What is it with British musical theatre fans that they prefer generic Broadway shoes about the chorus girl who gets her break to more original homegrown fare? Recent examples of shows that should have but didn’t find an audience include Made in Dagenham, Bend it Like Beckham and this 2011 show by Stiles & Drew with a book by Ron Cowen & Daniel Lipman based on Alan Bennet’s screenplay for the film A Private Function. I’ve seen it on tour in Colchester, at Mountview drama school and in Bronzefield prison, but this is the first professional revival in London.
It was the Union Theatre’s Sasha Regan who directed it at Bronzefield (a late substitute for Little Shop of Horrors which the prison authorities thought unsuitable!) who now brings a much smaller scale version to her own theatre, and it works brilliantly. Perhaps the impending coronation adds a certain something to a show about the last one.
Rationing brings challenges to the local bigwigs’ plans for a banquet but they get over it by breeding their own pig. They make the mistake of crossing newcomer chiropodist Chilvers, his wife and mother-in-law, who exact their revenge by abducting the animal, who Chilvers takes a shine too, as do some of the town grandees. Meat inspector Wormwold has got wind of the unlicensed creature, and he becomes a thorn in everyone’s side.
There are some great songs and under MD Aaron Clingham in a small space the choruses are rousing. It’s a funny show, a touch cartoonish, that is also nostalgic and has bucketloads of charm. The cast here is uniformly excellent, filling the space with funny business and jolly dance routines by Kasper Cornish. The patchwork Betty is a delight and the period costumes by Reuben Speed are outstanding.
It’s great to be back at the Union after three years and this underrated British musical is a perfect welcome. Don’t miss it!
Gareth's Culture and Travel Blog 
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