Show review: Barnum The Circus Musical

It says something about my age that, on being asked to review Barnum, my first thought was, “Didn’t Michael Crawford play him, back in the mists of time?” (Spoiler alert: he did).  Strangely, my friend Matt, who’s the same age as me, immediately asked the same question.

Neither of us saw the show back then, but Michael clearly made an indelible impression on our then-young minds.

A relic from times long past.

Anyway, this Barnum is played by Southend’s very own Lee Mead, who made a fine stab, and the show is a veritable feast for the eyes if not the heart.  I can hardly complain about that, though, in a show called “The Circus Musical”.  You’re coming for the circus, and that’s exactly what you’re getting.

Here’s my review.