A slapstick musical comedy, a film noir spoof - call it what you will, but the stage version of Alan Parker's movie musical about gangsters in 1920s New York, featuring a cast made up solely of children, could be one of the surprise hits this Christmas.
When Spotlight Stage School and Productions held auditions last summer, more than 1,000 young hopefuls turned up and a cast of 108 young people aged between seven and 15 were chosen. Paul Williams, who wrote the music for the original film, even came to Dublin to give the show his blessing.
Director Christine Scarry says: "The thing is that they are all playing mini-adults in a story about gang wars, money, love, bootlegging. The larger-than-life aspect of the characters appeals to children and the actors themselves still have that raw energy. Many of the leads haven't had any [ drama school] training before this show."
Alan Kavanagh (12), from Tallaght, Co Dublin, who plays Knuckles, Fat Sam's sidekick, says: "I've seen the film, heard about the play. It's a great story and every character has his own gangster air."
Ellen Nagle (15), from Templeogue, Dublin, plays Fat Sam's girlfriend, Tallulah. Bugsy Malone is the first show, apart from school productions, she has been in. It's also the first large-scale show for producers Stuart O'Connor and Ciara Armstrong from Spotlight. Splurge guns, which fire cream, custard pies and miniature vintage cars, add fun to the fight scenes. When Bugsy Malone (Jack Toner) gets Fat Sam (Adam Bouktila) and Dandy Dan (Ryan O'Connor) to call a truce at the end, the entire cast comes on stage to sing Give a Little Love and It All Comes Back to You. What better message to spread during the festive season?
