Maggie May - A Liverpudlian night of entertainment.

The Finborough has never failed to surprise me in the pieces it puts on, and when I heard about Maggie May - I knew I would be in for a pleasant surprise.

Maggie May is a musical written by Alun Owen with a score by Lionel Bart. It was first produced in 1964 and this production at the Finborough Theatre is the only professional production since then. Having known nothing of the story or music prior to seeing the show, I went in completely blind to what was in store.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this production. I think there were certainly elements of the book and score itself which can explain why this show hasn’t had the same success as Bart’s most well-known work, “Oliver!”. Some storylines felt a little rushed and underdeveloped, and the music, whilst very enjoyable, was not as memorable as Bart’s other work. However, it was an entertaining experience which was certainly unlike any other show I’ve seen.

The story revolves around Maggie May, a prostitute whom’s main trade is the men working on the docks of Liverpool. When Maggie meets Casey, a former childhood friend, she prepares to leave her profession behind and start a life with him, whilst he is made a figurehead of a rebellion for the workers on the docks. The story takes place in the 1960s and focuses heavily on the societal treatment of workers and “fallen” women.

The performances of the entire company were excellent. Everyone brought their own spark to their characters and were very convincing in making the small confines of the Finborough feel like the large open space of a Liverpudlian dockyard. A special mention should go to Patrick Casey (James Darch) and Maggie May (Kara Lily Hayworth), who carried the show fabulously and kept the pace steady and urgent.

The costume and set design (Verity Johnson) were also brilliant. They kept the piece in context whilst not distracting the audience away from the action taking place. They were subdued and minimalist designs which really helped the focus to stay on the actors and their performances, whilst also adding small splashes of colour to keep the piece visually appealing throughout.

One element of the show that I wasn’t keen on was that it often felt like the stakes weren’t high enough. I could see the implications of all the decisions that were being made throughout the show, however it all felt rather inconsequencal and more like everything was just “happening” to the characters rather than them deciding their own fates. Some of this is down to the rather predictable storyline, whilst I think some could have been a directing choice, in order for the piece to feel more Brechtian and to be less focused on the emotions of the characters. However, for me personally, I wanted to connect with all of these likeable characters and wanted to be able to feel their suffering with them more.

The dancing (choreographed by Sam Spencer Lane) was easily one of my favourite aspects - although it felt like so much more could have been done with it, if given a larger performance space. I wasn’t expecting full on dance routines, given the size of the theatre however the dances were very full out. The actors fearlessly performed their choreography within very close distance of the audience and despite my personal concerns over accidents, they all seemed confident that they would be able to carry on without injuries - which I found rather impressive, whilst also enjoying their graceful and coordinated movements.

It should be noted that the Finborough is, undeinably, a very small theatre. It’s incredibly intimate which, whilst being wonderful from an artistic standpoint, can be a bit uncomfortable from a realistic view. I think it was safe to say that the entire audience felt a little squashed and crammed into our seats. However, if you are able to find a comfortable positions between your peers, its clear that you’ll have an amazing view regardless of where you are.

Overall, Maggie May is a fun night out. The music is uplifting and the performances are stellar - but it’s clear that this production has had to force itself to fit the theatre - so I’d love to see it performed in a bigger, more suited environment in the future.

Maggie May continues its run at the Finborough until 20th April. I wish them a brilliant run.

To See Or Not To See? To see!

Star Rating: **** 4 Stars

Image provided courtesy of Ali Wright.