By Clélia Gessner

Following two sold-out concerts at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Bonnie & Clyde The Musical was staged in the West End at the Arts Theatre in 2022 and at the Garrick Theatre earlier this year. These productions were eagerly anticipated by fans of the infamous classic which gained a lot of support over the decade following its unexpectedly short Broadway run, and this time the show was clearly very well received, gaining both commercial and critical acclaim.

This led the producers to reunite the 2023 cast for a brand new cast recording of the show. After a (some would say very) long wait and a lot of teasing (👀) on social media, the album is finally out! We were lucky enough to be granted access to it this week, in anticipation of the big release.

“Fan-favourite and winner of Best New Musical (What’sOnStage Awards 2023), Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure–and each other. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, this is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation.”

The cast recording features Frances Mayli McCann as Bonnie Parker, Jordan Luke Gage as Clyde Barrow, George Maguire and Jodie Steele as Buck and Blanche Barrow, Cleve September as Ted Hinton and Dom Hartley-Harris as the Preacher, as well as the ensemble composed of Robbie Scotcher, Alexander Evans, Kit Esuruoso, Barney Wilkinson, Lauren Jones, Julie Yammanee, Pippa Winslow, Chloe Saunders, Charlie McCullagh, Sydnie Hocknell and Michael Cortez.

First off, let’s talk about the performances! Personally, having seen the show only once, back at the Arts in 2022, the one thing that really blew me away was the talent on stage. Frances Mayli McCann definitely nails the star quality of Bonnie Parker with stunning, flawless vocals and I hope we get to see her portrayal immortalised on screen soon, whenever the pro-shot of the Drury Lane concert comes out. The album, produced by Katy Richardson and Sam Featherstone, really manages to capture the high quality of her performance and I am delighted that we can finally listen to her Bonnie whenever we want.

Now, when I saw the show I had the pleasure of seeing alternate Barney Wilkinson as Clyde, which means this album is my first time listening to Jordan Luke Gage playing this part! He did not disappoint. We all know he is a vocal powerhouse and once again, the album showcased his talent very well. The voices of the two leads blend perfectly together, which is a testament to really good casting but also amazing work in the studio on their part and the album’s producers.

The rest of the cast does not have nearly as much time to shine but Jodie Steele as Blanche definitely stands out with amazing, clear vocals emulating a very country style without turning it into a parody. She took over Natalie McQueen for the latest run and although I loved Natalie in the role, Jodie manages to play (and sing) the part just as well, all the while adding her own touch to it, most notably in her first song “You’re Goin’ Back To Jail”. The same goes for Dom Hartley-Harris who took over from Ako Mitchell in 2023 as the Preacher and gets to show off amazing vocals in “God’s Arms Are Always Open” and “Made In America”, despite the role being quite small in the show in terms of stage time. Cleve September and George Maguire as Ted and Buck get drowned out a little bit more but they do get some really exciting moments too, including their trio with Gage’s Clyde in “Raise A Little Hell (Reprise)”.

The highlights of this album include “Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad” which I really find myself going back to and humming absent-mindedly throughout the day. It encapsulates the whole spirit of the story and makes for a gorgeous ballad for McCann. I also really loved the alternates’ version of the track, sung by Lauren Jones and Barney Wilkinson who have been alternate Bonnie and Clyde throughout both West End runs–it is really nice to see their hard work acknowledged this way! Another favourite of mine is obviously “Raise A Little Hell”, in which Gage gets to unleash all the rage that Clyde feels and belt out an absolute banger in the process! I just can’t get enough of that country-rock tune, with the iconic metallic guitar riff in the beginning. “You Love Who You Love” is also a beautiful duet sung by McCann and Steele.

There are many different sounds in this album but all the songs work really well together and keep you immersed in the 1930s American setting. My biggest complaint with the score is actually that it lacks diversity in the type of songs in a dramaturgical sense–that is, most of the songs are Bonnie and Clyde duets or solos and there are not enough ensemble songs to my taste, but that is related to the book and the original story itself. Overall Frank Wildhorn’s music (with lyrics by Don Black) is delightful and well-crafted. The original Broadway cast recording is what attracted the cult following so this in itself is a testament to the quality of the music. I am sure that fans will love hearing this new version, particularly UK fans who will get to hear the performers they saw on stage, and that always feels so special!

You can now listen to the cast recording on all platforms and on CD, and the show will be touring around the UK and Ireland in 2024!