MTW Presents: ‘Good Buisness’

Having just been incredibly impressed and blown away by Musical Theatre Warwick’s Anything Goes, I was really excited to go and experience a rehearsal of their new show: original piece Good Business. This musical, written by MTW’s Rob Madge and Chris Poon, is set in 1930s America during the Great Depression and follows the story of two rival mobster gangs. Sitting down with director, Rob Madge and the entire cast, I was told that the musical took around a year to write and that it was Madge’s first experience at writing which was exciting to hear. The musical, which has only had a ten week rehearsal process, has been fun and exciting to perform in according to a number of different cast members, and has been a new experience for those that have been in previous shows with the society. The fact that this is an original piece has allowed actors to be part of the entire process: from character development to being part of the devising during rehearsals, I can tell this is a collective effort. Another exciting element to this piece is the fact that it is being performed in a bar (St Patricks Irish Club, Leamington), fitting in extremely well with the 1930s theme and welcoming audience members to experience an up-close and personal performance in a new setting.

I also have to admire Cooper’s chemistry with Joe Thompson-Oubari (her on-stage partner) throughout the performance; their partnership is gorgeous, moving and mesmerising

I was lucky enough to watch the second act of the musical and I was impressed from the outset. The entire ensemble sang extremely well together and I was amazed at how beautiful they all sounded: the casting is superb. I was instantly captivated by Lucy Cooper and Hayley Simpson who play the mobsters’ girlfriends: they worked really well together and their chemistry was intense and utterly believable. I also have to admire Cooper’s chemistry with Joe Thompson-Oubari (her on-stage partner) throughout the performance; their partnership is gorgeous, moving and mesmerising. I was completely drawn in and engaged throughout my little preview and I was especially impressed with the male ensemble: their acting is great and they all embody their mobster-esque characters extremely well.

I have to compliment the incredible direction by Rob Madge. The way in which each scene is staged is very clever and the stage fighting is effective and believable; I can tell he is very precise with every little detail which is what makes this musical impressive. The music is fantastic too: the songs are wonderfully phrased, well put together and the cast sing them beautifully. The pair have put together an incredible new musical that I think will go very far.

 I actually wanted to get up and dance with them

I asked to see a bit of the dancing (choreographed by Elisabeth Stowell) and I had a smile on my face the entire time: it’s fun, exciting and creates an amazing club-like buzz. I actually wanted to get up and dance with them (I didn’t, but you get the idea!) I have to say, always the case with MTW, the cast are insanely talented with their singing, acting and dancing, I can’t fault a single one of them.

Overall, I can’t praise the cast, crew or musicians enough: this new musical is going to be a huge hit and I can’t wait to see the entire show next week. Filled with love, lust, violence, protection and friendship, MTW’s Good Business is definitely not one to be missed.

Make sure you book your tickets now, and I promise, I won’t get up and dance!

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/goodbusiness