"Thoroughly Modern Millie" extends to 15 Jan 05, Anita Dobson joins cast 1 Mar 04

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" extends to 15 Jan 05, Anita Dobson joins cast 1 Mar 04

Thoroughly Modern Millie has been extended by 8 months to 15 Jan 2005 at the Shaftesbury Theatre .

Also, from 1 March 2004 Anita Dobson will play Mrs Meers when Maureen Lipman finishes her current contract.

Anita Dobson is best known for the role of Angie in BBC tv's "Eastenders" in the 80's. Her London stage credits include "The Break Of Day" at the Royal Court in 1995; "The Pajama Game" at the Victoria Palace in 1999; "The Vagina Monologues" at the Arts Theatre in 2002; "Frozen" at the Cottesloe, NT in 2002; 'Mama Morton' in "Chicago" at the Adelphi Theatre in 2003.

The show opened to mixed notices from the popular press in Oct 2003: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Sweet musical." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "The new songs are generic to the point of anonymity. Holden's Millie is comparably bland." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Has the feeling of a factory product." CHARLES SPENCER for THE TELEGRAPH says, "A second-rate production of a second-rate show." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, " The dancing is snappy." ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "Feels synthetic, no sooner applauded than forgotten."

The Cast includes: Amanda Holden (Millie Dillmount), Maureen Lipman (Mrs. Meers / Anita Dobson takes over 1 Mar ) , Sheila Ferguson (Muzzy Van Hossmere), Craig Urbani (Mr Trevor Graydon), Mark McGee(Jimmy Smith)

The show has book by Richard Morris & Dick Scanlan, music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan.

At the 2002 Tony Awards it collected the prize in six categories including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. The creative team from the Broadway production, which includes designer David Gallow and director Michael Mayer, are reunited for the West End show.

Based on the 1967 Oscar winning film it is the story of Millie, a young girl from Kansas who comes to New York in search of a new life for herself in the 'Roaring 20's'. She has a plan - to get a good job as a secretary to a very rich man, and then marry him. Of course, nothing quite goes according to plan - the owner of her dingy hotel kidnaps young girls to sell to the Far East, her very rich boss is slow in proposing marriage, and the guy she actually falls in love with is poor as a church mouse.