Hats off to Tom and Summer, says Fred Astaire's daughter

 
10 May 2012

The children of Irving Berlin and Fred Astaire praised the performances of Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen in Top Hat.

Ava Astaire McKenzie, 70, pictured, who flew from California to see the show, said the pair were “marvellous” in the first stage adaptation of what is widely regarded as her father’s best film. She added: “I think Summer and Tom are so good, I hope it will boost their already successful careers. They deserve it.” Berlin’s daughter Linda Emmet, 80, called it “fabulous ... a beautiful production.” She said it was “as easy as pie” to put aside memories of Astaire and his 1935 co-star Ginger Rogers.

“I think it could definitely give new life to these songs and to Top Hat for a younger generation,” she said at the post-show party at the Waldorf. The family worked on the show with London producer Kenny Wax. Another Berlin daughter, Elizabeth Peters, 75, said of their father: “I don’t think he would have imagined it would happen but he’d be very happy.”

Chambers, 34, said he felt “very privileged ... I ended up waking up at 4am thinking, this is going to be impossible.” Strallen, 27, said the memory of Fred and Ginger was “daunting” and getting the chance to perform such songs was “precious”.

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