London Musicals - Over The Footlights

2002
31
TABOO
London run: The Venue. January 29th (87 performances)
Music: Kevan Frost, Richie Stevens & John Themis
Book & Lyrics: Mark Davies & Boy George
Director: Christopher Renshaw
Choreographer: Les Child
Musical Director: James McKeon
Cast: Euan Morton (Boy George), Matt Lucas (Leigh Bowery),
Luke Evans (Billy), Dianne Pilkington (Kim), Mark McGee (Marilyn),
Drew Jaymson (Steve Strange), Paul Baker (Philip Sallon),
Gemma Craven (Josie), Mark White (Derek/Petal),
Gail Mackinnon (Big Sue), Declan Bennett (Guru Dazzle)
Songs: Ode to Attention Seekers, Safe in the City, Freak, Stranger in this World, Genocide Peroxide, Love is a
Question Mark, Independent Woman, Petrified, Ich bin Kunst, Out of Fashion, Guttersnipe, Pie in the Sky
Story: Set in the legendary “Taboo” nightclub, run by the flamboyant Australia Leigh Bowery, this is the story
of Billy, a would-be photographer who comes to the Taboo and falls in love with Kim, a young, would-be punk
fashion designer. She shares a squat with Boy George, the colourful pop-star with his band, Culture Club.
Gradually the show unveils the life-story of George and his involvement with
other club performers, including the pop-singer Marilyn, the 'Blitz' nightclub
host Steve Strange, and the Punk groupie Philip Sallon. Other characters in
the show include Kim’s mother, Josie; Billy’s homophobic and violent
father, Derek; Petal, a scary cross-dressing drug pusher; Big Sue, a
journalist; and Guru Dazzle who becomes a Krishna devotee. Although Boy
George had some involvement with these people, a lot of liberties have been
taken with the time-frames and the characterisations.
Notes: The show premiered at the fringe Venue Theatre where the
comedienne & talk-show host, Rosie O’Donnell was so impressed with it,
she raised the finance for a Broadway transfer. It opened in New York (with
some major re-writing and new numbers) on 13 November 2003, received
damning reviews and closed after 100 performances, losing some $10
million. Boy George himself appeared in the Broadway version (under his
real name, George O’Dowd.)
JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA
London run: BAC, February 5th – 23rd
Music, Book & Lyrics: Richard Thomas
Book & Lyrics: Stewart Lee
Director: Stewart Lee
Musical Director: Martin Lowe
Cast: Rick Bland (Jerry Springer), Adey Grummet (Chantel), Tom Pearce, Lore Lixenberg, Sam Newman,
Wills Morgan, Valda Aviks, Ian Shaw, Alastair Parker
Story: This was a send-up of the Jerry Springer-style confessional TV programmes, with its trailer-trash studio
audience gagging for some squalid action. Jerry Springer is a kind of high priest, and poor sinners turn to him
for a public confession of their guilty secrets and to receive absolution. The guests include a “chick with a
dick”; a big guy in a nappy who wants to be babied by his lover; Chantel, a woman long past her sell-by date
who wants to perform as a lap dancer. By the second half Jerry Springer has been shot and in his subconscious mind he is hosting a debate between Satan, a warm-up guy, and Jesus (the man in the nappy).
Notes: Following earlier experimental try-outs in May and August 2001 at the Battersea Arts Centre, this threeweek run of “concert performances” was described as a “work in progress” in the hope of encouraging backers
to stage a full West End stage version. It was viewed by some as a brilliant and biting satire on the sad
creatures of the contemporary world, and revealing modern society to be sick. Others found its tasteless
blasphemy, disgusting language and ceaseless profanities to be deeply offensive and inexcusable. Was this a
deification or a demolition of the talk-show king and his acolytes? The jury was split.
2002
32
MY ONE AND ONLY
London run: Piccadilly Theatre, February 25th
(183 performances)
Music: George Gershwin
Lyrics: Ira Gershwin
Book: Timothy S Mayer & Peter Stone
Director: Loveday Ingram
Choreographer: Craig Revel Horwood
Musical Director: Derek Barnes
Tim Flavin & Janie Dee
Cast: Tim Flavin (Captain Billy Buck),
Janie Dee (Edythe),
Hilton McRae (Prince Nikki),
Jenny Galloway (Mickey),
Richard Calkin (Revd. Montgomery),
Richard Lloyd King (Mr Magix),
Paul J. Medford, Horace Oliver, Mykal Rand,
Omar F. Okai, Kevin Brewis.
