Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre review: A playful, confident production

The stage version of this daft 1954 film is triumphant, says Fiona Mountford
Laura Pitt-Pulford as Milly and The Brothers (Picture: Helen Maybanks)
Helen Maybanks
Fiona Mountford26 July 2015

The Open Air Theatre is so delightfully good at revivals of classic musicals that its offerings in this department have become a firm fixture on the summer cultural calendar. Seven Brides, the stage version of the daft classic 1954 film, continues on this triumphant path in Rachel Kavanaugh’s playful, confident production. All this despite some of the most dubious gender politics — and there’s a lot to choose from — in musical theatre: the story is based, somewhat improbably, on that gruelling Roman legend The Rape of the Sabine Women.

We’re in the rough frontier country of Oregon in 1850, where handsome farmer Adam (Alex Gaumond) takes the spirited Milly (Laura Pitt-Pulford) peremptorily both to be his wife and then to his remote homestead where, unbeknownst to her, six uncouth — and, crucially, unwed — brothers lurk. Cue japes aplenty and, pleasingly, a score-full of beautiful songs, such as exuberant opener Bless Your Beautiful Hide (see what I mean about those gender politics?) and Sobbin’ Women (likewise).

The ensemble dances up a storm and Gaumond and Pitt-Pulford, an increasingly notable musical theatre performer, make an engaging leading pair. It’s also great fun to watch Kavanaugh’s sly insinuation of the brothers’ increasing sexual frustration.

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1/50

Until August 29; openairtheatre.com

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