Review: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, Southwark Playhouse

Photo credit: Pamela Raith

Besties, whether you’re a huge fan of this show already; or you’ve heard of it but not seen it before, now is the time to head on down to the Southwark Playhouse.

Written in the 60s, it’s impressive how well the show still stands up today. The jokes all landing, and arguably some funnier now; with a strong mocking wit, highlighting the ‘way things were’ with tongue in cheek gusto throughout.

It works so well in this revival because Director Georgie Rankcom has chosen to address the stereotypes head on; with Burrows, Weinstock and Gilbert injecting zany fun into Shepherd Mead’s script, offering a fresh twist on the comic gem.

This version plays with gender roles and switches up our expectations, with Tracie Bennett and her Olivier-winning dulcet tones playing Mr JB Biggley, the man at the helm of ‘World Wide Wickets’, the company through which our main character, J. Pierrepont Finch (fantastically played by Gabrielle  Friedman), climbs - using a little handbook called ‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying’ (voiced by Michelle Visage of Ru Paul’s Drag Race fame).  Starting out as a window washer, reaching to be a high-powered executive, tackling a number of well known business hurdles on the way.

With an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser, it’s packed with upbeat tracks and catchy numbers like ‘an ode to coffee’ which could be adopted by office workers up and down the country, and ‘a secretary is not a toy’ re-setting clearly needed boundaries on the old cliche.

Against the backdrop of simple vibrant staging, working well in the modern Southwark Playhouse, with a performance in the round adding depth, and numerous ladders adding height; you’d never know that this cast hadn’t been doing this every night for years, effortlessly moving around the small stage in a polished manner.

With standout performances from Verity Power as Smitty and Elliot Gooch as Biggley’s nepotistic nephew, both delivering their roles with enviable comic timing, it’s Allie Daniel who steals the show as Rosemary Pilkington, her powerful vocal range and hilarious facial expressions sending waves of raucous laughter through the audience almost every time she’s on stage.

How to Succeed… is a real laugh out loud commentary on how things used to be, with a sensational cast highlighting just how far things have come.

A masterclass in reworking a classic for the modern day. 

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Cara Brazier

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying plays at Southwark Playhouse until 17 June, with further information here.