Bad Girls - The Musical

Published Wednesday 7 June 2006 at 16:30 by Kevin Berry

An exclamation mark is needed in the title of this show, nothing more. A long West End run, sometime soon, has to be a certainty.

Set in a wing of a women’s prison, Bad Girls - the Musical is tough, brutal and funny. It has brilliant songs staged with panache and vigour and there are ravishing performances from everyone.

Previous experience of the popular tv show on which it is based is not necessary. This musical has its own audacious style. Not exactly camp, not exactly bad taste but gloriously audacious.

Kath Gotts’ songs range from a blues lament to a Garland/Astaire inspired duet, to a full-blown Busby Berkeley routine complete with posh outfits and handsome staircase. All are cheered. All Banged Up, a raunchy ditty lamenting the girls’ lack of sex, is utterly unbelievable - funny and frank, its choreography is quite outrageous.

The entry of glam gangster’s wife Yvonne, played by Ellen O’Grady, is an event in itself. She takes over. She decides to have a party and the inmates, all suddenly wearing shiny red, are having a wonderful time.

Hal Fowler as a scheming prisoner officer is as wicked as he should be. Nicole Faraday dominates as the wing’s tough nut, at least until Yvonne appears. Playing Nikki, a lesbian prisoner, is the widely respected Hannah Waddingham. She gives a striking performance.

Critics will be predicting a cult status for this show, because of the popularity of the TV programme. But if the TV show did not exist, Bad Girls - the Musical would still develop a cult following.