Songs: (From the original “Funny Face”:) Funny Face, High Hat, He Loves and She Loves, ‘S Wonderful,
My One and Only; (From other Gershwin Shows:) I Can’t Be Bothered Now, Blah Blah Blah, Boy Wanted,
Soon, Sweet and Low Down, Strike Up the Band, Nice Work if you Can Get It, How Long Has This Been
Going On? Kickin’ the Clouds Away (with lyrics by B.G. DeSylva)
Story: Captain Billy Buck Chandler wants to be the first to make a solo flight across the Atlantic. Edythe
Herbert, a champion swimmer, is being blackmailed by her wicked Russian manager who has some
compromising photographs of her . This devious baddy known as Prince Nikki (and secretly a spy) will get his
come-uppance, thanks to Billy’s airplane engineer, a rather butch lady called Mickey (who turns out to be a
secret agent). By then, however, Billy and Edythe have fallen in love, have crashed on a desert island (actually
Staten Island!), and have seen off a bootlegging Harlem minister and a tap-dancing philosopher called Mr
Magix.
Notes: This show started life as a revival of the Gershwins’1927 musical “Funny Face”, but by the time it
opened in New York in May 1983 it had been given a new story, cut half the original songs and added numbers
from other Gershwin shows); and had gone through 4 directors and 6 librettists. Given a new title, “My One
and Only”, ran for 767 Broadway performances starring Twiggy and Tommy Tune. Its UK premiere was at
Chichester in July 2001, and transferred to the West End. It generally received good notices, with special
praise for the choreography but only managed 183 performances and a five month run.
I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
London run: Arcola, February 19th – April 23rd
Music & Lyrics: Harold Rome
Book: Jerome Weidman
Director: Mehmet Ergen & William Galinsky
Choreographer: Gary Rowe
Musical Director: Dan Shaffran
Cast: Joseph Wicks (Harry Bogen), Fiona Branson (Mrs Bogen), Rosanne Priest (Ruthie),
Jodi Mulcahy (Martha), Nichola Lagan (Miss Marmelstein)
Songs: Songs: I’m Not a Well Man, The Way Things Are, When Gemini Meets Capricorn, The Sound of
Money, The Family Way, Have I Told You Lately? Ballad of the Garment Trade, Miss Marmelstein, What’s In
It For Me?, Eat a Little Something.
Story: Set in the 1930s, Harry Bogen is a ruthless young upstart, determined to get to top in the New York rag
trade. On his way up he ignores Mom, ditches girl-friend Ruthie for gold-digging Martha and betrays his
secretary, Miss Marmelstein - and still comes up smelling of roses thanks to the love of a good woman and the
cooking of a good Jewish mother.
Notes: The original Broadway show opened in March 1962 and ran for 300 performances – notable for
marking the debut of 19 year old Barbra Streisand, who nightly stopped the show with the song “Miss
Marmalstein”. During the run of this show she made a real-life marriage to her leading man, Elliot Gould. This
fringe London premiere with a cast of 20 and a band of just three received very mixed notices.
2002
33
THE FULL MONTY
London run: Prince of Wales, March 12th
(295 performances)
Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek
Book: Terrence McNally
Director: Jack O’Brien
Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell
Musical Director: Martin Lowe
Cast: Gina Murray (Georgie), John Ellison Conlee (Dave),
Julie-Alanah Brighten (Pam), Jarrod Emick (Jerry), Jason Damieley (Malcolm),
Tricia Deighton (Molly), Marcus Neville (Harold), Rebecca Thornhill (Vicki),
André De Shields (Noah), Romain Frugé (Ethan), Dora Bryan (Jeanette)
Songs: Scrap, It’s a Woman’s World, Man, Big-Ass Rock, Big Black Man, You Rule My World, Michael
Jordan’s Ball, Breeze off the River, You Walk With Me, Let It Go.
