REVIEW: Radio Times at The Watermill Theatre- Blitz Spirit Lives On

Blitz-set Radio Times at The Watermill Theatre is an energy packed show, crammed with song, dance and laughs.

Inspired by wartime comedy and variety radio shows such as Bandwagon and It's That Man Again, Abi Grant's book/ Alex Armitage's script neatly holds together a jolly collection of Noel Gay songs with many a laugh along the way. It's easy to understand how effectively these radio shows boosted moral if they were performed with as much gusto then as they were by Watermill cast on Monday evening.

I only knew Run Rabbit Run, but it didn't matter- I enjoyed every song, as did the baby I am currently carrying who seemed to be joining in with the dancing! The show's impressive, often hilarious choreography was very of-the-era and quite Fred and Ginger at times.

The cast of actor/musicians/dancers was as strong as I've grown to expect at The Watermill, particularly the female members of the ensemble (whose floral, 1940s dresses were stunning!). Producer Heathcliffe Bultitude (Andrew C Wadsworth), initially a stiff jobsworth, won the audience's collective hearts during the chuckle inducing I Took My Harp to a Party and kept them for the rest of the show. 

Gary Wilmot will instantly have the affection of anyone of my age in the audience as a result of his days on children's TV. His character Sammy Shaw's love triangle with Olive (Anna-Jane Casey) and Gary Strong (Darren Bennett) had me genuinely caring what would become of them all. Gary's speech about the realities of the Blitz was an appropriate reminder of what the song, dance and laughs were there to help people forget.

Little touches front of house, such as staff dressed as air raid wardens and the sale of old fashioned sweets, really added to the atmosphere of the evening.

Judging by the non-stop hoots of laughter in the auditorium a fantastic night was had by all.

Radio Times runs at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury until September 24th.

Picture by Robert Day.