The issue of equal pay has always been a big and controversial issue. The feminist uprising has been 'rising' now for over a hundred years and we still have not achieved total equality. Neither of these issues will be progressed by Made in Dagenham. Unlike Henry IV at the Donmar, the women in this are either old or the idealized woman. There are no women from the real world in this. This is because that was never really the point. This musical, whilst I had great fun whilst there, assumes that it's audience does not want to be challenged and just spoon feeds them the 60s charm and delightful music the musical thinks the audience wants. However, down the road at the Garrick, the husband of Isla Blair (Connie) is playing the part of the interlocutor in a musical that seriously challenges it's audience and is just as successful. On the other hand, as a night out, it is an absolute blast. Wit from Richard Bean's book, delicious melodies from David Arnold and fantastic direction from the Almeida's artistic director Rupert Goold. Apart from American Psycho, none of the three have done musicals and have produced a musical sounding and looking like it has been made by true professionals. What is truly astonishing is the set from Bunny Christie that looks like an air-fix model kit and her costume designs really help capture that image of the 1960s. Acting- wise, Arteton does a commendable but hardly memorable job as Rita O'Grady however it is a disappointment compared to her Duchess in the debut of the Wannamaker Playhouse. Furst is the true star of the show, probably best known as the wizard in that Dick and Dom show based in the middle ages, giving a hilarious stereotyped american. Hadfield is great as PM Harold Wilson and the ensemble are impressive too. Whilst I was at first sniffy with this show's message, it's effect on me was equivalent to some of the best musicals I've seen.
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