Story: Georgie, wife of unemployed steelworker Dave, and Pam, ex-wife of similarly unemployed Jerry, are
on a Girls Night Out at a Chippendale-type club, happily paying $50 admission to see men stripping down to
thongs. Pam plans to take Jerry to court for non-payment of maintenance for their son, Nathan – payments he
has failed to make since losing his job. At $50 a ticket, Jerry wonders why “real men” couldn’t do the same as
the Chippendales, and probably earn more if they did a full strip-tease. He persuades the self-consciously
overweight Dave to join this life-saving money-making plan, and convinces four friends to join them:
Malcolm, so depressed by his unemployment and his dying mother, Molly, that he has been driven to a suicide
attempt; Harold, who has been forced to hide his unemployment from his materialistic wife, Vicki; Noah, an
older, slightly arthritic guy nicknamed “Horse” but who knows a lot about dancing; and Ethan, a guy whose
large endowment threatens to put the others to shame. They persuade a woman called Jeanette, a tough, seen-itall showbiz musician who "shows up, piano and all"
to accompany their rehearsals. As they rehearse
they work through their fears, self-consciousness,
and anxieties, overcoming their collective problems
of single parenthood, unemployment and loneliness,
and finding strength in their camaraderie. Finally the big night arrives and they go for it – performing
the Full Monty.
The musical opened on Broadway in October 2000
and ran for 769 performances. The London cast
included six of the original Broadway cast members
and received excellent notices. Dora Bryan was
replaced after 12 weeks (due to “filming
commitments”) by Lynda Baron, and after the
agreed six months, the American leads were
replaced with David Ganly (Dave), Cornell John
(Noah), Ben Richards (Jerry), Paul Keating (Ethan),
Samuel James (Malcolm) and Tony Timberlake
(Harold). It ran for 9 months.
Photo by Alastair Muir
Notes: “The Full Monty” started life as a 1997
British film, directed by Peter Cattaneo. Set in
Sheffield it was a non-musical comedy which
managed to deal seriously with subjects like
unemployment, father’s rights, depression,
impotence, homosexuality, working-class culture
and suicide. The musical version changed the
setting to Buffalo, New York, but stayed very close
to the film, changing some names and introducing a
few new characters.
2002
34
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
London run: London Palladium, April 16th (1,415 performances)
Music & Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman
Book: Jeremy Sams
Director: Adrian Noble
Choreographer: Gillian Lynne
Musical Director: Robert Scott
Cast: Michael Ball (Caractacus Potts), Anton Rodgers (Grandpa Potts),
George Gillis/Harry Smith/Luke Newberry (Jeremy),
Carrie Fletcher/Lauren Morgan,Kimberley Fletcher (Jemima),
Emma Williams (Truly Scrumptious), Brian Blessed (Baron Bomburst),
Nichola McAuliffe (Baroness Bomburst), Richard O’Brian (Childcatcher),
Edward Petherbridge (Toymaker), Graham Hoadley, David Ross, Emil Wolk,
Songs: You Two, Them Three, Toot Sweets, Truly Scrumptious, Hushabye Mountain, Come to the Funfair ,
Me Ol’ Bamboo, Posh, Kiddy-Winky-Winkies, Chu-Chi Face, The Bombie Samba
Story: In early 20th century England, eccentric Caractacus Potts works as an inventor, a job which barely
supports himself, his equally eccentric father, and his two adolescent children, Jeremy and Jemima. But they're
all happy. The children would dearly love to own a broken down jalopy sitting at a local junk yard, so
Caractacus works out ways to earn the money to buy it. One scheme involves help from a rich and pretty girl
they’ve just met – she’s called Truly Scrumptious, and is the daughter of a sweet-making factory owner.
Eventually Caractacus manages to buy the car and uses his inventing skills to transform it into a beautiful
working machine, which they name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He also spins a fanciful tale of the car taking
them all to the faraway land of Vulgaria, where the ruthless Baron Bomburst hates all children, and even
employs a Childcatcher to capture and imprison them.
