Review: 'Half A Sixpence'

by Daniel Hill



The summer musical at Chichester Festival Theatre was "Half A Sixpence". Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by H.G.Wells this production came with new music written by duo, Stiles and Drewe. The productions at Chichester never seem to disappoint, and this was no exception.

The actor (Charlie Stemp) in the role of Arthur Kipps was making his stage debut and he was truly exceptional. He was a "triple threat",  showing that he could singing, act and dance, with his best skill by far being dance. The fact that originally Stemp was not in the role is beyond me, and I am sure many other people who have seen this show during the summer.

The classic story of one man who is in love with a women who has just come into his life, and a women who has just return to his life from his childhood is the storyline of this musical. The storyline was executed perfectly with energy oozing from every direction.

Although the only song I knew was the finale, this didn't stop me from enjoying every other song, with even many of the new song also being popular with myself and the audience. The title song "Half a Sixpence" really opened the show with emotion and energy, with the show being closed with as much energy, but the song "Flash, Bang, Wallop".

As many other previous Chichester Theatre Productions have made it to the West End Stage, Half A Sixpence has followed. I would recommend this production, and personally, I wouldn't mind catching it again at the Nöel Coward Theatre.

Half A Sixpence is booking until 11th February 2017.

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