Gangsters and Glamour: Bugsy Malone

Written by Duc Tri Nguyen

With a classic and shimmering vibe, the Bugsy Malone musical perfectly captures the roaring 20s atmosphere with that beautiful, grand musical masterpiece. From jokes and laughter to the most raw singing, Bugsy Malone was a truly remarkable experience. The moments of action between the mob bosses and the complicated love triangle really made the audience awestruck.

Set in 1929 New York City, two rival mob bosses Fat Sam and Dandy Dan are locked in a power struggle. Dan is gaining the upper hand through a dangerous new weapon, the splurge gun which shoots out custard pie. Amidst this crime war, Bugsy Malone, a charmingly smooth, penniless, street smart attempts to win the affection of aspiring singer Blousey Brown while navigating the advances of showgirl Tallulah. Hired by a desperate Fat Sam to help regain control, Bugsy rallies a new gang to hijack Dandy Dan's weapon supply. But then the two sides suddenly put aside their differences and finally become friends, marking the end of this cream filled war.

What really caught my eyes were the dazzling costumes and set pieces. The dancer’s dresses were made so elegantly and the intricate beading and sparkles made it stand out through the warm, jazzy glow. All of the dress designs were authentic with the iconic 1920s shimmer and sequins. Another very noticeable set piece were the telephones. The detail and gold trimming made the audience feel like they were transported back in time. Each and every set piece fully immersed the audience into the story and action. 

I was blown away by the confidence of the actors with every word said in a tone and accent that sounded like they were straight out of the West End. Each and every one of the performers had their own unique twist to their character making it an even more engaging experience.

A slight improvement to the storyline itself was to make the plot less confusing. It is understandable since the actual creation was made in 1976 so they definitely had different perceptions of art and performance. I think the main plot about stealing the splurge guns was delayed a lot and appeared mostly in Act 2. There was so much going on and a rapid, relentless pacing that some parts didn’t have time to breathe.