"Thoroughly Modern Millie" to close 26 June 2004

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" to close 26 June 2004

Thoroughly Modern Millie is to close on 26 June 2004 after a run of only 8 months at the Shaftesbury Theatre. (The show was booking to 15 Jan 05)

The show opened to mixed notices from the popular press in Oct 2003: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Sweet musical." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "The new songs are generic to the point of anonymity. Holden's Millie is comparably bland." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Has the feeling of a factory product." CHARLES SPENCER for THE TELEGRAPH says, "A second-rate production of a second-rate show." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, " The dancing is snappy." ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "Feels synthetic, no sooner applauded than forgotten."

Directed by Michael Mayer, the cast includes: Amanda Holden (Millie Dillmount), Anita Dobson (Mrs. Meers) , Sheila Ferguson (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Craig Urbani (Mr Trevor Graydon), Mark McGee(Jimmy Smith)

The show has book by Richard Morris & Dick Scanlan, music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan.

Based on the 1967 Oscar winning film it is the story of Millie, a young girl from Kansas who comes to New York in search of a new life for herself in the 'Roaring 20's'. She has a plan - to get a good job as a secretary to a very rich man, and then marry him. Of course, nothing quite goes according to plan - the owner of her dingy hotel kidnaps young girls to sell to the Far East, her very rich boss is slow in proposing marriage, and the guy she actually falls in love with is poor as a church mouse.