Brenda Bly: Teen Detective Review
In February half-term, 2020, the students from the BIGLITTLE Theatre School Professional Development Programme, took to the stage to perform a relatively unknown musical comedy, Brenda Bly: Teen Detective.
The show ran for 6 performances and during each performance, the cast, had the audience in stitches. We were lucky enough to have Encoure Reviews come along to review our opening night. This is what they had to say:
Encore Reviews: At Shelley Theatre, Bournemouth.
It's 1958 - a time of rock and roll, space discovery, and great hope for a bright future. But trouble is brewing at the Whitney Ellis Private School for Girls. Only days away from the opening night of the end of term musical, 'Rocket Girl', the leading lady is knocked unconscious with a sandbag. Once again, it is up to our favourite teenage sleuth, Brenda Bly, to solve the crime, catch the crook and save the day.
This unique production from the well respected Biglittle team showcases the high quality and standard of students, who bring a mix of intrigue, music, comedy, dancing and acting to the stage of Shelley theatre. With book and lyrics by Kevin Hammonds, music by Charles Miller and tight direction by Susan Raasay, this is a fun musical for all the family.
Maddy White in the title role as Brenda Bly and Tom Jocham as Buddy are well-matched as American sweethearts, with some lovely vocal duets, portraying the characters with real confidence. Ashton Cane-Richardson gives a strong performance as Vera Von Strander with some great mannerisms and body language. Harrison Macdonald-Taylor as Stu shows a natural flair for comedy, gaining many laugh-out-loud moments from the audience.
The entire company is well cast, showing total confidence and high standard of acting with strong performances from Maddie McKinnon-Wardell, Darcey Lightfoot, Katherine Douglas and Ruby Douglass. The singing on stage and in the wings is superb.
The choreography by Emma Woods, and staging and costumes make the show a visual delight. In one scene "A Girl Like Me" is set in a hospital where the doctor, (Josh Wale), and nurses (Alicia Freed and Megan King) burst into a song and dance which is funny and beautiful at the same time. In a later hospital scene we have a crazy rendition of "Oogie Woogie Boogie" - and a special mention here for Maddie Davies who, as Nurse Wilder performs a hilarious solo, one of the show's highlights. The entire cast is to be commended, although there is not space to name everyone, and there will be some cast changes at different performances, with Anna Yeadon taking the role of Brenda Bly.
The band - Nathan Gwynne, Jensen Lightfoot and Jake Wood under the direction of M.D./Producer Colin Billing is sympathetic and sets the tone and atmosphere for each scene, with perfect sound levels for the venue and singers.
A fun, quirky musical 'whodunnit' from a highly talented cast.
