Theatrically, what springs to mind if I say the word ‘Humbug’? I bet your mind immediately flew to Mr Scrooge. But, although that character uses the word, there is a real-life person who built his life and career around humbug, and that man is the hero of Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart’s musical Barnum, which is currently on a UK tour. I was lucky enough to get to see the show when the big top landed at Richmond Theatre
The show covers the life of American entrepreneur and showman P. T. Barnum (Lee Mead) from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. At the start, he’s in a bit of a slump. Then he buys the contract of the oldest woman alive, Joice Heth (Dominique Planter) – 160 if she’s a day – then, because that’s not interesting enough, he adds his own bit of Humbug and transforms Joice into George Washington’s nanny. And the show is a hit. Despite the often good-natured chiding of his wife, Charity (Monique Young), PT expands his acts and the Humbug around them, such as introducing ‘General’ To Thumb (Fergus Rattigan) to become a hugely successful showman. And then Charit persuades him to do something unusual. Bring in an act and be honest with the audience. PT does just that, bringing Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind (Penny Ashmore) into the show and accompanying her on a nationwide tour, putting a strain on his marriage that may be difficult to come back from.
Rather like the hero of the show, Barnum arrives in a blaze of glory, promising a cast of 20 all-singing, all-dancing performers playing 150 instruments. And in this, it certainly delivers. Lee Newby’s set transforms the theatre from a glorious piece of Victorian architecture to Barnum’s multi-level big top circus, which Director Jonathan O’Boyle, Choreographer Oti Mabuse, and Circus Director Amy Panter use to produce a spectacle. The ensemble takes triple threat to a new level as they play the music, sing, dance, perform acrobatics, fly through the air, and bring the circus to Richmond on the Thames. I have to be honest and say that there were times where the acrobatics were a bit distracting and felt like almost showing off as they accompanied some of the numbers, but if you are after stimulating spectacle, Barnum is the show for you, and the cast deserve heaps of praise for the commitment and hard work they put in to deliver something amazing.
Speaking of, Lee Mead really owns the role of Barnum. There’s a wonderful mischievous quality in his breaking the fourth wall delivery, so that even when his humbug is actually quite terrible, you go along with it, smile and say “That’s just PT”. We all know Lee is a good singer, and he really proves it by being vocally involved in eleven of the production’s seventeen songs. But he is also a great dancer and even walks the tightrope – possibly an analogy of Barnum’s entire life – with aplomb. The relationship between Barnum and Charity is nicely brought out by Mead and Planter. While I found Charit slightly irritating as a character, I could see how, using the theory of opposites attract, she and Barnum were together. A great pairing of actors.
All told, I enjoyed Barnum. Not only did it entertain, but it also educated – for example, I didn’t know he had got into politics at one point. The show is a visual spectacle and the song and dance numbers are a wonder. The only problem is that Mark Bramble’s book has to move the action along so fast and therefore some characters, for example, Tom Thumb, wander in and do their thing, then are never heard of again. I also feel that while we get the back story of how Barnum and Charity met, there is nothing about how Barnum became the man he was. This is a minor issue, and I must admit that Barnum is a real crowd-pleaser with musicians, acrobats, singers, dancers and even an elephant keeping the show light and fun and something that I would definitely recommend visiting when it hits your town.
Review by Terry Eastham
Step right up and enter the dazzling world of P.T. Barnum, where imagination and ambition know no bounds. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights.
Lee Mead – P. T. Barnum
Monique Young – Charity Barnum
Penny Ashmore – Jenny Lind
Dominique Planter – Joice Heath
Fergus Rattigan – General Tom Thumb
With Elena Bluck, Gianpaolo Candelaria, Eamonn Cox, James Gill, Jessica Jolleys, Kevin Oliver Jones, Emma Jane Morton, Sophie Precious Muringu, Lennin Nelson-McClure, Emily Odunsi, André Rodrigues, Ben Scott, Laura Sillett, Tom Sowinski, Tom Sterling, Niki Tsonopoulou
Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Michael Stewart
Book by Mark Bramble
Director – Jonathan O’Boyle
Choreographer – Oti Mabuse
Arranger, Orchestrator and Musical Supervisor – George Dyer
Set and Costume Designer – Lee Newby
Co-Choreographer – Matt Nicholson
Lighting Designer – Jai Morjaria
Sound Designer – Tom Marshall
Associate Director and Musical Staging – Jess Ellen Knight
Circus Director – Amy Panter
Magic Consultant – Richard Pinner
Circus Instructors – Iona Luvsandorj and Sabrina Joshua
Puppet Designers – Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller for Significant Object
Puppetry Director – Helen Foan for Significant Object
Circus Consultants – Zippos Circus and The National Centre for Circus Arts
BARNUM
Richmond Theatre, 23 to 27 June 2026
Tour continues to 4 July 2026
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