PROMISES PROMISES Southwark Playhouse

Southwark Playhouse has always been a good place to catch up with musicals you may have missed first time round. Promises Promises a witty-sour satire on sexual mores and corporate ethics, based on the film, The Apartment, was a big success in New York and London. Burt Bacharach’s music and Michael Bennett’s staging in 1969 gave the sad and bitter cynicism plenty of drive and energy. Bronagh Lagan directs and Cressida Carre choreographs its first London revival since then. Gabriel Vick in the Jack Lemmon role (a hard act to follow) has to engage directly with the audience for much of the time. He is always engaging, he sings well, and he has the requisite light self-deprecating touch.