5 Stars

*****

What a wonderful, vibrant production! The combination of live singing and dancing performed against a large back screen of movie clips and location scenes is a sheer delight.

The storyline follows rival twins Jack and Jill whose father, a movie mogul, has set them a challenge with the winner to take control of the studio. This involves separate journeys across the world, Jack heading east and taking in London and Paris, and Jill heading west taking in Hollywood and Tahiti. The starting point is New York and the opening number ‘New York, New York’ gets the show of to a cracking beginning.

A bundle of songs are performed in spectacular fashion by the team of ten hugely talented singers and dancers. Examples include ‘Hit the road Jack’; Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, and ‘Singing in the Rain’. Linking the action are little comedy sketches. Particularly clever was a scene between the live Jill and Humphrey Bogart in his classic role from ‘Casablanca’.

The finale when the twins arrive in China is hugely lavish and ties up all the loose ends in the plot. This is truly a show full of superlatives.

Reviewed by Ben

Venue; Venue Number                     Pleasance Courtyard; V33

Dates                                                  4 to 30 August 2010 (not 10, 17, 24)

Times                                                 18.00 to 19.10

Fringe Programme Page Number: 216