Crazy For You (1992) is a joyous confection; a tongue-in-cheek jukebox musical fashioned from the songs of George and Ira Gershwin, including: “Nice Work if You Can Get It”; “My Sweet Embraceable You”; “Someone to Watch Over Me”; and many (really), many more. But this isn’t a Gershwin concert: it’s a dance show. The epic act one finale, “I Got Rhythm”, gets a well-deserved mid-show standing ovation.

The original 1992 Broadway choreographer, Susan Stroman, has returned as director and choreographer, reviving her iconic Broadway setpieces that sweeped the 1993 Tony Awards. Unfortunately, this West End revival of the hit 2022 Chichester Festival Theatre production is understandably somewhat less lavish in its costume and set designs (William Ivey Long; Beowulf Borritt). But thanks to a phenomenal cast, starring Olivier-winner Charlie Stemp, we are able to look past the packs-flat-plays-big design.

The book (Ken Ludwig) offers an unbelievably broad throwback to the heyday of 1920s and 1930s comedy musicals like the Gershwins’ Funny Face (1927) and Girl Crazy (1930). The slapstick, over-the-top, high energy performance style by the whole cast matches it. It’s not Ibsen, but it is very, very funny.

Conducted by Alan Williams, the sixteen-piece orchestra could well be the finest orchestra on the West End right now, making a masterpiece out of every lick of the show’s fabulous arrangements and orchestrations (Doug Besterman; Mark Cumberland; David Krane; Peter Howard; William David Brohn), and supported by phenomenal sound design (Kai Harada; Merlin O’Brien), letting us drink in every note.

Playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre 24 June 2023 – 20 January 2024.