Bronco Billy The Musical - Charing Cross Theatre

[Dr Tom]

I saw this with a rush ticket for the Thursday matinee. An excellent view, although I'd have preferred to have sat a few rows closer.

I don't know the film at all, but I found this enjoyable. Some obvious plot holes and nothing hugely original, but it has a top rate cast way beyond the Charing Cross norms. Having not really checked the cast before, a nice surprise was spotting Josh Butler in the cast, who was always adorable at Mountview, and somehow has made himself even more adorable here. ArtsEd is also represented in the recent graduates nicely too with the always excellent Aharon Rayner.

This does take a bit of time to get going. If, like me, you don't like surprise gunshots, thankfully they're recordings (and largely limited to the opening sequence), after which the show goes in a different direction. I doubt this will have much of a life beyond Charing Cross, but I'll certainly see this again before it closes.

[matttom0901]

Saw this on 06/02 and loved it. Sat in row H which, in my opinion, always offers a great view.

Victoria was amazing, so dramatic and I loved every moment she was on stage.

[argon]

Anyone know why today's matinee was cancelled.

[stagemanager]

Feb 25, 2024 19:05:50 GMT argon said:

Anyone know why today's matinee was cancelled.

Cast illness. To many of them off to cover the show safely. They had the same problem earlier in the week.

[argon]

Feb 25, 2024 22:09:15 GMT stagemanager said:

Feb 25, 2024 19:05:50 GMT argon said:

Anyone know why today's matinee was cancelled.

Cast illness. To many of them off to cover the show safely. They had the same problem earlier in the week.

Thanks 👍

[ruperto]

I caught the matinee on Saturday and just loved it - this really is such a fun show, and was a very pleasant surprise. I've already booked a return visit. The way this is staged is just so clever, the cast were fab, and I just loved the slapstick/silly stuff, which I wasn't expecting and in theory shouldn't work, but really did help to make this a special little show. It got a standing ovation from a full house. It feels like this show is a bit under the radar - hopefully they're benefiting from some good word of mouth...

[Adalea]

I really enjoyed this one. I have to confess, based on the poster I didn't think I would like this show, I only went because I got a cheap ticket. I usually don't like over the top humour, but this one worked for me.

It just makes me wonder if it would sell better with different marketing and a different poster.

So much talent in the cast, it's well worth going for that alone.

[musicbox]

I went to see this tonight, I’ve never seen the film but I love Victoria Hamilton Barritt and try to see everything she’s in when I can.

Unfortunately I’m sorry to say though that it was the first show in a long time that I decided to leave at the interval. I found the story really hard to follow and to be honest I just felt really bored throughout and kept zoning in and out. I was also sitting towards the back and there were loads of people talking and checking their phones constantly, plus people going to the toilet which I found really annoying.

VHB was brilliant as always, but I felt like she was in it so sparingly that it wasn’t enough to keep me there. I felt genuinely bad and I never leave shows before the end, but I just wasn’t enjoying it and to be honest was really uncomfortable in my seat, the venue really isn’t my favourite!

[thelastfaithful]

I think this show is just so much fun. I’m a sucker for cowboys and disco so I may be somewhat bias. None of the songs are ~that~ memorable but after a return watch, they were swimming in my head for days. I won’t be the first to say that VHB is the stand-out; SO camp and hilarious. Chris Jared as Sinclair St Claire is sooo stupid it’s f***ing fabulous. Surprised at the scale of it, sort of forgot I was at CCT. Impressed by the use of the space they have there (although they did remove the first three rows to make the stage big enough). Yeah, it’s not the best show but it’s hilarious and fun and surprisingly impressive for this theatre.

[winonaforever]

I saw it yesterday and really liked it (much more than I'd expected after reading some of the comments on here) I did find that the first half seemed a bit too long and none of the songs really stood out to me (apart from the first song in Act 2) but I enjoyed it overall, the whole cast were talented and enthusiastic and I thought the show was very likeable (Victoria HB as hilarious as everyone has already said, but there was a lot of humour in it from other characters too)

[theoracle]

It does what it sets out to do. I certainly laughed and found the music consistent enough to be enjoyable. The fight scenes were a particular guilty pleasure and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as everyone has already mentioned is brilliant here. Her Act II numbers are jaw dropping! It’s certainly not the best musical ever written but boy, it’s fun!

[sophia]

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Incredibly camp and silly, with catchy songs and a scene-stealing performance from VHB. I thought Tarinn Callender made a great leading man too - very charismatic and a fantastic voice.

[FJ]

Tonight’s performance cancelled. I think due to staff illness but not 100% Certain.

Hoping I’ll still be able to catch it before it finishes.

[colelarson]

Saw this tonight thanks to a £15 offer, it was really busy in the theatre. Can't fault the cast - very talented and lovely voices, but the book and music is not fabulous.

Some funny moments, we didn't have Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Constance Lily, we had Gemma Atkins and she played the role well. Her 2nd act number "Mama's Done With Sweet" was hilarious and had such a disco beat!

Absolutely loved Tarinn Callender in 'The Drifters Girl' and he does get a lot of chances to shine with his stunning voice in this show as the title character Bronco Billy.

Also enjoyed Emily Benjamin as Antoinette Lily, she unleashes her disco moves and has great vocal versatility and chemistry with Tarinn.

Overall really colourful, a joyful ride and high camp!

[iwanttix]

I finally got to see this today after my previous attempt was cancelled while I was sat in my seat! I'm glad I made the effort to book it again as I really enjoyed it. Its a fun little musical and all the cast were on top form. One song made me cry which I wasn't expecting but the rest less emotional 🤣.

[Libby]

I saw this the other week with the TodayTix rush and it was def worth it. The story/plot is super predictable/homage to the "American Dream" and really cheesy.

HOWEVER the design/production value, VHB as Constance Lily, Emily Benjamin (giving Billie Piper) and Tarinn Callender as the leads, and honestly even some of the songs were FAB!

Some of the songs are absolute bops and some are forgettable ballads. (The love songs were particularly boring). I hope they release a cast album because the first song and VHB's songs have been stuck in my head.

The set design was a highlight and they made use of the space in a really interesting way.

The show was camp and fun, def a good time for £10-£15! Not as queer as I had hoped but still very fun despite the predictable plot and forced romantic conflict.