Catch Me If You Can is inspired by the supposed real-life exploits of Frank Abagnale Jr – con artist, fraudster, and serial impersonator of pilots, doctors and lawyers. It arrives at the Bridewell Theatre courtesy of Geoids Musical Theatre, founded in 1930 by KCL Geography and Geology students and still going strong.
The production’s biggest obstacles are the book and score. This is a moderately fun hour-long show, hiding inside a musical twice that length. Forgettable melodies, lyrics veering between overly literal and totally irrelevant, and several songs which are a complete drag. Despite this, director Ethea Jasmine Lee keeps the energy high even during the show’s weakest points.
Something is missing from Evan Huntley-Robertson’s performance as Frank Abagnale Jr. Where is the charisma? The dangerous overconfidence of a natural-born gambler? Despite an endearing boyish smirk, he doesn’t quite seem like he could charm his way into a cockpit. He shines much more in moments of vulnerability, such as when he’s naively trying to use his stolen money to fix his parents’ marriage, or during the sweet love duet ‘Seven Wonders’.
It turns out the New York Post’s reviewer had an almost identical reaction to Aaron Tveit in the same role in 2011. Performing charisma on stage is extremely difficult – perhaps, in Catch Me If You Can as written, it would be impossible.
Meanwhile the marvellous Jack Bolton, as the beleaguered and relentless FBI agent Carl Hanratty, has much more to work with. His big number ‘Don’t Break the Rules’, an anthem for conformist losers everywhere, is the best song in the show and the only catchy tune. Bolton is the (all-singing, all-dancing, finger-wagging, divorced, workaholic) modern-day Inspector Javert the world needs.
The whole ensemble is talented, and the big set-piece numbers are particularly fun. ‘Jet Set’ has the swaggering pilots and swooning air hostesses that finally make Frank’s fraud feel glamorous. ‘Doctor’s Orders’ features a hilarious sequence in which each nurse sexily removes their lab coat — only to reveal a second lab coat underneath. The costuming is delightfully playful throughout: Mrs Abagnale stuns in a cape dress and pearls, a prostitute flounces in furs, and Frank dazzles in a pink sequined waistcoat and pilot’s cap.
Catch Me If You Can is not a great musical, but this production does it justice. One irony doesn’t make it to the stage: investigative journalists have since established that most of Abagnale’s celebrated criminal career (and his subsequent cooperation with the FBI) was largely fabricated. Would you expect anything less?
Listings and ticket information can be found here
