It’s 1979 and Bronco Billy and his dedicated, if skint, troupe of merry men and woman are working their way across America. Their show is badly attended and its future hangs in the balance. But, if there is one thing this troupe has in buckets, it's determination, driven mainly from the front by its head ramrod Bronco Billy, who is played by Tarinn Callender. He sees their future in Hollywood and aims to take the gang there to seek fame and fortune.
Along the way, they meet the glamorous chocolate heiress Antoinette, played by Emily Benjamin, who's fled her horrible family whilst seeking respite from the world for a few weeks. What neither party banks on is how this chance meeting would change everything forever for all of those involved.
This is a playful look at the whole notion that dreams can come true, told by the most lovable bunch of characters who believe every word that comes from Bronco Billy's mouth. Their naïvety and endless energy make for a truly wholesome piece against the backdrop of Amy Jane Cook's dynamic and pretty awesome set.
Cook deserves particular credit for transforming what is a pretty narrow and tight little stage tucked beneath the arches of Charing Cross Station into something that feels epic at times. Because there are dozens of locations, from a New York penthouse to the Wild West, the twirling bus-come-tent set-up allows for many swift and creditable transformations.
The comedy in this musical is spared for the baddies—and most notably the nasty narcissist that is Constance Lily (Victoria Hamilton-Barritt), Antoinette's wicked stepmother. The plot here is nothing new and in fact utterly predictable, but Hamilton-Barritt is an absolute hoot, delivering each of her sinister songs with hilarious dance routines, panache and sheer style. She's a classy mix between Cruella Deville and Alexis Carrington, with a shriek that would easily crack glass. She's the perfect villain.
Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres's songs along with additional lyrics by Michele Brourman tap perfectly into the upbeat, toe-tapping energy of Bronco Billy from the opening number to some of the more intimate moments as relationships develop and family flourishes. There’s a real cohesion in this strong songbook that makes this sometimes chaotic musical easy to follow. The quality of voices is impeccable, and collectively they almost raise the roof of the Charing Cross Theatre—but in particular, Callender’s baritone brought with it a special depth as he belted out the likes of “I’m Gonna Be Strong” and “It’s Just a Dance”.
There's so much to like about Hunter Bird’s production—its humour, music, wit and most of all messages of dogged determination that you can be anything you want to be is something to behold. It could probably be told in fewer songs and would benefit from a better distribution of those brilliant comedy moments, so we're not left waiting for Constance's return to the stage for the laughs. But this is utterly charming and a properly yeehaw triumph all round.