Bonnie & Clyde

What the infamous couple sometimes lack in crackling on-stage chemistry is made up for in vocal gusto as the pair flip and riff their way through Frank Wildhorn’s cult score with a sense of liberation that their counterparts so longed for. Built upon a backdrop of the 1930s, Wildhorn’s music ricochets between the stylings of blues, gospel and rockabilly. It packs a punch in its more riotous numbers, but surprisingly finds a sense of home in its beautiful, if somewhat samey, balladry. Perhaps the highlight of the evening comes in the form of a duet between Tonkinson and Tyldesley whose velvety harmonies ripple across the auditorium during the heart-breaking, ‘You Love Who You Love’.

Though the score occasionally hinders the pace, the intensity of the piece is amped up by an ensemble cast who are relentless throughout the entire performance. Multiple roles are played to great success. Jasmine Beel commands her stage time with tangible vulnerability as Bonnie’s widowed mother, Emma Parker, before switching into her next role at the pull of a trigger. The energy reverberating about the stage is palpable during their gospel infused church numbers and aligns perfectly with Nick Winston’s slickly executed choreography. Tyldesley’s Blanche is a sure-fire hit. Perfectly angled, she hits the sweet spot- a fully rounded character without ever growing into caricature. This, infused with hauntingly beautiful vocals, is well deserving of the ovation given at the end of the performance. It must also be said that Tyldesley’s moments with Ferriday layer heart and chemistry throughout the piece- a satisfying softness that is so necessary.