Following the success of The Greatest Showman it’s no surprise ‘Side Show’ the musical is a smash hit, so its timing was perfect when in late October, the musical was presented by the Bromley Players, at the Bob Hope theatre in Eltham.
Set in America in the 20th century, ‘Side Show’ is a heart-warming, cynical portrayal of the life of Daisy and Violet Hilton- a pair of conjoined twins who toured America in the early 20th century, and their search for acceptance and fame. It tells the story of Daisy who yearns to live a ‘normal’ life full of simple pleasures, and her sister Violet who craves a life in the spotlight. Based on real events the story is moving, heart-breaking and hopeful, and offers a unique perspective on life. Its also packed with catchy songs that’ll be stuck in your head for days- the tell-tale sign of any a good musical. Despite being an amateur dramatic performance at a small, local theatre, the production was west-end worthy, with a display of fantastic handmade costumes, simple, effective sets and clever use of lighting effects.
The actors worked hard, many playing two characters which involved major costume changes including make-up effects. Dance routines were perfectly executed and all players were word perfect. The company only stage 2 productions a year but it was carried out with passion, and I would highly recommend a trip to their next production of ‘Footloose’ in the spring.