Photo by Alastair Muir
Notes: Based on the 1968 film of an Ian Fleming story, the musical version included six new songs by the
Sherman Brothers, who wrote the original film songs. The musical version, adapted by Jeremy Sams, opened
at the London Palladium in April 2002 and ran until September 2005 – a three and a half year run which made
it the longest running show to date at the Palladium. Box office sales during this period amounted to over £70
million. (It would later open on Broadway in April 2005, receive terrible notices and run for just eight months
– 285 performances – losing its entire financial investment) During the long run, cast changes in various roles
included Brian Conley, Gary Wilmot, Victor Spinetti, Christopher Biggins, Paul O’Grady, Peter Polycarpou,
Alvin Stardust, Jason Donovan, Tony Adams and Freddie Lees, with Caroline Sheen, Sandra Dickinson,
Louise Gold, and Jo Gibb.
Lauren Morgan, Harry Smith, Emma Williams, Michael Ball
2002
35
WE WILL ROCK YOU
London run: Dominion, May 14th
(Still running 2011)
Music: Queen
Book: Ben Elton
Director: Christopher Renshaw
Choreographer: Arlene Phillips
Musical Director: Mike Dixon
Cast: Sharon D Clarke (Killer Queen),
Alexander Hanson (Khashoggi),
Tony Vincent (Galileo),
Hannah Jane Fox (Scaramouche),
Nigel Clauzel (Britney),
Kerry Ellis (Meat), Mazz Murray,
Golda Rosheuvel.
Sharon D Clarke & Khashoggi
Songs: Songs: Innuendo, Radio Ga-Ga, I
Want to Break Free, Somebody to Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Only the Good Die Young, Seven Seas
of Rhye, Another One Bites the Dust, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Story: In the year 2302. the Globalsoft Corporation, run by Killer Queen and her henchman Khashoggi, has taken
over the world, which is now called Planet Mall and inhabited by the Ga-Ga people. All instruments and live music
have been banned. But the Bohemians, a troglodyte tribe of rebels have found a Messiah to lead them back to a
world of Living Rock. He is called Galileo Figaro and his girlfriend is called Scaramouche. Most of the Bohemians,
including Meat and Britney, are banished to the Seven Seas of Rhye where they meet a brain-dead biker called Pop,
who is trying to make sense of the words of the 300 year old Rock song, “Bohemian Rhapsody”. They also discover
the historical rock star Freddie Mercury's statue, which is pointing to the ruins of Wembley Stadium, once the "place
of living rock". Magically, an old electric guitar is discovered, and Pop hacks into Globalsoft's network so the
music can be heard on Planet Mall. The Killer Queen is defeated. The show ends. After the curtain calls the
audience are asked if they would like to hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" which is performed as an encore.
Notes: The 2,000 seat Dominion was filled with enough hi-tech plasma screens, lasers and massive pyrotechnic
effects to fill a techno trade fair. The show had clearly cost a fortune and would
need to do huge business to cover its costs. Its chances were rated at nil. It
received some of the worst notices ever, including remarks like: "Ben Elton
should be shot for this risible story”, “sticky goo", “Utterly preposterous”, “ a
disastrous excuse for a musical”, “the show should die of chronic embarrassment”,
“precious little rhapsodic here”, “a pathetic adolescent piece of work”, “don’t give
them your money”. (However, some individual performances received praise).
“We Will Rock You” went on to became the longest running musical at that venue,
and has already extended its booking date to March 2012, its tenth anniversary.
(Like the damning reviews for “Charlie Girl” in 1965, and the gloomy predictions
for “Les Miserables” in 1985, it only goes to show the critics do not always get it
right.)
