A BRAND new, home-grown musical set in a 19th century cockney square – a sort of Victorian East Enders, if you like – has brought plenty of London pride to the Regent Centre this week.
Written by two vastly experienced local performers, Roy Ellis (music) & Tony Edwards (libretto), the plot centres around Pickwick-type local benefactor and artist John Barley (an outstanding Philip Redgrave) and his daughter, Emma (Rebecca Legrand, displaying considerable acting ability and a delightful voice).
As in Albert Square, there are plenty of additional colourful characters around, all, like the supporting chorus, enthusiastic, lively and in good voice. And the musical numbers are pleasant and easy on the ear, in particular the stirring One Magic Life, the show’s undoubted ‘hit’ number.
On the down side, the chorus is rarely off the stage, and their constant presence tends to distract one from the story line as there is almost always something else happening to draw attention away from the principals.
And a badly creased backcloth, out-of-period props and some ill-fitting wigs let the production down, yet those are just the things that might have added to it if the company had paid a little more attention to detail.

Linda Kirkman
Courtesy of the Bournemout Daily Echo