Charming Boutique Musical
“On Lesbos, Clytemestra has just opened a bottle of Retsina.” Sappho
“Such a dangerous man under his kilt!” Miss Chimbley
Extraordinary Women, this boutique musical at Jermyn Street Theatre is based on Compton Mackenzie’s 1928 novel set in 1919 on the island of Sirene, probably Capri, off the coast of Naples. Sappho (Amira Matthews) and the three sirens Leucosia (Sophie-Louise Dann), Ligeia (Jasmine Kerr) and Parthenope (Monique Young) set the scene with the song “Sirene”. The Sirens in Greek mythology were part women and part birds and hypnotised sailors.
Society in 1919 is still reeling from the loss of men in the First World War so we have here women in love with other women. ”Sappho says, “Me in love with a man?” The three Sirens are camp and posing with exaggerated arm actions. We are in a hotel on the island where Jack Butterworth plays all the men in five distinctive roles. Wounded in the war is Mackenzie in a kilt and with his head bandaged.
The central couple, and the only actors who play a single role are the enigmatic Rosalba (Amy Ellen Richardson) who looks like Dietrich in her black suit and wing collar shirt and who is pursued by Aurora (Caroline Sheen) to the island where Aurora buys a large mansion.
Staying in the hotel are a young woman Lulu (Jasmine Kerr) who has been sent there to take her away from the local pharmacist’s son Carmine (you guessed it Jack Butterworth!) under the supervision of the spinster Miss Chimbley (Sophie-Louise Dann). “La Bambola Infracta” or the broken doll is sung by Lulu and Mackenzie. We meet another guest Olga (Monique Young) who is half Russian and half Italian. Apparently her mixed heritage conflicts with the Italian urging her on and the Russian pulling her back.
We are treated to “Aeolian” where Sophie-Louise Dann as Cleo demonstrates her wonderful operatic pipes in an over the top comic opera mode. Carmine arrives to find Lulu but is distracted by another woman. Rosalba dons her stunning outfit in black tuxedo and trousers with a black topper and we can all see why Aurora finds her so attractive. She makes a fabulous entrance with the whole company singing “It’s Rosalba”.
Act Two opens with the title song “Extraordinary Women”. We meet an old friend of Aurora’s a man she calls Daffodil (yes, the hard working Jack Butterworth). Aurora and Daffodil sing about the end of summer as Auroora confides in her friend. The second act has a lovely jazzy ragtime song “Come Surrender to the Ragtime Band” with thrilling choreography with Charleston moves from Joanna Godwin.
This fun queer musical was crafted by composer Sarah Travis and lyricist Richard Stirling for the Guildford School of Acting and is being professionally staged for the first time. The 1920s costumes by Carla Joy Evans are gorgeous, I especially loved Lulu’s cream lace frock. Alex Marker’s set allows for two entrance points with a huge painting of the Neapolitan coastline as a backdrop. Director Paul Foster keeps things moving and the excellent singing from all is memorable. I’m a bit hazy about the storyline ending but can plead no spoilers. The actors are accompanied by two musicians. “Extraordinary Women” has parts for six women and five parts for one man, the very versatile Jack Butterworth! It is quite amazing how the welcoming 70 seat Theatre in Jermyn Street can mount such a thoroughly pleasing musical.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Love! Sail out to sea
Sirene
And there’ll be music
Too beautiful by half
La bambola infranta
Aeolian
I’ve noticed your interest in her
It’s Rosalba!
Act Two
Extraordinary women
If summer ends
Come surrender to the ragtime band
Please open wide your window
Peacocks! Pavoni!
Reprises
Production Notes
Extraordinary Women
Music by Sarah Travis
Book and Lyrics by Richard Stirling
From the novel by Sir Compton Mackenzie
Directed by Paul Foster
Cast
Starring:
Caroline Sheen
Amira Matthews
Amy Ellen Richardson
Jack Butterworth
Jasmine Kerr
Monique Young
Sophie Louise Dann
Creatives
Director: Paul Foster
Choreographer: Joanna Godwin
Set Designer: Alex Marker
Costume Designer: Carla Joy Evans
Musical Supervisor and Orchestrations Sam Sommerfeld
Lighting Designer: Alex Musgrave
Information
Running Time: Two hours 15 minutes with an interval
Booking until 10th August 2025
Theatre:
Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at Jermyn Street Theatre
on 30th July 2025
