Review: Bonnie and Clyde at the King's Head Theatre

Bonnie and Clyde
King's Head Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 28th August 2013

Bonnie and Clyde - their story is one of the best known in history, the infamous celebrity outlaws who killed and robbed their way to fame during the Great Depression. The King’s Head is now home to Bonnie and Clyde: A New Musical Love Story, a production by Ruby in the Dust, directed by Linnie Reedman and with music and lyrics by Joe Evans. One would expect two hours packed full of drama and excitement, however this production is incredibly slow and somewhat boring.

It begins with the Dallas deputy sheriff Ted Hinton (Gary Tushaw) leaving the scene of Bonnie and Clyde’s ambush by police, which left both dead. It then rewinds to how Bonnie and Clyde became involved in their way of life, before coming full circle and ending at the same scene it began with. Samantha Louise Clark portrays an innocent and girlish Bonnie who dreams of becoming a film star, but instead becomes a gangster’s moll. Clyde (Tom Sword) takes her along for the ride and she becomes part of the gang, which also includes WD Jones (Christopher Burr), Clyde’s brother Buck (Anthony Jardine) and Clyde’s sister-in-law Blanche (Emma-Jane Martin).

One of the best aspects of the production were the photographs and video footage of Bonnie and Clyde from the 1930s, which were projected onto the back wall for a time during the performance. The piano was so loud at some points that I was unable to hear the songs being performed, particularly by Sword who sang more quietly than other cast members. The set didn’t do much to enhance the 1930s feel and car chases and much of the action is left to the audience’s imagination.

Burr and Tushaw offered the best performances of the production, particularly Burr who we see change from an excitable teenager into a murderer. The chemistry between Clark and Sword was non-existent, something which is critical when playing Bonnie and Clyde, and this let the production down. Much of the pair's history is left uncovered and I left the theatre feeling largely let down by what I hoped was going to be an exciting production.

Reviewed by Laura Kate Jones
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Bonnie and Clyde runs at the King's Head Theatre until 21st September 2013.
Click here to book tickets (all top price seats reduced to £17.50).

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