REVIEW: TOP HAT @ NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE

🎭 Top Hat

📍 New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG

🗓 Tuesday 14th October 2025

⭐️⭐️

A TAP-DANCED MISFIRE

Irving Berlin's classic songs in TOP HAT have a kind of timeless sheen, like a perfectly preserved Fabergê egg, but this production directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall treats the material less like a jewel and more like a bauble. Something pretty to look at but lacking any real substance, delivering an evening of although perfectly competent, utterly uninspired musical theatre.

The show's biggest problem is its central pairing. Phillip Attmore is a technically gifted dancer - his feet are a rhythmic machine gun of precision - but his performance as Jerry Travers feels more like a dutiful reenactment than a true characterisation. His vocals are completely wrong for the songs, giving no depth or warmth to the lyrics. There's no playful mischief in his eyes, no genuine infatuation in his movements. As a result, the "spontaneous" romancing of Dale Tremont feels not spontaneous at all.

This is a shame because Lindsay Atherton, with her lovely voice and poised delivery, is perfectly set up to be swept off her feet. Yet she is so reserved that when the chemistry inevitably fails to spark, the audience is left waiting for a flame that never catches. The lack of rapport between the two leads creates a narrative vacuum at the heart of the production, leaving their love story to play out with all the emotional weight of a Mr Men book.

As an aside to this I have to praise Atherton, who was making her debut in the role, for the way she carried on after suffering from what seemed to be quite a nasty onstage mishap.

The emotional deficit between the two leads made the standout supporting cast shine all the brighter. Sally Ann Triplett was sheer delight as the dryly witted Madge Hardwick, delivering every quip with impeccable comic timing. Her interactions with James Hume as Horace Hardwick were especially brilliant. James Clyde also shone as Bates, with the three of these adding a much needed dose of theatrical electricity. The audience clings to these moments, grateful for a morsel of character in an otherwise bland meal.

This show relies too heavily on the grand, ensemble tap numbers to distract from the lack of heart. The dazzling footwork is technically impressive, but it feels like a well-drilled army, not a passionate celebration. It's a spectacle for spectacle's sake and when you really look at the choreography, it's actually rather dull.

The creatives have really not done well here. The set design by Peter McKintosh is functional but could have been so much better. The lighting design by Tim Mitchell felt like an afterthought and some of the costumes by Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh were ugly and ill-fitting. I was baffled by the sound design from Paul Groothuis. Why was the show so quiet? As soon as the overture began I was struck by how quiet the show was. Perhaps this was to allow the tap dancing to be louder, but to me it just seemed weird.

There have been some fantastic revivals of classic musicals recently, such as Hello Dolly and 42nd Street, but this production just doesn't compare to them at all. They felt fresh and exciting whereas this feels dated, long winded, and even boring at times. It's such a shame because done right this could have really been something special.

Ultimately, this production of TOP HAT is the equivalent of a lovely suit that's been hung up for too long. It's clean and pressed, but the life has gone out of it. We get the songs, the tap dancing, and the feathers, but the joy and effortless elegance are nowhere to be found.

For a show that promises to face the music and dance, this tour is all too happy to just go through the motions.

TOP HAT continues performances at New Wimbledon Theatre until Saturday 18th October. Click here to check availability, to book tickets, and to make your own mind up about this production.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Top Hat was gifted by New Wimbledon Theatre who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

CAST LIST:

Philip Attmore as Jimmy Travers; Lindsay Atherton as Dale Tremont; James Hume as Horace Hardwick; Sally Ann Triplett as Madge Hardwick; James Clyde as Bates; Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Alberta Beddini

Ensemble: Rhiannon Bacchus; Jeremy Batt; Freddie Clements; Pedro Donoso; Autumn Draper; Tilly Ducker; Stuart Hickey; Laura Hills; Connor Hughes; David McIntosh; Jordan Oliver; Emily Ann Potter; Molly Rees Howe; Kirsty Sparks; Toyan Thomas-Browne

RUNNING TIME (approx):

2 hours 30 minutes, including interval

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