42nd Street

Tap dancers on a staircase of lights, hissy fits, meaningless flirting and a theme song called the Lullaby of Broadway: that's right, 42nd Street is a musical about a musical. But don't go expecting any clever narrative tricks, it actually is just that: a musical about the 'difficulties' of putting on a show. I hesitate to say difficulties, because although there are a few plot twists, anything that might be considered a problem is resolved so instantly that the tone is one of constant jollity and optimism. But this is a musical - stop me if I'm going too quickly - so existential angst was never really on the cards.

The performances, including West End veteran Dave Willets as Director Julian Marsh, are strong throughout, and the atmosphere appropriately energised. Most importantly, the songs are excellent. The highlight is the subversive Keep Young and Beautiful ("if you want to be loved"). It's evidently meant ironically, but the fact that the audience are almost certainly enjoying the performance particularly FOR the youth and beauty of the performers makes for a nicely unnerving complicity in the song's anti-statement. This was the most artful moment in what was, all round, an accomplished and fun revival. [RJ Thomson]