The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Revelling in an unlikely love story
by The Peterborough Revellers, whose past musical successes include Oliver, Annie, Return to the Forbidden Planet, A Little Night Music, Carmen, and most recently Follies, have chosen Stamford’s Corn Exchange Theatre as the venue to present the area premiere of Bonnie & Clyde - The Musical this month.
The musical, which was nominated in 2012 for Best New Musical and the Tony Awards includes rockabilly, blues and gospel music, was written by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black and is based on the true life story of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, thetwoinfamousoutlawswho gained folk hero status during the Great Depression.
Their relationship was probably the mostunusualbizarre real life love story ever told, with Bonnie dreamingof a life in the movies and Clyde. whowantstolivelifetothefull whatever the consequences.
Clyde is on the run after shooting a deputy while escaping from prison with his brother Buck, andmeetsBonnie by chance.
They fall in love at first sight, andagreetopursueboth their dreams, his of neverhaving to worryabout moneyand her’s of fame and the fortune that goes with it. They contin- ue a life of robbery and crime and during a raid on a grocery store Clyde shoots another deputy. Theyareconstantlyon the movefrequently changing cars to help avoid recognition andtheyextendtheir robbery spree to robbing banks. Eventually, duringashoot-outwith the authorities Buck is mor- tally wounded. Inevitably the end finally arrives for Bonnie and Clyde when they are ambushed on their way to visit their parents.
The talented cast includes Revellers’ favourites Helen Naylor as Bonnie, Mark Freeman as Clyde and Clive Read as the Preacher.
The parts of Young Bonnie and Clyde are being taken by newcomers, brother and sister Danny and Kitty Johnson.
The show is directed by Sue Read with choreography by Joanna Linford, who is also playing the part of Blanch Barrow, wife of Clyde’s brother Buck played bySeanFlynn. The Musical Director is John Dolby.
This, the society’s first venture into Stamford, opens nextThursday(September22) andruns to Saturday (24th) at 7.30pm.
Therewillalsobeamatinee performanceonSunday(25th) starting at 3pm with the customary before show meal beingavailable, if required, inthe theatre’s restaurant.
Tickets cost £12.50 (Concessions £11.50) can be obtained by phoning the Corn Exchange Theatre’s box office on 01780 766455.