We could’ve been anything we wanted to be,
but don’t it make your heart glad. 
that we decided, a fact we take pride in. 
We became the best at being bad.

Back in 1976 I think I was the only person in my school class who didn’t go to the ABC Cinema in Walsall to see Bugsy Malone. Nowadays, I blame the autism. Come on, kids playing adults, with adults then dubbing the vocals coming out of the kids’ mouths. It was too weird, even for me, and I have never seen it since. However, due to a 70s upbringing of Tiswas and Multi Coloured Swap Shop on a Saturday morning, I saw enough clips to make my judgement and run screaming to hide behind the lava lamp.

But this was a youth theatre version, courtesy of Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Society Youth, therefore all was well. So how did Bugsy Malone fare? Well, the Alan Parker script is awful, and the music by Paul Williams, forgettable, but I kind of enjoyed it anyway, mainly due to the quality present on stage. This is an excellent youth company, make no mistake about that, and it was nice to see most of the kids who had performed in School of Rock a few months ago with the adult incarnation of this society.

The plot. Two rival gangs in New York shoot each other up with foam-spraying Splurge Guns. Amid this, Bugsy Malone, a smooth-talking man about town, falls for new singer, Blousey Brown. Intrigue and double-crossing commence, culminating in a chaotic free for all at the end which simply halts for no reason whatsoever. Now, even though I don’t like the show itself, I bet it was a blast throughout for the kids during the months of preparation, and even better once they successfully brought the product to the stage.

Playing Bugsy was Jackson Fryer who had great stage presence and was ably complimented by Eliza May Plant as Blousey Brown. In the role of Fat Sam we had Finn Dyas-Harrold with Daniel Cwiertak as rival, Dandy Dan. Tallulah, a character made famous in the original film by a young Jodie Foster, was portrayed superbly here by Lily Grace Wooldridge who led the cast well in the Act Two opener, My Name is Tallulah. Other principals included Liam Cox (Fizzy), Noah Tromans (Cagey Joe), Finlay Hassell (Leroy), Martha Crump (Smolskey) and Sofia Nicol (O’Dreary).

But youth theatre is a team effort, and every member counts. Therefore, the rest of the cast were Amelia Cox, Amelia Elizabeth, Beth Pearce, Bonnie Wilson, Charlotte Carter, Connie Davies, Connie Perks, Daisy May Sandel, Dylan Henry, Ellie Southwell, Erin Hennessey, Fabiana Bennett, Felicity Oakley, Georgia Loughton, Georgia Riga, Giovanna Cutts, Hallie Smith, Izzy Pankhurst, Jack Head, Jayden Palmer, Katy Clarke, Kersten Davies, Lilybell Greaves, Lola Wilson, Louise Perks, Maggie Head, Masie Harrison, Maria Riga, Naomi Thompson, Noah Jeavons, Olivia Cwiertak, Olivia Ward, Oscar Wilkinson, Seb Roach, Sienna Capewell and Sofia Iantosca.

So, you don’t have to like a show in the first place to have had a good time, and the kids made this so. Amazing talent throughout performing on a great set. Also, excellent musical direction and band led by Nick Jeavons, then direction and stunning choreography from Zoe Russell, with Niamh Hadley assisting on the choreography. Has this production banished my early teenage nightmares? Not quite, but QBMTS Youth went a long, long way.

Cheers.

Antony N Britt

*Photos blatantly taken from social media.