The Stage

Little Fish

Published Friday 30 October 2009 at 12:40 by Scott Matthewman

Escaping from a destructive relationship with her creative-writing tutor, Charlotte flees to New York to pursue a career as a writer - but rapidly finds herself a little fish in the Big Apple.

Michael John LaChiusa’s new musical follows Charlotte’s life in a freeform fashion, jumping backwards and forwards in time but cleverly using her changing relationship with cigarettes to help the audience keep track of the chronology. Maybe as a result of the source material (a series of short stories by writer Deborah Eisenberg), the overall effect is rather more of a series of interrelated vignettes than the strong narrative line that seems to be intended.

Julia Worsley’s accomplished central role adds much-needed cohesion to the various story strands. Around her, a strong cast is dominated by Laura Pitt-Pulford as the perky Kathy. Nick Cunningham’s choreography provides some impressive routines within the Finborough’s limited space, most notably as Ashley Campbell’s womanising John Paul adds heat to a theatre which already feels more like an oven.

Bec Chippendale’s ingenious foldaway set, decorated in a range of aquatic blue hues, provides an elegant frame to a collection of technically accomplished, well-performed songs. Ultimately, though, the professionalism of cast and crew cannot dull the feeling that there is something missing where this show’s heart should be.