Advertisement

The Wild Party, theatre review: Gin, skin, sin and fun opens Andrew Lloyd Webber's new Palace

Party time: Frances Ruffelle stars in The Wild Party: Scott Rylander
Party time: Frances Ruffelle stars in The Wild Party: Scott Rylander

A new producing house focusing on musical theatre, in Victoria? Yes, please. Andrew Lloyd Webber acquired the St James last year and has turned it into The Other Palace — a name I keep misreading as The Other Place. Under artistic director Paul Taylor-Mills, it’s to be a ‘creative hub’ where fresh work will be tested and refined.

The rebranded and repurposed venue launches with Michael John LaChiusa’s restless, risqué show, which dates from 2000 and is based on a scandalous Twenties poem. Though set in Manhattan, it makes no secret of its similarities to another glamorous Prohibition-era musical, Chicago, and is a darkly stylish portrait of shallow, jealous people.

Its central figure Queenie is an ageless vaudeville performer, married to the violent and clownish Burrs (John Owen-Jones). They decide to reinvigorate their tired relationship with a soirée that combines four elements — gin, skin, sin and fun. As the predatory guests hoover up a variety of intoxicating substances, there’s plenty of the first three of these, even if not quite enough of the last.

Some of the dialogue is as exciting as brushing your teeth, and there’s a fair dollop of stodgy exposition. Yet what The Wild Party lacks in story it abundantly makes up for in other departments. Sassily directed by Drew McOnie, it’s packed with bold choreography. The jazzy tunes are energetically performed by Theo Jamieson’s eight-piece band, and the score has moments of feral unpredictability.

Frances Ruffelle is a slippery, throaty, vampish Queenie, and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt smoulders as her snakelike best friend Kate. But in truth the whole cast is rivetingly committed, with Dex Lee, Donna McKechnie and Lizzy Connolly providing especially striking support.

Until April 1, The Other Palace

Buy tickets for The Wild Party with Evening Standard Tickets