Review: CRAZY FOR YOU, King's Theatre, Glasgow

A frustrated New York thespian finds himself in the dusty hills of Nevada with two choices: follow instructions and foreclose the town's rundown theatre, or follow his heart and save it with a spectacular show.

Crazy for You is one of many musicals using the classic tunes of George Gershwin. Unfortunately where others have excelled due to quality stories, this flimsy script is not one of them. The song choices, though some are timeless individually, feel crammed in, especially nearer the end; they begin to merge into each other. Many fail to progress the story, however beautiful they sound.

Luckily, the cast pulls the disjointed show together. Tom Chambers, of TV and Strictly Come Dancing fame, has had a crop of leading man roles, including winning an Olivier Award for Top Hat. As Bobby Child he shuffles along the thin line between charming and cheesy. When he dances the magic sparkles across the stage. The choreography plays directly to his strengths, which have grown since his Strictly win. Oozing with natural flair, he's got rhythm.

Caroline Flack as Irene is curious casting. With a TV presenting boost following her Strictly win, it's surprising this is the role she chose for her stage debut. She contributes a lot of walking, and too little waltz - strange for a show with the emphasis on dancing. Her accent is bang on, her vocals have gusto, and when she does get to dance she shines. Irene is just a small part for a big name.

However, Charlotte Wakefield as Polly brings proper West End magic to the musical. A standout performance, excelling in every song and dance number, she is destined for big things.

As with many musicals today, it's not enough to be a triple threat - you need to play an instrument too. This band-on-stage approach works well here due to a strong ensemble, but can look crowded. Each cast member gets some room to expand their own characters, which is nice to see especially with such talent assembled. The group numbers are some of the strongest.

What shines brightest in Crazy for You is Nathan M Wright's choreography, especially during the imaginative "I've Got Rhythm". He uses the cast's high energy and love of dance to create a celebration of Hollywood Golden Era film musicals.

A pleasant evening of song and dance, missing a story with substance. But if you want to tap your toes to a splendidly choreographed musical, then you'll go wild for Crazy for You.

Crazy for You runs at the King's Theatre, Glasgow until the 21 October, then continues on tour.

Read our interview with Charlotte Wakefield

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