London theater critics have given generally positive reviews to the West End premiere of the 2011 Broadway musical Bonnie & Clyde, based on the life of American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, which had its world premiere in 2009 at La Jolla Playhouse. The creative team includes Ivan Menchell (book), Frank Wildhorn (music), Don Black (lyrics), Nick Winston (direction, choreography), Philip Witcomb (sets, costumes), John McDaniel (orchestrations, arrrangements), Zoe Spurr (lights), Tom Marshall (sound), Nina Dunn (video), Nick Barstow (music direction), and Darren Ware (wigs).
The cast includes Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie), Jordan Luke Gage (Clyde), Natalie McQueen (Blanche), George Maguire (Buck), Cleve September (Ted), Ako Mitchell (Preacher), Pippa Winslow (Cumie, Gov. Ferguson), Gracie Lai (Emma, Stella), Alistair So (Sheriff Schmid), Alexander Evans (Henry, Dep. Johnson), Ross Dawes (Cpt. Hamer), Barney Wilkinson (Bud, Archie), and Lauren Jones (Trish), with Charlie McCullagh and Annie Guy. The production continues at the Arts Theatre through July 10.
Broadway World (Cindy Marcolina): The show’s legions of fans can rest assured, it’s a bulletproof production. And all the others who still need to make their minds up will have their rib cages robbed of their hearts from the get-go. … McCann and Gage share a sizzling chemistry from beginning to end. … Bonnie & Clyde is not only surprisingly funny but also conceals a tactfully political vein. It’s an exquisitely performed and criminally seductive story that skillfully criticises a system that keeps failing its people. It might not be a perfect production, but it’s what we need. A glass of cold lemonade at a hair salon in the deep hot heart of Texas, if you will.
Guardian (Ryan Gilbey): Frances Mayli McCann is a charming Bonnie, distracted by thoughts of her idol Clara Bow even during moments of high drama, while Jordan Luke Gage is so likable as Clyde. … The cast could scarcely give it more gusto … but they are hobbled by a script that never works out what it wants to say, or why it’s saying it. Allusions to the pair seeking fame for fame’s sake aren’t enough to render it topical. Thematic dots are left unjoined, so that we discover “folks are calling them heroes” without properly understanding how or why this might be so. … The show, on the other hand, doesn’t linger long in the mind. 2 out of 5 stars.
London Theatre 1 (Chris Omaweng): Gage is sufficiently sinister as Clyde. … McCann’s portrayal of Bonnie is nuanced. … The standout performance, for me, is McQueen’s Blanche. … At times the production feels so slick and stylish that it loses the ruggedness that a story about fugitives would benefit from. At other times, the stage effects are persuasive enough to elicit audible gasps from the audience, and overall, the show does well to strike a balance between portraying a love story of an inseparable pair and their criminal activity. … Worth seeing. 4 out of 5 stars.
WhatsOnStage (Daniella Harrison): Wildhorn and Black’s songs are the lynchpin of the show, encompassing a variety of styles from gospel to country alongside several heartfelt ballads. Menchell’s book, on the other hand, lets the side down somewhat. … Regardless of these book-related quibbles, this is an excellent production firing on all cylinders. … McCann and Gage have good chemistry, playing up to the juvenile nature of the pair’s relationship which uses fighting as foreplay. … It’s so wonderful to see this much-loved musical have its moment after such a long wait – let’s hope it continues to raise a little hell in the West End for longer than its scheduled run. 4 out of 5 stars.