INFORMAL - AN INTERVIEW SERIES
ELLIOT ALLINSON
Elliot Allinson is a charasmatic and engaging performer who trained at The Sylvia Young Theatre School and The Urdang Academy. His credits include Alternate Frankie Valli / Swing in Jersey Boys (West End) and Mike / 1st Cover Phil Davis in White Christmas (The Mill at Sonning).
He is currently starring as Baldwin Blandish in the professional UK debut of Cry-Baby at London's Arcola Theatre which received rave reviews.
I chatted with Elliot as he headed into the penultimate week of shows with Cry-Baby and I asked him about his experience with the production: "It's great. We've had so much fun with it and everyone who comes seems to love it and word is getting out. I can't believe we've already only got two weeks left."
I saw the show in previews and absolutely loved it, and everyone I know who has seen it also raves about it: "It's a show that's really hard not to enjoy. Every line in the script is incredible and that's why I think it works so well, and of course the music's pretty good as well!"
The show is genuinely hard to describe as it is quite unique and I love the unexpected innuendo fuelled lyrics!: "People are expecting the show to be like Grease and it's not that. The song 'Girl Can I Kiss You With Tongue' always gets a great reaction."
I was interested to know what Elliot thinks is so special about Cry-Baby because it's definitely a show that is worthy of repeat visits: "I think it has to be the writing. I always think the opening of a show is the most important part and our very first line always gets a laugh which is great. With this script we really don't have to try too hard to make people laugh because it's all there. The writing is good which is needed in a teenage musical like this as there are a plethora of them around. That and being a little bit different I think is the answer."
Having seen previous shows at the Arcola Theatre, it's great that Cry-Baby is putting the venue on the map: "Well I'd never heard of the Arcola before but it feels like the perfect place for this show. Every scene has a little backdrop which comes down which is quite charming and adds to the show."
It really is a fun-filled show and Elliot is fantastic in it. I asked him to describe his character: "I play Baldwin Blandish who is the ultimate square! He's the king of the archetypal 1950s nerdy square and is very much committed to the cause. He's in love with the main character Allison and believes he's going to get married to her, until Cry-Baby enters the picture. I'm basically the villain and it's quite fun because I've never been the villain before. I'm quite enjoyinmg being a little prat, it's really fun! He's so endeering because he believes he's the hero of the story."
Knowing that Elliot hates being put on the spot I decided to do just that and asked him to give me three words why people should go and watch Cry-Baby! He came back with: "Laughter; Fifties; Camp" Everything I could ever want from a show!
I first met Elliot when he was in the West End revival of Jersey Boys as Alternate Frankie Valli / Swing and I asked him about his experience on that show: "It was my first real job after graduating college. I'd loved that show for so long and it was such a hard job to get but it was an amazing experience. For a starting gig you can't get much better - especially being a swing because I had so many parts to play for growth and to learn how to manage and rehearse with so many different actors. I feel like I got 5 years of training out of doing 2 years in that show!"
Alongside covering Frankie Valli Elliot covered 5 other tracks in the show: "After the first year things switched around slightly and because I moved up to being the alternate Frankie and first cover Bob Crewe, I stopped covering Bob Gaudio which made me a little sad because I really enjoyed playing him. I think as a person I'm more like him and he's a very underestimated part of the show."
Elliot is certainly an up and coming force in musical theatre. I wondered whether this was his preferred genre of theatre: "I would love to do a play but I've been singing and dancing from such a young age. Who knows what the future may bring. I've been blessed with the shows I get seen for because I'm an easy person to fit into the mould of a lot of things. There's so many great performers out there so I just take each day as it comes and let's see what the next thing will be."
I wondered how he managed to look after himself with a busy 8 show a week schedule: "I just try and keep fit and well, and I'm quite strict with myself. When I'm between jobs I like to go to class a lot for all sorts of things. I enjoy doing normal things like spending time with friends."
With so many great moments already, I asked him what his career highlight is to date: "The thing I'm most proud of is when I was in Jersey Boys and went on for Frankie in the matinee and Bob Gaudio in the evening on the same day. I felt like everything I'd worked for had happened, getting to play two West End leads in one day."
"But I'm also really proud of Cry-Baby. It feels like it's always getting better which is quite rare. Maybe it's because the run is short." We both agree that this show needs a future and personally I think it deserves a West End transfer.
I asked Elliot whether he had a dream show he'd like to be a part of, or a dream role: "I used to have loads! For a long time I wanted to be a Mormon (in The Book of Mormon). If I had the money to put on a production I'd love to do Tick Tick Boom and play Jonathan Larson in it. Other than that I thing Eddie in Blood Brothers would be fun. I think about it less now though because I love being surprised by the things that I do. Covering Phil Davies in White Christmas was so different and something I thought I would'nt be able to do."
Elliot continues in Cry-Baby until Saturday 12th April. Click here for more information on the show and to book tickets. You can follow him on Instagram at @elliot_allinson
Interview conducted by Neill Kovacic-Clarke for Pink Prince Theatre on 31/03/25
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