Morning:
6°c
Kieron Quirke's rating
Sing a song of scandal
By
Kieron Quirke
5 Feb 2007
Perhaps The Profumo Affair - The Musical was always going to yield more headlines than it was showstoppers. Still, this is a poor attempt at doing justice to that scandalous and significant moment of British political history.
Inappositely, there are no scapegoats here: the cast is good, the production nothing special, but fine. The writing, however, and especially the musical writing, is simply not up to scratch.
The story should be familiar. Stephen Ward, provider of cash-hungry beauties to society's upper crust, does MI5's bidding with Christine Keeler, using her as a honey trap for a Russian spy. But Keeler also starts an affair with Jack Profumo, minister for war, the press get wind and hell breaks loose.
She is played by Emma Williams, the substitute who walked out on The Sound of Music when it became plain Connie Fisher would be taking the lead full time. Lovely of voice and fresh of face, Williams would have made an excellent Maria, which means she's a game but rather too wholesome Christine Keeler.
She is, anyway, fighting an uphill battle. Songwriters Richard Alexander and Marek Rymaszewski attempt to render a complex world of thrill-based emotions with only the most basic of musical and lyrical palettes.
Williams's Keeler and Dale Rapley's well-judged Profumo get a few songs-that-go-like-that - standard, earnest ballads barely suited to this knowingly sordid fling. I don't recall the tunes.
Dramatically, too, the writers seem naïve. When the scandal breaks and the chorus runs around rhythmically shouting "Gossip! Gossip! Rumour! Rumour!" it's hard not to guffaw at the hackneyed device. Nor does the show deliver on promises of new factual revelations.
The occasional good joke keeps interest up, though these get fewer as the book struggles with the plot's convolutions.
James Clyde has just the right seedy vulnerability as Ward. His suicide is the evening's highlight - a moment of real feeling from nowhere.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (4)
We travelled from Scotland and saw Guys and Dolls on Saturday afternoon 17th Feb and A Model Girl that same night. The four in our party thoroughly enjoyed the show, the music and the ambience of the theatre. I preferred it to Guys and Dolls and have recommended it to all my friends.
- Pat Anthony, Fife, 11/03/2007 16:54
Report abuse
I went to see this show (and am going again), and I thoroughly enjoyed it! From someone who was born in the ninties, I found it fascinating from all aspects. I particularly like that the songs were perfectly connected to the play in that they also told the story like a follow-on from the dialogue, the House of Commons' one was witty! I agree wholeheartedly with the first comment but the second comment although I think is a favourable one seems to have lost it's way. We are ment to focus on the play itself and not what one thinks it ought to be else where would you draw the line? We are ment to critique what we have seen e.g. how the actors/actresses portaryed the charecters, the dance routines and so on, otherwise, to ignore this would open the floodgates for ifs and buts like, 'it should have been done from Christine Keeler's childhood..', 'it should have been done from her perpective- looking back over her life...', it should have been done as Miss Keeler telling the narrative...' thus loosing the very essence of the 'This is London' invite, which is to review THE PLAY itself and NOT what you [theatre goer] wants it to be, could have been, should have been, but critique 'A Modern Girl' in its entirety. This is the only fair and obvious way in which to review. To stress my point further, one would not view a flat and say, 'oh it would be better if it were a house'. Apologies if this reads as tough.
- Siobhan, London, 12/02/2007 10:05
Report abuse
I went to see this show with a group. Everybody enjoyed it, although I found it lacked pace. It would have been more interesting perhaps, if it had bee n done from Miss Keeler's point of view from her time in prison. Then the prostitutes could have doubled up as lags. It could benefit from a couple of killer numbers - not dresses, songs! But well done for getting on the stage, that's a feat in it's self.
- Mike Hume, London, 09/02/2007 05:03
Report abuse
I simply want to express my thanks to the fabulous authors and actor/actress' of 'A Modern Girl'. The play is outstanding! We could not fault it at all, well presented, highly and visually pleasing and aurally entertaining. A modern girl is easy to understand and digest, it repersents a fasinating political scandal. The props were highly effective without being ostentatious, over fussy or detracting from the actual storyline. In every scene, you knew exactly where you were supposed to be and the story from beginning to end, came across well. Some irresponsible critics display their pseudo-elitism by concentrating on the unimportant detail rather then asking the only important question: 'is the audience 'entertained?' If they [critics] spent more time assessing the public reaction to a piece of work, more people would go to the small local theatre rather than spend their money on ridiculously over priced reworked /re hashed productions (Lloyd Webber ahem), in the central london venues; and new playwrites would be encouraged to display their talents as opposed to churning out reworked money spinners.
As an ordinary member of the public, I was entertrained and thought I got good value for money! (I've seen it twice) I have recommemded this to everyone I know and they agree that it is brilliant!, and so, for anyone interested in true political scandal presented in a truly entertaining form, 'A Modern Girl' is essential.
Susie Stanton.
PS. Profumo et al were amazing
- Susan Stanton, Blackheath London, 08/02/2007 11:36
Report abuse
