THIS musical spoof on prohibition era gang warfare was an up-beat and pacey production by Kerry Fennelly with energetic choreography by Fliss Dargan-Bell and Kay Green.

The nine-piece band, directed from the drum kit by Dave Mitchell, made a rich, bluesy sound. Over thirty of the town’s children and teenagers all performed with punchy enthusiasm and their enjoyment of the show ensured that the packed audiences at the Picture House did so too. This is a great venue for community theatre and it’s tired-looking fabric seemed to burst into life before going back to sleep again …to wait for a long overdue re-fit, we all hope. Well, probably not in time for CVYT’s production of ‘Fame’ in October 2007.

The cast all made the leap to the seedy world of speakeasies in New York. Pam Powell’s dresses and sharp suits and the hairstyles gave the show a true 1920’s feel. The actors were greatly helped by unobtrusive on-stage support from Mike Mallinson and Chris Watts and their team. The splurge guns made by Chris and Dave Watts were stars themselves… they were fired with relish and the victims always looked pretty dead. David Burnip in the title role managed to appear cool and not too bothered but nevertheless kind-hearted. His repartee never flagged, and the double acts with Blousey (Lizzie Popplewell) and Leroy (Alfie Kungu) were slick and sassy.

The hoods acted with menace while keeping up the spirit of fun. The two main rivals both impressed. David Hyatt had a big part as Fat Sam and he was very believable as the powerful club owner being overtaken by events and always blaming his sidekicks, in particular the gormless Knuckles (Wesley Downs).

 Isaac Rose really looked the part as Dandy Dan, the elegant and ruthless new kid on the block. Tallulah, the vamp who keeps an eye on Fat Sam’s cash while flirting with Bugsy, was played with poise by Madeleine Yates who belted out the opening number of Act Two. Zoe Cox led the big number ‘So You Wanna Be a Boxer’ and she dominated the stage while the cast punched and worked out around her.

The band had real swing and the ensemble singing was right in your face. This was a high-energy show with moments of genuine pathos. Lizzie Popplewell reeked gloriously of world-weary pessimism, balancing on one four inch heel with the other leg bent at the knee while she sneered and wise-cracked like Mae West. And, like so many good shows it had a champagne moment…Tom Garrod’s voice of nightingale clarity for his down-at-heel delivery of ‘Tomorrow Never Comes.’

David Burnip, from Hebden Bridge, will play the lead in this year’s showcase production from the Calder Valley Youth Theatre.

David is the longest serving society member to be cast in the show, having made his stage debut with them in 1998.

The leading lady is 16 year old Elizabeth Popplewell, a North Halifax Grammar School student who is making her debut with the CVYT as Blousey.

Maddy Yates, 14, will play Tallulah, the role which made a star of the young Jodie Foster in the 1976 movie version. Maddy was the eponymous heroine of the CVYT production of Calamity Jane two years ago, and recently appeared with Hebden Bridge Light Opera in their Songs from the Shows.

Set in 1920’s New York, the story follows Bugsy Malone's love life as it gets complicated when he becomes involved in a turf war between rival gangsters Fat Sam and Dandy Dan.

Fat Sam will be played by another CVYT newcomer David Hyatt, 13, while another Calder High school pupil and CVYT veteran Isaac Rose, also 13, will play Dandy Dan.

Other new names in the line-up include Rosa Alexander (12) as Fizzy and Alfie Kungu, also 12, as Leroy. Zoe Cox, 13, last seen as a crew member in Dazzle, will play Cagey Joe.

The society secretary Margaret Mallinson said: “We hope that all parents or carers of the youngsters cast in the show will come and join us for our annual meeting on April 27. We are a small committee of volunteers and we are always grateful for helping hands.”

Bugsy Malone will be staged at the Hebden Bridge Picture House in October. The society is currently rehearsing its annual variety show, Calder Kidz in Concert, which takes to the stage at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre in May.