Hello Sailor!

ENO packs a punch with its joyful tale of horny seaman out On the Town.

ENO’s splendid production of On The Town returns to The Coliseum for 20 performances only and is one of the must-see cultural events of the season.

To experience this 1940’s Broadway show with the enormous forces of English National Opera’s 62 piece orchestra balanced with a cast of 62 performers is a total treat for both show queen and philistine alike. Its charm is in the simple plot of 3 sailors on twenty-four hours leave in New York City and their quest to find a date.


A scene from On the Town

“The show was light” Bernstein once said, “ but the subject was serious”. Set against the backdrop of World War II’s darkest hour, the sailor’s vulnerability and joy for life and their meeting with 3 great gals carries us through both funny and moving episodes told by song, dance, comedy and drama.

The young creators of On The Town were all in their mid twenties in 1944 and this youthful ambition and excitement of New York is captured throughout. Conceived by choreographer Jerome Robbins, the whole piece is hugely balletic and as much a visual feast as a musical one. Bernstein’s score is both sassy and poetic and its huge ambition is realised scene after scene.


June Whitfield (Madame Maude P. Dilly) / Helen Anker (Ivy Smith)

The strength of the cast added to the night’s success. What a treat to see June Whitfield hamming it up as Madame Dilly while the hoofers were spot on.

In particular Caroline O’Conner brought a Broadway edge to the show. Previously seen as Ethel Merman in the Cole Porter bio-pic, De-Lovely, as Nini Legs in the Air in Moulin Rouge, and set to bring Judy Garland to the London stage in End of the Rainbow towards the end of the year, Miss O’Conner as Hildy gave her all to “Back to My place” capturing the energy of the time. It reminded me of all the reasons we love a show tune and musical theatre girl.


Sean Palmer (Chip) / Caroline O'Connor (Hildy Esterhazy)

As the American art-form the musical is often misunderstood but the sheer excellence and confidence of On The Town captures the spirit of youth in wartime using song and dance, humour and pathos and proves that great art found in the opera house can be totally accessible and entertaining across the generations.

On The Town runs from 20th April for 20 performances.

On The Town
London Coliseum
St Martin’s Lane, WC2
Call ENO's Box Office on: 0870 145 0200
Performances April – May 2007.

You can book online by clicking here.

Photos by Laurie Lewis