Book: Abe Borrows, Jack Weinstock, Willis Gilbert

Music: Frank Loesser

Lyrics: Lorenz Hart, Frank Loesser

Set Design: Linda Croston

Associate set designer: Guy Evans

Lighting: Matt Allcock

Sound Design: Simon Carter

Show photography: Grace Eden Photography.

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is an American musical written and first staged in the early 1960s in New York by Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows. It tracks the career rise of J. Pierrepont Finch in corporate America in a satirical format. In 1962 it won seven Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prize. It is a gem and rarely performed little musical theatre piece with a strong retro feel. And very witty.

Directed by Linda Croston and Alison Hope with musical direction by Sam Griffiths and choreography by Arthur Jones the Lace Market Theatre production relies on its large cast, many of them familiar faces from Nottingham Operatic and Lace Market Theatre stage regulars. The twenty -two strong cast work extremely well together in a show that succeeds theatrically and visually with colourful 1960’s style costumes a plenty. The top notch show choreography gives out plenty of hip pizzazz.

This witty office based 1960s satire still has the power to entertain and expose corrupt office choices like nepotism and overt sexism: a world where ambition matters more than ethics as in the often unworthy attempt to climb the corporate ladder at the World Wide Wicket Company.

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is the Lace Market Theatre’s last show before the new season begins again in their intimate studio space with ‘Bett and Joan’ in early September. And golly jeepers what a way to finish this season! It is absolutely ‘the business’ with catchy songs and plenty of dance that are done so well by all the cast that it feels like song and dance is as natural to them as breathing. And it is slick, slick, slick and more slick with added coloured sprinkles on top. Slick sprinkles.

Of course all this musical theatre perfection (did I mention it is slick?) is only possible through very dedicated direction, genre knowledgeable choreography, class musical theatre direction, technical know-how and a heap of amateur theatre members all pulling out the stops to make sure of the show succeeding and it sure does. Oh, and there needs to be a super talented hard-working dedicated cast too. Preferably slick.

Leading the show is a very likable and exceptionally able Bara Erhayiem as J Pierrepont Finch who gives us a twinkling powerhouse performance on all fronts. Finch has an arrogant bullying rival in his meteoric rise in the corporate world – Bud Frump played to perfection by Matthew Thomason. Thomason clearly revels in his comedic and dance skills much to the entertainment of tonight’s audience. Nik Hedges bigs it up as top boss JB Biggley giving us a masterclass in subtle comedy and a beginner’s class in the art of knitting.

Every actor or actress in this production is super professional even down to the clever choreography of cast interactions and interjections between characters and situations. Certainly within this definition of highly cable craftspeople are Steph Jones (Rosemary Pilkington). Danielle Easter (Hedy LaRue), Rosie Poesl (Smitty) and Sally Eaton (Miss Jones). Whether they play office vamp, office romance or office put upon secretary they all give their parts 100% and light up the stage whenever they appear. It is a good job the office coffee machine is kaput otherwise they would be dancing on the ceiling!

Americans do seem to favour odd surnames and this show has plenty of ’em. Examples: Wally Womper, Bert Bratt, Mr Twimble, Milt Gatch, Miss Krumholtz, and TV Announcer. I mean why can’t they have normal names like Donald Duck or Donald Trump? Regardless, the actors playing these fictional oddities, Max Bromley, Will White, Gareth Morris, Billy Bamberger, Anne McCarroll and Will Radford all flavour the production to a high degree of comical drama with their interpretations of 1960’s office workers from across the pond.

It has to be said that the slick (there’s that word again) transitions and the energy and talents from the ensemble definitely go a long long way to giving this show it’s terrific professionalism.How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, in the Lace Market Theatre’s highly applaudable jazz hands, has more polish than the singularly polished floor in the World Wide Wicket corporate boardroom. And lemme tell ya – that floor shines like a sleek diamond. Now get back to woik.

Whether you are retired, out of work, a company boss or a lowly window cleaner with unusual ambitions get yourself down to The Lace Market Theatre for an easy listening, watchable – terrifically slick – treat. You don’t need a self help book to book tickets and you will find it very rewarding.