The Marvellous Wonderettes
9th April to 12th May 2019
Upstairs at the Gatehouse
“Written and created by Roger Bean, the multi-award winning show opened in
New York at the Waterside Theatre in 2008 to outstanding critical acclaim. It
takes a cotton-candied musical trip down memory lane to the 1958
Springfield High School Prom, where we meet The Wonderettes: four girls
with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts. The show follows their
lives and loves from Prom Night to their 10-year Reunion.
The show stars Sophie Camble (White Christmas, Chess and 42nd Street) as
Missy, Rosie Needham (Legally Blonde) as Cindy Lou, Louise Young (Mamma
Mia!) as Betty Jean and Kara Taylor Alberts (The Wind in the Willows) as Suzy.
This musical showcases over thirty hit songs from the 1950s and 1960s by
artists such as Aretha Franklin, Neil Sedaka, Connie Francis and Dusty
Springfield, including “Stupid Cupid”, “Son of a Preacher Man”, “I Only
Wanna be with You”, “Secret Love”, “Lipstick on your Collar”, “Respect”,
“Rescue Me”, “Dream Lover” and “Heatwave”.”
Review by Richard Lambert, 5 Stars
One of the many advantages of living in London is the vast choice of activities available every night. You could go out every single night and never do the same thing twice. Sitting in the audience watching the huge fun that is “THE MARVELLOUS WONDERETTES” and you realise why you like working in London – you can spend an evening Upstairs at the Gatehouse being entertained at a fun show by a cast of 4 who have harmonies to die for!
This concert musical may have a simple story line (think Pageant, Mamma Mia or Grease) but it’s high on the sing-a-long songs from the 70s and 80s from such greats as Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Neil Sedaka. Looking around the audience and there are smiles everywhere for the entire show!
With a live band of 5 the Sound Design (Phil Wilson) manages to balance the production well so we can always hear the cast. From the very first number the harmonies come thick and fast and beautifully sung by the cast! An early section sung accapella highlights the talent of the cast. The choreography is non-stop (Iona Holland) and integrated well and it’s all staged on this beautiful Set (Emily Bestow) by Joseph Hodges who is also the Producer. Great lighting polishes the show beautifully.
Most of the songs are well-known favourites making this production even more enjoyable!
Why wouldn’t you want to go see The Marvellous Wonderettes!
Photo Credit: Kevin Ralph
Further Information
The production will be directed by Joseph Hodges, with choreography by
Iona Holland, musical direction by Lauren Ronan, design by Emily Bestow,
lighting design by Sarah Mc Colgan, sound design by Phil Wilson and casting
by Jay Gardner.
Tickets are now on sale from the Box Office at Upstairs at the Gatehouse on
020 8340 3488 or online at www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com. Performances
run Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 4.00pm.
You can find The Marvelous Wonderettes on Twitter, Instagram and
Facebook at @WonderettesLDN.