What's New Pussycat?
Original production poster
MusicVarious
LyricsVarious
BookJoe DiPietro
BasisThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
by Henry Fielding
Premiere8 October 2021: Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Productions2021 Birmingham

What's New Pussycat? is a jukebox musical with the songs of Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones and a book by Joe DiPietro. It is based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling with the setting updated to the 1960s London.

Background

In July 2017 it was reported that the musical was in development with Scott Ellis as director with a reading of the musical taking place with Richard Fleeshman as Tom Jones with Hannah Waddingham, Haydn Gwynne, Jason Pennycooke and Amy Lennox in the cast. It was also revealed that Flody Suarez and Ambassador Theatre Group were producing and aiming for a try-out premiere in Wales, before opening in London's West End and eventually Broadway.[1][2][3] The musical was eventually due to have its world premiere at the Leeds Playhouse in autumn 2020, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the run in Leeds was cancelled.[4][5][6]

Production history

Birmingham (2021)

The world premiere production began previews at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 8 October (with an official opening night on 19 October) running until 14 November 2021 and is directed by Luke Sheppard with choreography by Arlene Phillips and video design by Akhila Krishnan.[7][8]

Full casting and creative team was announced on 6 August 2021.[9] On 18 September 2021, members of the company performed songs from the musical at West End LIVE 2021 in Trafalgar Square, London.[10]

Musical numbers

The musical features the songs of Sir Tom Jones, written by various songwriters.

Cast and characters

Character Birmingham
2021
Tom Jones Dominic Andersen
Mary Western Bronté Barbé
Mr Partridge Ashley Campbell
Lord Allworthy Julius D'Silva
The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress Rebekah Hinds
William Blifil Harry Kershaw
Lady Bellaston Kelly Price
Mrs Western Melanie Walters
Big Mickey Lemuel Knights
Ensemble Tom Francis
Naomi Katiyo
David Mairs-McKenzie
Lisa Mathieson
Fallon Mondlane
Jena Pandya
Nathan Rigg
Owen Saward
Carrie Willis
Swing Alison Driver

Awards and nominations

Original Birmingham production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2022 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Regional Theatre Production Nominated
Best Video Design Akhila Krishnan Nominated

Reception

The musical was positively reviewed by Arifa Akbar of The Guardian, who gave it four out of five stars and called it a "madcap mashup of a musical".[11] Despite criticising the way the 1960s styling overshadowed Fielding's original novel, leaving some of the more intricate plotting to be glossed over, she ultimately praised the entertaining and amusing nature of the play. "The show never quite loses its bubblegum air but distils the scheming spirit of the novel and, just like Tom, reveals its own anarchic spirit to become sheer, high-voltage fun."

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Riedel, Michael (25 July 2017). "Get ready for a new musical about Tom Jones — sort of". New York Post. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  2. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (6 July 2017). "Hannah Waddingham and Richard Fleeshman Lead Reading of Tom Jones Musical What's New Pussycat?". Playbill. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Two-Time Tony Winner Joe DiPietro on Tom Jones Musical What's New, Pussycat?: Broadway Run a 'Distinct Possibility'". Broadway.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "New Tom Jones musical What's New Pussycat? to be postponed until 2021 | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Wiegand, Chris (6 March 2020). "Tom Jones musical What's New Pussycat? to premiere this autumn". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  6. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Joe DiPietro Tom Jones' Musical WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? to Play Leeds Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Cavendish, Dominic (20 April 2021). "Curtain-up, knickers off: Birmingham Rep kicks off anniversary season with a Tom Jones musical". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Akhila Krishnan". Birmingham Rep. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Casting Announced for WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? Premiering at Birmingham Rep; Check Out New Rehearsal Photos!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  10. ↑ What's New Pussycat | West End LIVE 2021, retrieved 9 October 2021
  11. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (20 October 2021). "What's New Pussycat? review - high-voltage collision of two Tom Jones". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

Sources

  • Programme, What's New Pussycat?, Birmingham Rep (2021)
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