THEATREGOERS not at Brighton's Theatre Royal last week should be kicking themselves. They missed a treat with the world premiere of a brand new musical deservedly bound for the West End next year.

The show, here given in concert form, was the stage version of the 1962 Joan Crawford/Bette Davis film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

Composer Lee Pockriss - responsible for such songs us Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini and Catch A Falling Star - has teamed up with lyricist Hal Hackady, the man behind the musical Snoopy, for this sometimes funny but always tense and highly dramatic show taken from the original book by Henry Farrell which inspired the film.

The show, which could become a strong rival to the other film - derived West End hit Sunset Boulevard, is a cracker even in its semi staged condition. The songs are punchy and full of pizazz and include several showstoppers. There are tunes you can whistle, words to make you laugh and words to make you cry.

But the whole thing is held together by one woman, Baby Jane, and you could wish for no finer stage monstress than Millicent Martin who makes this show her own as she summons up the demonic former child star.

This is not the glamorous Ms Martin we all know and love In this show she throws off her lighter side and hides her most shapely legs to become mad and a murderess as she at first imprisons her crippled Hollywood star sister, then abuses, brutalises and starves her. This is powerful stuff on a stage beset with musicians rather than a set. Seen in the mind's eye with a 20's mansion decorated in Hollywood gothic and the whole piece would become creepy, claustrophobic and terrifying.

Baby Jane is top flight entertainment. Next year you'll be queuing for returns or begging for a ticket. Just one condition is needed for total success - keep Millicent Martin in the lead role.

Mike Howard (West Sussex Gazette)