HAPPY END (3rd Revival)
London run: Central Space, May 17th – June 8th
Music: Kurt Weill
Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht
Book: Dorothy Lane
Director: Daniel Ghossain
Musical Director: Nic Le Breuilly
Cast: Tracy Wiles (Lillian Holliday), Alasdair Harvey (Bill Cracker), Gil Kolirin (Sam Wurlitzer),
Tim Barton (Rev. Jimmy Dexter), Lobo Chan, Giles Oldershaw, Leon Felgate
Performed in the Michael Feingold translation, this was presented not on a makeshift stage but actually in and
around the bar, with the audience sitting and drinking among the characters. See original production: Royal Court,
March 1965; First revival: Lyric Theatre, August 1975; Second revival: Bridewell, August 1995
2002
36
SPACE FAMILY ROBINSON
London run: Pleasance, May 8th -26th
Music & Lyrics: Julian & Stephen Butler
Director: Oliver Campbell-Smith
Choreographer: Martin Wimpress
Musical Director: Julian Butler
Cast: Tim Barron (Ed Robinson), Helena Biggs (Ma Robinson), Stuart Piper (Brad), Laurie Hagen (Lucy),
Stephen Carlile (Muttley), Hannah Waddingham (Starbird), Hadrian Delacey (Nefarius), Nicky Callanan,
Mark Carroll, J J Chris, Arvid Larsen
Story: In the year 2099 Puritans rule the world except for a pocket of resistance in San Francisco, where freedom
fighters are led by Ed Robinson, his wife, his son Brad, daughter Lucy and his dog, Muttley. Ed is offered help by an
old flame, Starbird – a voluptuous ex-lover known as the Black Widow - and by her sidekick, Nefarius, but first he
has to engineer Starbird’s escape from Alcatraz. The computer programme meant to enter Ed’s brain to enable him to
fly a spaceship to Alcatraz accidentally gets implanted in Muttley’s brain, and accordingly the dog become a rather
posh (and camp!) aviator. Starbird seduces Ed to get into his brain, not knowing about the switch., however, all is
finally sorted out and ends happily.
Notes: The plot was a bit of a mess but the songs came in for praise. However, the outstanding impact came from
Hannah Waddingham as Starbird – another performance which confirmed her as one of the biggest talents in West
End musicals.
SWEENEY TODD (4th Revival)
London run: Sadler’s Wells, June 7th – 15th
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
Director: David McVicar
Choreographer: Jonathan Butterell
Musical Director: James Holmes
Producer: Opera North
Cast: Steven Page (Sweeney Todd),
Beverley Klein (Mrs Lovett), Daniel Broad (Anthony),
Malcolm Rivers (Judge Turpin), Anna-Clare Monk (Joanna),
Christopher Saunders (Tobias), Stuart Kale (Pirelli),
Gillian Kirkpatrick (Beggar Woman), Stephen Briggs
(Beadle)
This production was originally created in 1998 by Opera North and now revived for a
short tour. The original Leeds production had been much praised, but this revival
was loaded with superlatives, with several critics claiming this was its best staging to
date.
Notes: See Original London production: Drury Lane Theatre, July 1980
1st revival: Half Moon Theatre, May 1985; 2nd revival: Cottesloe June 1993/
Lyttleton December 1993; 3rd revival: Holland Park , June 1996
Steven Page & Beverley Klein
CAROUSEL /OKLAHOMA (Concert performances)
Royal Festival Hall, June 15th & 16th
This was a special two-night concert to celebrate the Centenary of the birth of Richard
Rodgers given by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by David Charles Abell and
directed by Kenneth Richardson. The cast included Emily Loesser (Julie), Spencer
McLaren (Billy), Sophie-Louise Dann, Kathryn Harries, John Owen-Jones, Julian Glover,
Laura Michelle Kelly, Anita Pashley and Nigel Richards.
In August at the Royal Albert Hall the BBC Concert Orchestra under David Charles Abell,
and again directed by Kenneth Richardson, gave a Promenade Concert version of
“Oklahoma” with Maureen Lipman (Aunt Eller), Brent Barrett (Curly), Lisa Vroman
(Laurey), and Klea Blackhurst (Ado Annie).
2002
37
BOMBAY DREAMS
London run: Apollo Victoria, June 19th
(829 performances)
Music: A.R. Rahman
Lyrics: Don Black
Book: Meera Syal
Director: Steven Pimlott
Choreographer: Anthony van Laast & Farah Khan
Musical Director: John Gladstone Smith
Producer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cast: Raza Jaffrey (Akaash), Preeya Kalidas (Priya),
Ramon Tikaram (Vikram), Raj Ghatak (Sweetie),
Raad Rawi (JK), Ayesha Dharker (Rani),
Dalip Tahil (Madan).
