Let's go crazy as a truly feel-good musical hits the stage

High energy, high kicking and gloriously glamorous, the acclaimed Watermill Theatre production of '˜Crazy for You' is the ultimate feel-good musical and it's coming to Edinburgh this April.
Claire Sweeney appearing on stage with cast members in Crazy For You.Claire Sweeney appearing on stage with cast members in Crazy For You.
Claire Sweeney appearing on stage with cast members in Crazy For You.

The show stars television and theatre actress Claire Sweeney (best known for playing Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside) along with ‘Casualty’ actor and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ winner Tom Chambers and theatre actress Charlotte Wakefield.

For anyone not too familiar with ‘Crazy For You’, the production features mistaken identities, plot twists, heartbreak, happiness and a wealth of memorable Gershwin tunes including ‘I Got Rhythm’, ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’ and ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’.

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The musical charts the troubled love story of Bobby Child (played by Tom Chambers), son of a wealthy New York banking family and frustrated Broadway hoofer, and Polly Baker (Charlotte Wakefield), daughter of the proprietor of a failing theatre in Deadrock, Nevada.

Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.
Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.

Sent to close the theatre down, Bobby falls for Polly and, in the guise of a Hungarian impresario, decides to save the theatre by putting on a show.

Claire Sweeney plays the role of Irene Roth, Bobby’s glamorous fiancee. She revealed what audiences can expect from the musical.

She said: “It’s a wonderful show featuring some fantastic Gershwin songs like ‘Shall We Dance?’, ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ and ‘Embraceable You’. There is also comedy in ‘Crazy For You’ and wonderful dancing. But what sets this show apart from the others is that the actors on set also play the instruments.”

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She continued: “I play Irene who is the fiancee of Bobby Child and she is the glamour puss from New York. She is jilted by Bobby when he falls in love with Polly, the local girl from Deadrock, but she finds love unexpectedly herself at the end.

Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.
Claire Sweeney stars in Crazy For You at the Edinburgh Playhouse in April.

“I only sing one song called ‘Naughty Baby’ and it is my favourite part of the show.”

Claire said she enjoys performing on stage and doing television work and said she can’t wait to come to Scotland with the musical: “I love Edinburgh,” she said.

“I performed in the Edinburgh Festival Theatre with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and I loved it. I am really looking forward to performing again in the city.” ‘Crazy For You’ is at the Edinburgh Playhouse from April 3-7.

For tickets visit: www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse