There’s a new musical in town set in 1979, the dying days of the touring Wild West shows, of which Bronco Billy leads “the best.”
After a rousing opening number that feels like a finale, we leave Billy (Tarinn Callender) to find that Sam Lily, a millionaire candy bar maestro, has died, and family is squabbling over the money.
Enter Antoinette (Emily Benjamin), the spoilt daughter and cold wife. When she is in danger from her gloriously wicked stepmother (Victoria Hamilton-Barritt) and her goons, where can she hide in plain sight …?
With a book (by Dennis Hackin) based on the screenplay of the 1980 film of the same name starring Clint Eastwood, Bronco Billy is a hugely enjoyable ride on the rodeo, with a love story, a moral about family, and a few magic tricks.
A twelve-song cast dazzle with their dancing (choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento) and singing while the plot points are juggled with ease. Follow your dreams, whoever you are is the mantra here.
Callender is hugely likeable as the showman with a past, and in the supporting cast, Lefty the Clown (Henry Maynard) and Doc Blue (Karen Mavundukure) are standouts.
A set dominated by the travelling troupe’s truck and performing tent revolves to offer other possibilities, and although primarily light-hearted, there are moments of genuine peril at the hands of Alexander McMorran’s Sinclair St Clair.
With toe-tapping songs by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, and a carnival atmosphere from the first, with the venue decked out with light bulbs, stars, and streamers, Bronco Billy feels a perfect place to park your troubles.
It may have the occasional longeur or unresolved side plot, but when you have a cute mascot, a vile demon witch straight out of panto, and a farcical chase, you’ve almost got it all.
As always with Charing Cross Theatre, director Hunter Bird’s staging of Bronco Billy makes good use of the space with characters able to storm off with ease, while the sound is sharp, clear, and not overpowering.
Set design by Amy Jane Cook sits well with Nick Richings’s lighting, while associate musical director Laurence Stannard leads the busy band.
Jonathan Bourne, Josh Butler, Alice Croft, Gemma Atkins, Chris Jared, Helen K Wint, Silas Wyatt-Barre, and Aharon Rayner complete the cast, and all clearly relish the challenge.
Bronco Billy may well make you reach for your ropes and juggling balls while allowing your February blues to warm up a little. With a small tweak or two, this UK premiere will bring out the cowboy/cowgirl in us all.
Bronco Billy continues at Charing Cross Theatre until 7 Apr – tickets here.
****
Image credit: The Other Richard