Sex, Scandal and Showbiz in London 1942, MISS NIGHTINGALE is a wonderful, glamorous, & highly entertaining musical that certainly captures the feel of war torn Britain in the 1940’s.
Star of the show is Amber Topez, as Miss Nightingale herself, who I saw when she headed up An Evening of Burlesque in Nottingham last year so I was excited to see her return, and, as expected, she did not disappoint in a thrilling role.
Miss Nightingale blends song and dance with the tale of Maggie Brown (Topaz) a nurse in wartime Britain with dreams of making it big on London’s West End, a feisty character who is very protective of best friend and song-writer George (Ilan Goodman).
Maggie’s big break comes when she meets Sir Frank Worthington Blythe (Tomm Coles) who gives her a chance to prove she can be a star on the stage.
The play follows the trials and tribulations of George, Maggie, Frank and Tom (Alex Tomkins) with tales of love, heartbreak, blackmail and reconciliation which have you rooting for the cast from the start. Around all this is some brilliant tongue in cheek song and dance with musical moments called Let me play on your pipe and the Pussy Song filled with double entendre, and the dry wit and sarcasm is never far away.
At the end of the show the cast were treated to a huge ovation from a crowd that had thoroughly enjoyed a dose of nostalgic burlesque entertainment that was filled with fun and emotion, a show well worth checking out.
Review by Geri Patterson
