Blitz at The Union Theatre – Review

Blitz is just one of the shows at The Union Theatre that is part of the Phil Willmott Company’s Essential Classics season 2020: V.E DAY – 75 YEARS ON.

It is based during WWII in London where both the Jewish Blitztein family & the cockney Locke family live. When the children from these opposite families fall in love a wonderfully poignant wartime romance starts to unfold.

This classic style musical from Lionel Bart has an instant feel of being a much bigger show. The songs tell the story and the dance routines portray that old fashioned  ‘good old knees up’ atmosphere that gives a sense of inclusiveness with the audience being so close. The set is bustling and busy with lots of individual connections between the characters going on, whilst the main premise of the story starts to develop. The space is cleverly utilised not only to create the claustrophobic feel of being stuck on an underground tube platform but also the winding feel of the  narrow lane aspect of the area at that time.

Mrs Blitztein ( Jessica Martin) instantly presents as the strong matriarch of the Blitztein  family as well as the natural leader of the group. She has inevitably earned the reputation of ‘Queen of Petticoat Lane’ with her being both loved and feared by her neighbours and friends. Her rivalry with the outspoken Mr Locke (Michael Martin) is blatantly apparent from the outset, it generates the witty undercurrent of disdain between the two characters, focusing on the differences in their families throughout the performance.

Blitz is essentially a celebration of the working class spirit during a time when unspeakable horrors occurred, night after night, as bombs were dropped relentlessly on London and other British cities throughout the war. It captures the unquestioned camaraderie of the time in London’s East End, the pulling together as one against the Nazis as a whole, and the simple fact that life still goes on regardless. Yes there was raw, heartbreaking suffering and terrible loss and complete terror, but it was faced with that  ‘stiff upper lip’ high spirits and the typical unwavering humour making the most of a bad lot.

This musical encapsulates all the emotions across the board. Enthusiasm exudes from all the cast keen to make you connect with all their individual stories. The highs and lows of life during the war and what people had to do to survive. Jessica Martin’s portrayal of the formidable Mrs Blitztein reels you in helplessly from the very start. We are left knowing that in spite of everything we do need those natural leaders, those strong family characters that hold everyone together in difficult or uneasy times. Which is even more prevalent now in 2020 with all its impending uncertainty.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars

PERFORMANCES

• DATES5th February – 7th March 2020
• TIMESTuesday to Saturday @ 7.30pm
  Saturday and Sunday @ 2.30pm from February 15th

TICKETS

• FULL PRICE £22
• CONCESSIONS £20
• UNDER 18S £15

SEASON TICKET OFFER
See Tom Brown’s School Days, Blitz and Peace in Our Time for just £50. Bookable in Advance until February 1st

CAST

Jessica Martin  – Mrs Blitztein
Caitlin Anderson – Carol
Anna Robertson – Cissie
Robbie  MCartney – Harry
Corinna Marlowe – Esther
Michael Martin – Mr Locke
Connor Carson – George
James Horne – Ernie
Vicki Mason -Miss Joseph
James Georgiou -Mr Finklesstein
Danniella Schindler – Rachel
Beaux Harris – Elsie
Eleanor Sandars – Joyce
Charlotte Bradley – Peg
Eleanor Griffiths – multiple roles
Jack Slatter – multiple roles
Lorne Taylor – multiple roles
Stephen Hayward – multiple roles

CREATIVES

Director
Phil Wilmott

Musical Director
Rosa Lennox

Choreographer
Daniel Maguire

Set Designer
Reuben Speed

Costume Designer
Penn O’Gara

Lighting Designer
Harvey Nowak-Green

Sound Designer
Ralph Warman

Assistant Director & Dramaturg
Phil Setren

Casting Director
Adam Braham

Producer
Sasha Regan

Associate Producer
Maison Kelley