sundays at 10amBarts Radio - Sundays at 11amWest Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12 NoonKGH Radio - Sundays at 2pmHereford Radio - Sundays 2pmWest Surrey Radio - Sundays 2pmSouth Wales One - Sundays at 4pmHumberwave Radio - Sundays 5pmChiltern Voice - Sundays at 5pmIslands FM - Sundays at 6pmCanalside FM - Sundays at 6pmBeverley FM - Sundays at 6pm3T FM - Sundays at 6pmRibble Radio - Sundays at 6pmMeridian FM - Sundays at 7pmDJC Radio - Sundays 7pmStorm FM - Sundays at 7PML35 Online Radio - Sundays at 8pmGuernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pmThe Beat of South Texas - Various TimesPhantom Radio - Sundays - 6pmWest Wiltshire Radio - Sundays at 11amConquest Radio - Sundays at 9amWest Norfolk Radio - Sundays 12noonShire Extra - Sundays 10amSwindon HBO - Sundays at 2pm

Access menu ->
Skip menu

Broadcasting on  Radio Hillingdon - Thursday at 9pmCountywide Radio - Mondays at 4pmCoast & County - 97.4 - Mondays at 11pmCarillon Wellbeing Radio - Tuesdays at 5pmCirencester HBO - Tuesdays at 7pmForest FM - 92.3 - Tuesdays at 7pmUK Radio Network - Tuesday at 9pmCabin FM 96.4FM - Wednesdays at 6pmHastings Radio - Wednesdays at 9pmSouth Devon Sound - Wednesdays at 11pmJHR Radio - Thursdays at 12pmDrystone Radio 103.5 - Thursday at 12pmRed Road FM - 102.4 - Thursdays at 9pmSounds of Broadway - Various USA timesIlluminate Radio - Saturday at 4pmCrystal Radio - 107.4 - Saturday at 5pmConquest Radio - Sundays at 9amCoast and County - Sundays at 9amWhaley Radio - Sundays at 10amSouth Wales One - Sundays at 4pmBarts HBO - Sundays at 11amKGH HBO - Sundays at 2pmHereford HOB - Sundays 2pmStorm FM - Sundays at 7PMWest Hull FM - 106.9 - Sundays 5pmIslands FM - 107.9 - Sundays at 6pmCanalside FM - Sundays at 6pmMeridian FM - 107 - Sundays at 7pmRural Radio UK - Sundays 7pmBasingstoke Radio - Sundays at 8pmGuernsey Radio - Sundays at 9pmLCR FM - 103.6 - Sundays at 11pmSouth Devon Sound - Fridays at 1pmHWD Radio - Tuesdays at 6pmKGH - Thursdays at 7pmLondon Wide Radio - Various TimesIslands FM - Thursdays at 8pmSouth Devon Sound - Friday 2pmJHR Radio - Fridays at 4pm

Top Hat UK Tour

Top Hat
Milton Keynes (UK Tour)
(Review Complete)

"Dazzling show, but needed a bit of a polish"
23rd September 2025
 
As we settled in our seats at the Milton Keynes theatre awaiting the UK tour of Top Hat. I was hoping it will be as good as my friend mention it was at the Chichester Festival. But alas it was not.



Having played such classics as ‘Cheek to cheek’, ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’, and of course ‘Top Hat, White Tie and Tails’. Ear worms all the way. Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall gave its debut at the Milton Keynes theatre way back in 2011. As we know, the musical is based on the 1935 film which launched the careers of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing together. But sadly, our leads did not achieve these heights.



Adapted for the stage by Matthew White and Howard Jacques. They seemed to stretch out the show in places, with a mix of half-hearted one-liners, dated jokes about marriage and over sentimentality. The plot is pretty dated nowadays, mistaken identity, confused romances, lots of missing each other scenes and more confusion. But all turns our right in the end. Oh yes, with some comedy thrown in between for good measure. But in this case for far too long.


 
The content of the film is present in this production. but I felt that the Director (Kathleen Marshall) needed to turn up the speed, giving it a polished feel. It was in no doubt that the cast were having a great time, but I felt the audience were not investing in it. In my view and with others that I chatted to in the interval, It needed rapid jokes and comedy larks, with dazzling dance numbers and more tap skills.

 

The set was divine well done (Peter Mcintosh) and the way the revolving centre piece was used to portray Bedrooms and hotel receptions was brilliant. Lighting by (Tim Mitchell) also was excellent. This set out the production at the beginning and the opening song and dance number made us feel we were in for a treat. Chorus numbers were excellent, but duos and individuals were not. Sorry. However top marks to the orchestra and musical director (Stephen Ridley). They kept the audience engaged.
 
Magic happened when the cast danced and stopped talking. With all that is going on in their characters, these characters fit together well when dancing, but unfortunately not when they leads were 'cheek to cheek' or looking out for 'trouble ahead'. Very limp in performance, you could see the lifts being prepared. Such a shame.


 
The cast were believable in places. Jerry Travers (Phillip Attmore) had all the requirements to be the cheeky tap dancer. He was indeed an excellent tap dancer from his initial appearance in 'Puttin’ on the Ritz' onwards, with his leading man quality never wavering. But this was not carried over to his ballroom dancing. Unfortunately.
 
Amara Okereve matches him as Tremont. Getting herself entangled in the web of mistakes that form the narrative of the production, Amara gives the character enough pzazz, with her exquisite vocal performances from the off. These were just right. Unlike their dancing together lacking style and grace, and laboured in places.


 
And so ended the first act as they all prepared to go to Venice. At the beginning of the second act, a breath of fresh air appears in the form of Madge Hardwick (Sally Ann Triplett) absent from the first half, which was sad as I sure she could have lifted the enthusiasm. Her comedy timing was spot on, and you could relax in her performance and enjoy. Her long-suffering husband Horace Harwick, (James Hume) needed to look older, sorry Sally. But his comedy quips were entertaining if not predictable.

Another highlight for me was Alberto Beddini (Alex Gibson-Giorgio). Very funny. Reminded me of the policeman in Alo Alo. We enjoyed his ‘Latins Know How’. Another fun master of comedy was Bates (James Clyde). His timing was spot on, and his different outfits were equally as good for his character. Talking of costumes, well done Yvonne Milnes and Peter Mckintosh. Beautiful and complimentary costumes, a stage of muted colours. Wonderful.


 
It was a shame that this production couldn’t have been slicker in its presentation, faster pace, drop the jokes quickly and let the audience pick them up and a better presentation with dancing by the two leads. But it was what it was. A dated musical, with some great Irving Berlin classics and some excellent chorus work. But I really did enjoy the leads tap dancing. You could see that Phillip Attmore felt at home with this type of dance and it showed. So, if you enjoyed the film top hat, then do go and see it at the Milton Keynes Theatre or at a Theatre near you when it comes to your town on its tour. And see if our thought match up.

Reviewer: Mark Bilsby.

Photography: Johan Persson

We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.
Greasepaint and Stage Lights

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