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In advance of the Bernstein centenary celebrations - and quite right too - I went to the first preview of ON THE TOWN at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre tonight. IT IS ALREADY BREATHTAKING. (I realise that this is NOT ballet - but it was of course inspired by the success of a [stage] ballet - and how many musicals can actually say that!!! ... with, of course, the original choreographer and composer in Broadway and London tow!!!) I kept thinking how I wished that FANCY FREE was in place of The Age of Anxiety in next year's RB Bernstein homage. Just think how many younger people in London have NEVER seen that Robbins masterwork. Just think of the thrilling narrative/balletic combinations at the Royal Ballet to cast those three sailors from just now - (Think Muntagirov; Ball; Sambe or Clark, Richardson, McRae; Think Campbell; Zuchetti and Hay; Think Dyer, Sissens or Dixon; think Edmunds, Brændsrød or Donnelly, think Churches, Yudes or Di Primo); and then there are the two principal female slots: (Think Morera and Hayward; Think Takada and Naghdi; Just Think of O'Sullivan and Stix-Brunell or Nunez and Katsura; Lamb and McNally, etc.) .... Oh, well ... but I get off topic. What I wanted to say is that there is A LOT of Choreography by Drew Onie in this production of the Bernstein - and indeed more actual ballet steps than in, say, Untouchables (which perhaps MAKES it fitting to be included here.) In any event IT IS WONDERFUL ... and the entire cast - including a touching Danny Mac ... is totally BOFFO! Buy your tickets now ... I have a feeling after its opening next week there are going to be very few left. It deserves to be sold out. It deserves to move. They just don't write shows like this anymore. What a genius Bernstein was. Such STUNNING variety - such brilliant orchestrations (thank you Mr. Derring) and colour throughout. It dazzles!! You can see why Megan Fairchild and Misty Copeland wanted to do Miss Turnstiles on Broadway but a season and a half ago. This would be a brilliant outing for Robbie Fairchild (or Amar Ramasar - who is to do Jigger in Carousel on Broadway next season) and Mrs. Fairchild - the truly extraordinary Tiler Peck. How I would love to see Brandon Lawrence (does he sing?) and Anna Rose O'Sullivan (who most definitely does) in it. Why? 'Cos this show is but unmitigated joy from top to bottom and oh, so Chock Full of Nuts!! As any old time New Yorker will tell you that means you can smell its coffee a mile off. It peculates from right up over the signage ... and its aroma - I promise you - is simply intoxicating.