Barnum

A glorious big top has been erected on the gorgeous parkland beside the Chichester Festival Theatre, which is currently being rebuilt. It’s the dream location for Barnum, the musical about the legendary 19th-century showman and hoaxer who famously created the greatest show on earth.

Actually, Phineas T Barnum was famous for much else besides. He was an entrepreneur and investor, a famous speaker and author, america’s second millionaire, a politician, critic of slavery and tireless philanthropist. He went bankrupt twice and was imprisoned for his religious beliefs.

You get none of this from Mark Bramble’s scrawny story, in spite of being ‘revised’ by Cameron Mackintosh, another great showman, who is also co-producing this show. All that happens here is that Barnum has to persuade his wife to let him create his circus, have a fling with a swedish singer and fail to become a presidential candidate – sketchy episodes that fill the gaps between Cy Coleman’s not terribly memorable songs, a sighting of the legs of the most jumbo-sized elephant ever, and some truly fabulous dancing and acrobatics.

Director Timothy Sheader’s most inventive idea is to have the cast doubling up to become the chairs and stairs, which appear and disappear as if they’d never been there in the first place. But the success of this show rests on the actor playing Barnum, who needs to be the biggest and best bamboozler ever. Pocket-sized Christopher Fitzgerald can tumble and juggle, and even sing while he walks a tightrope, a high point in every sense. But irresistible he ain’t.

Until 31 August, Chichester Theatre in the Park, Oaklands Park, Chichester, West Sussex: 01243-781312, www.cft.org.uk