Review: THE GIRL IN THE HAT, Tiny Giant Productions (Recording)
Photo credit: Brian Sayle Photography
Here at West End Best Friend, we’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak peek at a filmed recording of the world premiere of The Girl in the Hat, a brand-new musical which follows the life and death of fashion editor and style icon Isabella Blow.
The show is written by Ed Payne and Oliver Hancock, and produced by Nick Sanders in collaboration with Tiny Giant Productions and Manchester’s Edge Hill University. After three years of Covid interruptions and delays, the production was staged at the Rose Theatre in Ormskirk last month, and was performed by a committed and talented group of students.
Creative, eccentric and unapologetic, Isabella Blow had a wildly eventful life that included working at Vogue and Tatler, discovering fashion designer Alexander McQueen and being the muse of hat designer Philip Treacy. She was also deeply troubled, haunted by past tragedies and betrayals, and finally took her own life in 2007 after numerous attempts. The Girl in the Hat opens on her husband, Det, as he mourns Issie whilst visiting an exhibition of her work. It then spirals back through time to show her through the years, painting a vivid picture of her colourful and tormented inner life, and examining the effect she had on those who loved her.
Given the show’s subject, it’s appropriate that all the action takes place in front of, or on top of, a large runway, which is used as everything from a fashion catwalk to a road to the afterlife. We’re also treated to some fabulous costumes throughout, including the surreal and outlandish hats that were Blow's signature.
There are several catchy songs, such as the upbeat ‘Camera Flash’ and ‘King of the Castle’; not to mention the bizarre but enjoyable ‘Charles I’ when a portrait of the King comes to life inside Issie’s head to advise her on whether to accept a marriage proposal. It’s the ballads that really shine though, and none more so than Issie’s soaring lament ‘What’s Become of Me’, which will resonate with anyone who has suffered from depression or felt unlovable. Det and Issie’s sweet duet ‘You Shall Have My Heart’ is another highlight, and the finale of ‘Is A Bell Ringing’ when Issie’s loved ones come together to eulogise her is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
The show is still a work in progress and at times, it can be tricky to follow the storyline in Act One due to the nonlinear timeline, with scenes from Issie’s later life, such as her suicide attempts and interactions with Det sprinkled in amongst scenes from her childhood years, but this could easily be solved with a little streamlining. Certain songs, such as ‘Not Easy’, when Det struggles to come to terms with Issie’s death and his inability to help her during her life, have great concepts but could be made more powerful with some adjustments to the melody.
The Girl in the Hat might still be in its infancy but it’s already a beautiful tribute to a powerful and complicated woman, a heartfelt examination of the experiences of living with mental illness, and of loving someone who is suffering. We can’t wait to see where this production goes next!
Reviewed by: Laura Lott