With Flappers and Fedoras, Bugsy Malone Jr. Production Impresses Spectators

Over 230 audience members turned out for Monday’s matinee showing of . at.  A cast of 42 actors, ranging from age eight to 16, brought to life the glitz and glam of gangsters in New York during the Prohibition era.

“The show is terrific.  Lots of stuff going on,” said Joe Mack, a resident of Annandale. “The kids are doing a fantastic job.”

The play centers around Bugsy Malone and his efforts to help his girlfriend Blousey Brown get a job as a showgirl at Fat Sam’s speakeasy.  Bugsy gets in trouble when Fat Sam’s girlfriend, Tallulah, sets her sights on Bugsy as well.  All the while, Dandy Dan’s band of bad guys make trouble for everyone by “splurging” them with silly string.  When they immobilize Fat Sam’s gang, he asks Bugsy for help in protecting the speakeasy.

Bugsy Malone, Jr. is the stage version of the 1976 movie Bugsy Malone, starring then-unknowns Jodie Foster and Scott Baio.  Alan Parker directed the film and wrote the script for theater; lyrics and music are by Paul Williams. The Aldersgate Children’s Community Theater is a charter of the church and is operated by a church council.  

The Aldersgate production’s director John Waldron said he “went nuts” when he found out that the church’s children’s theater was putting on Bugsy Malone, Jr.  Waldron’s parents had taken him to see the movie version when he was six years old, when he “fell in love with the premise - the kids singing and dancing.  I really wanted to bring the flavor of that movie into the show today.”  Waldron has been teaching in the Alexandria area for ten years and works with the Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theater, among other local theater organizations.  

About Waldron, executive producer Kacie Greenwood said, “He makes a point that even the children with the smallest roles have something special to do. He tries to embellish the small characters so each child feels really good about their part in the production.”

Greenwood added that “Aldersgate has been doing children’s shows as far back as I can remember.”  Greenwood has helped coordinate efforts with the church, while co-producers Veronique Autphenne and Patti Turner have led the development of the show from auditions to rehearsals to performance. 

Autphenne, who used to act high school, said she chose Bugsy for this year’s show, in part because “it had roles for both boys and girls, which I think is great.” Her ten-year-old son, Julian Worth, is one of two actors who play Bugsy Malone (the other is Aubrey Blount).  

Stage manager Corey Latta, who has worked for ACCT for the past five years, said the choice of Bugsby was different from some of the other plays they have performed.  “We’ve done a lot of Disney in the past,” said Latta, a student at Sweet Briar College.  She added, “the 20’s are a fun time to be in:  all the tapping, the costumes and the bright colors.”

In preparation for the two-week production, the young actors had to memorize lines, songs and dance routines.

“I’ve been very impressed that a lot of these kids have never acted before.  Some of them have never tapped before,” said Patti Turner, a co-producer of the show.  The choreographers [Michael Page and Shelagh Roberts] did a great job with them.”

The production was double cast, so actors switch off every other night, giving the kids a chance to play different roles.

“Today I was Snake Eyes, the gang member, but they double cast the show so I’m also Tallulah, ” said Logan White, 14, a student at St. Mary’s School. Bugsy is her second production with ACCT and she also performs with Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theater.  

Actor Josh Turner, who plays Dandy Dan, says that people should come see the play because “it has happy ending and an important lesson.”  Josh Turner, 10, is co-director Patti Turner’s son.  

Those who follow Turners advice and bring a book to the performance will earn a chance to win a seat in the special “speakeasy section” at the very front of the hall.  Latta said the charitable destination of the books has yet to be determined.

The next performances are 1/21 (7:30 p.m.), 1/22 (3:00 p.m.), 1/22 (7:30 p.m.), and 1/23 (3:00 p.m.).