A STANDING ovation on the opening night of Kingsbridge Community College's production of Bugsy Malone was a sure sign of a fantastic show.

The production at KCC took the audience back to the 1940s with a brilliant set split across two levels, allowing the audience to move from Fat Sam's Speakeasy Club to Dandy Dan's and onto the mean streets where mobsters are in control.

Bugsy Malone is caught between rival gangs run by Fat Sam Staccato and Dandy Dan, who has disrupted the status quo by introducing the dreaded splurge gun.

The young cast were energetic and lively, creating a brilliant atmosphere which the audience soon found themselves caught up in.

Joe Tapper was perfectly cast as Bugsy, who is noted for his quick wit and charm.

Jasmin Gosling as Blousey Brown was feisty but her vulnerability came through as she sang her two solos beautifully.

Fat Sam, who was played by Seton Healey, was quick tempered and funny in comparison to the slick Dandy Dan, played by Tom Morris.

Their respective gangs provided many laughs and one of my particular highlights was the song Bad Guys, sung by Fat Sam's gang, which had me in fits of laughter.

Ella Theaker shone as Tallulah, confident and sassy, backed up by Fat Sam's singers, who got my feet tapping along to Fat Sam's Grand Slam.

As the body count started piling up, with the help of the splurge gun, we got a glimpse into the life of Fizzy, always on the look out for an audition but left cleaning the floor. In a bid to help Fat Sam, Bugsy enlists the help of the loveable Leroy, played by Matthew Pattison.

As the show reaches the finale, carnage ensues as both gangs get their hands on splurge guns and You Give A Little Love is performed by the whole cast.

Come the end of the show I was out of my seat along with the rest of the audience clapping to the song.

It was great to see the band centre stage and playing a part of the show rather than being hidden away in a dark corner and the sound and lighting throughout was great, although on occasions it was difficult to hear the soloists.

It is hard to consider how much work must have gone into this production, from the backstage crew and the costume department to the front of house team and the catering staff who provided the cocktails.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bugsy Malone and am constantly impressed by the enthusiasm and talent of students at Kingsbridge Community College.

One thing that is clearly evident throughout the show is how much the students are enjoying themselves.

Well done to cast and crew, your standing ovation was well deserved and I am sure I am not alone in looking forward to your next production.

Clare Carter