Thoroughly Modern Millie

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Thoroughly Modern Millie: A West End Flapper Fantasy

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" premiered in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on October 21, 2003, following previews from October 11, and ran until June 26, 2004, totaling over 250 performances. Based on the 1967 film and adapted with a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, music by Jeanine Tesori, and lyrics by Scanlan, this musical comedy was directed by Michael Mayer and produced by Hal Luftig and Fox Theatricals. After a triumphant 2002 Broadway run winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical it brought its Jazz Age zest to London, starring Amanda Holden in her West End debut as Millie Dillmount. Despite positive reviews and an extended booking, it struggled to capture UK audiences, closing earlier than its Broadway counterpart, yet leaving a vibrant mark on London’s theatrical scene.

A Roaring Twenties Adventure

Set in 1922 New York City, the story follows Millie Dillmount, a Kansas girl who ditches her small-town roots to marry rich in the big city a modern twist for the era’s newly liberated women. She bobs her hair, checks into the Priscilla Hotel, and lands a stenographer gig at Sincere Trust, targeting her boss, Trevor Graydon. But her plans unravel: hotel owner Mrs. Meers runs a white slavery ring, targeting orphan Dorothy Brown, Millie’s new friend. Enter Jimmy Smith, a charming paperclip salesman who wins Millie’s heart despite his apparent poverty revealed later as Muzzy Van Hossmere’s wealthy stepson. With Chinese henchmen Ching Ho and Bun Foo turning heroes, Millie chooses love over lucre, ending in a tap-dancing triumph of flapper flair and feminist pluck.

A Jazz-Infused Score

Jeanine Tesori’s music, paired with Dick Scanlan’s lyrics, blends original 1920s-inspired tunes like “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Forget About the Boy,” and “Gimme Gimme” with interpolations like Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Speed Test” and Victor Herbert’s “I’m Falling in Love with Someone.” Conducted by Mark Warman, with orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Ralph Burns, the score captures the Charleston-crazed era think speakeasies and syncopated beats. Rob Ashford’s choreography dazzled with tap routines, notably the typing pool’s “Forget About the Boy,” earning a 2004 Olivier nod. While not producing timeless standards, the soundtrack recorded with the London cast offers a spirited nod to the Roaring Twenties, a pastiche that swings with infectious glee.

A Cast of West End Flappers

Amanda Holden debuted as Millie, her low-key charm and tap skills earning mixed praise competent but lacking Broadway dazzle opposite Mark McGee’s Jimmy Smith. Maureen Lipman and Marti Webb alternated as the villainous Mrs. Meers, Lipman’s campy flair stealing scenes until Anita Dobson took over. Sheila Ferguson brought soul as Muzzy Van Hossmere, while Craig Urbani played Trevor Graydon with stoic appeal. Yo Santhaveesuk and Unku shone as Ching Ho and Bun Foo, flipping from henchmen to saviors. The ensemble, including Nancy Wei George as Dorothy, fueled the flapper frenzy, their energy lifting David Gallo’s art deco sets and Martin Pakledinaz’s costumes another Olivier nominee into a visual feast.

A Modern Millie’s West End Tale

Fresh from Broadway’s 904-performance triumph, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" reunited its creative team for London, banking on its six Tonys and five Olivier nominations Best New Musical, Best Actress (Holden, Lipman), Choreography, and Costumes. Yet, despite extending to January 2005, it shuttered six days after Broadway’s June 20, 2004, close, a victim of tepid UK interest amid a crowded season. A 2005 UK tour with Donna Steele who subbed for an ill Holden fared better, as did a 2017 tour led by Joanne Clifton. Its Jazz Age satire, softened from the film’s racial stereotypes, remains a polarizing delight funny to some, dated to others. As of March 2025, it’s a West End memory of flapper fabulousness, its tap shoes still echoing in theatre lore.