Last updated: 15 July 2023
Wilton’s music hall, located in a small alley in a former industrial area in East London. It’s not the location I was expecting for London’s last remaining Victorian music hall. The Sting is the first production since the venue underwent a major refurbishment. Refurb aside, Wilton’s still has that old world charm. Shabby chic with peeling paint and rustic crumbling brickwork only adds to the setting for The Sting.
The Sting is set in the depression era, 1930’s Chicago. The city is rife with crime, con-men and double crossers. Think trilby hats, trench coats and cops on the take and you’re on the right track.
The Sting was adapted on the hugely successful Oscar-winning movie starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman of the same name. It centres around grifters Hooker (Ross Forder) & Gondorff (Bob Cryer) who are out to fleece Lonnegan (John Chancer) of all his cash in retribution for the murder of Hooker’s grifting mentor, Luther.
Broads and poker don’t mix, ya know.
The minimal set proves sufficient for most scenes however regular between-scenes seem unnecessarily lengthy. From the outset, the audience is justly advised to have a vivid imagination. It’s clearly required in parts. There’s a flaky aspect to some scenes which feel pieced together for effect rather than content. For the most part it’s a jovial play with injected humour and a very convincing bumbling drunk Gondorff hits the mark. – no pun intended.
However, this adaptation of The Sting is let down by some cast playing more than one role which appears to be a challenging notion. Secondary characters aren’t meaty enough to give the the story any conviction and the general acoustics of the venue leave a lot to be desired. As voices trail off into the vaulted ceiling, some audience members are left struggling to decipher actual English from the poorly executed and often wavering American accents.
While the venue has character and charm, the same cannot be said for the ratty seating which is as comfortable as Victorian church pews. Even with a generously rounded rear, I was already numb after 30 minutes in. Distractingly uncomfortable, I looked around the audience to discover many other individuals shifting awkwardly in their seats. Be advised and bring your own cushion.
An homage to the speak easy era, the live piano accompaniment is a nice touch. Adding jive and keeping tempo between changes in set and scene. However I would have liked to have seen The Entertainer played, the theme song from the original score.
By exploring the maze-like venue and enjoying the jazz bar, there’s a fun evening to be had, however overall the storyline is somewhat casual in parts and it just doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The Essentials | The Sting
- When: Tickets are on sale from now until 17 October 2015.
- Where: Wilton’s Music Hall, 1 Graces Abbey, E1 8JB.
- Transport: Tube to Tower Hill + 10 min walk.
- Cost: Tickets from £20.
- Insider tip: Don’t be afraid to arrive early and explore the labyrinthine that is Wilton’s Music Hall. Follow the chatter or the jazz and wander through rooms across split-levels. Stop to admire the exposed timber framing and support beams that keep this beauty standing. Bar tip: There’s a sneaky bar upstairs so don’t feel the need to queue 5 people deep on the ground floor for a drink.
- Verdict: 3* – It’s a light hearted piece with some good humour, there’s just not enough of it.
Disclosure: While I was a guest of Theatre Bloggers, all opinions, as always, are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you, we may earn a small commission. This helps keep the lights on at Roaming Required HQ. We sincerely thank you for your support.
