REVIEW - Crazy For You at the Cliffs Pavilion

EVEN if you are not familiar with the story for Crazy for You, many of the songs are certainly ones you will have heard before.

As are at least two of the faces in this lively and fun production of the George and Ira Gershwin musical.

And while Caroline Flack, understandably, got a lot of the limelight in the build-up to this regional tour, alongside her fellow Strictly Glitter ball winner Tom Chambers, she is not actually the female lead.

That duty falls to Charlotte Wakefield, as Polly, the gusty theatre owner trying to save it from the banks clutches.

Standing in her way is Bobby Child, Tom Chambers, sent by the bank but actually more interested in a career treading the boards himself.

Cue romance, misunderstandings and plenty of singing and dancing.

The slightness of the story makes way for a whole host of high energy, showstopping numbers and while she is not the lead, Caroline Flack's turn as the glamorous Caroline Flack, for me, proved she absolutely deserves a starring role in the future. 

While she shone in all her scenes, and seemed to be having a wonderful time to boot, so do Chambers and Wakefield.

He is barely off stage and when he is out front there is a huge amount of physical stunts and dancing required.

But he is clearly having the time of his life, putting in to use all the skills he learned on the Strictly dance floor and more besides.

As is Wakefield, and all the cast, many of whom play their own instruments on stage as well as singing and dancing.

The evening zipped along, the slight delay due to a small technical snafu, all but forgotten and we were soon at the all-singing and dancing finale by way of such classics as Someone to Watch Over Me, I got Rhythm and They Can't take that Away from Me.

If you like Strictly Come Dancing, with its non-stop action and beautiful costumes, then this is the show for you.

It will leave you with a big, fat, smile on your face. Well, I certainly went home with a spring in my step. Lauren Oldershaw

* Crazy for you is at the Cliff Pavilion Southend until Saturday September 30. Book online at www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135.