Carolyn Maitland playing the role of Lilly Vanessi/Katherine Minola
I was looking forward to seeing Hannah Waddingham reprise her turn in the title role, but that wasn’t to be either; when I arrived at the theatre, there were notices in the foyer that the role would be played instead by Carolyn Maitland, who acquitted herself admirably (just as Lee’s understudy had evidently done at Top Hat). But then Maitland, it seems, has had a lot of practice: after I tweeted about Waddingham’s absence, I got a cry from various parties that they, too, had missed her when they had been to see the show in both Chichester and London.
No sign of Hannah Waddingham at @OldVicTheatre, but @CarolynMaitland stands in admirably – & stands out with a big voice & more warmth.
— Mark Shenton 💙 (@ShentonStage) March 1, 2013
Jason Pennycooke is terrific, leading the troupe through Too Darn Hot, with some sizzlin’ hot chorus girls. I would say that perhaps Carolyn Maitland is the sizzlin’ among them, if my staunch feminist principles didn’t prevent me from describing a talented professional in such vulgar terms.