Top Hat – A Glamorous Trip Back to the 1930s -Review by Tre Tre

Walking into the Lyric Theatre at the Lowry for opening night of Irving Berlin’s Top Hat, I was immediately struck by the older demographics of the audience. Many were clearly there to relive the golden era of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers heyday — and honestly, who could blame them? This was Broadway, Lowry‑style, and the nostalgia was thick in the air.
The atmosphere buzzed with chatter. I caught snippets of conversations about old black‑and‑white films and the “good old days.” For many people there, this show was a genuine trip down memory lane. Even listening to the orchestra warm up — drums banging, strings plucking, horns blowing — was charming in itself.
When the curtain rose, the stage design revealed itself as uncomplicated, Broadway‑worthy, and cleverly used throughout the performance. Well done stage design!
The costume department absolutely nailed it. Tuxedos, sashes, top hats, canes, and elegant 1930s gowns — every detail felt lovingly researched. They had clearly done their homework. At one point, an older lady next to me leaned over to her friend and said, “I had that dress.” She was thrilled, clearly reminiscing about her own dancing days, when elegant gowns and tuxedos were simply part of the fashion.
All the iconic songs from the 1935 film — Cheek to Cheek, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Isn’t This a Lovely Day — (these are just a few examples) were met with delighted recognition. The tap routines were performed with real vigour, and you could feel the audience responding. Heads bobbed, toes tapped, and a few people quietly sang along. For a moment, the entire theatre was suspended in 1930s bliss.

The comic timing throughout was razor‑sharp. I genuinely laughed out loud more than once. For me, the show‑stealers were the actors playing Madge and Horace Hardwick. Their chemistry, comic timing, and stage presence kept the energy alive every time they stepped onstage. They were brilliant. Bravo!!!
While Phillip Attmore (Jerry Travers) and Nicole‑Lily Baisden (Dale Tremont) delivered strong, committed performances, I didn’t quite connect with them in the way I’d hoped. To be fair, stepping into roles so indelibly defined by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers is an almost impossible task; those comparisons are inevitable, and no one can truly replicate that iconic partnership. Even so, both actors brought real talent and energy to their roles.
James Clyde, as the ever‑faithful man servant, Bates, deserves a special mention. His dry delivery of British anecdotes was British humour at its finest. Bloody hilarious!
All in all, a fantastic, funny and well produced piece of musical theatre. 

A great show 8/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