Songs: Bombay Awakes, Like an Eagle, Love’s Never
Easy, Don’t Release Me, Happy Ending, Shakalaka
Baby, Are You Sure You Want to be Famous?, Chaiyya
Chaiyya, How Many Stars?, The Journey Home,
Wedding Oawwali, Bombay Sleeps
Story: This is the story of Akaash, a young man from
the slums of Bombay, who dreams of becoming the next
big Bollywood film star. By
chance, Priya, a film-maker, is making a TV documentary about the planned demolition of
Akaash’s slum, and she is the daughter of a top Bollywood film director. Although she is
already engaged to Vikram, a wealthy lawyer, Akaash quickly falls in love with Priya, who
is, of course, able to provide him with the ticket to the top that he needs. But
complications arise: Akaash must face the reality of show business, of fame, of his love
for Priya, and his obligations to his family, friends, and his Paradise slum. Minor
characters include Sweetie, the eunuch miserably in love with Akaash; JK, the head of the
Bollywood Mafia; Rani, the existing diva queen of Bollywood films; and Madan, the
grand and eccentric film producer. The story includes frequent reference to the changes in
Bombay, now that it has been renamed Mumbai, and how these changes mirror the
changes in Akaash’s own life.
Notes: The West End production ran for two years, undergoing some re-writing and
changes during the course of its run. A heavily re-written version, with book additions by
Thomas Meehan opened on Broadway in April 2004 and ran for eight months (284
performances). The New York version used the same British production team, though
many songs were cut and several new ones added to the score.
CABARET (3rd Revival)
London run: Union. July 11th – 27th
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Book: Joe Masteroff
Director: Ben de Wynter
Choreographer: Louise Mitchell & Zoe Wyatt
Musical Director: Susannah Van Den Berg
Cast: Stefanie Moore (Sally Bowles), Marc Edison (MC), Glynne Steele (Clifford),
Susan Travers (Fraulein Schneider), Stephan Dunbar (Herr Schultz), Andrew Obeney (Ernst Ludwig)
Notes: This was an even harsher interpretation than the 1993 Donmar revival and was much praised during its very
short limited run.
See Original London Production: Palace Theatre, February 1968
First Revival: Strand Theatre, July 1986
Second revival: Donmar Warehouse, December 1993
2002
38
OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR! (2nd Revival)
London run: Open Air, Regent’s Park – July 25th – September 3rd
Music:& Lyrics: Various
Book: Charles Chilton & Company
Director: Ian Talbot
Choreographer: Gillian Gregory
Musical Director: Catherine Jayes
Producer: Royal National Theatre Mobile Production
Cast : Jon Cartwright, John Conroy, Daniel Crossley, Benedict Cumberbatch,
Audrey Palmer, Harry Peacock, Michael Sadler, Liza Sadovy, Guy Vincent
Notes: With a cast of 17, this open-air production was generally felt to lack the anger and rage that should
underlie the surface jollity, and to have lost some of its bite by being played in the open-air. However, it was
still recognised as having a message as relevant today as ever.
Original London production: Wyndham’s Theatre, June 1963;
1st revival: South Bank/Roundhouse April/August 1998
FOLLIES (2nd Revival)
Cast: Kathryn Evans (Sally), Louise Gold (Phyllis),
Henry Goodman (Buddy), David Durham (Ben),
Russell Dixon (Weisman), Diane Langton (Carlotta),
Shezwae Powell (Stella), Julia Goss (Heidi),
Anna Nicholas (Solange), Joan Savage (Hattie), Kerry Jay,
Hugh Maynard, Emma Clifford, Matthew Cammelle,
Myra Sands, Tony Kemp
This was the “original” Broadway
version as preferred by Sondheim,
though several critics expressed
their preference for the 1987 London version. It was given as a “proper” staging, though the restrictions of a
3,000 seat concert hall seemed to work against it. However, the performances
of Kathryn Evans and Joan Savage were especially praised.
Notes: Original London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, July 1987
First revival: Kenneth More Theatre, June 1996
NOEL & GERTIE (4th Revival)
London run: Jermyn Street Theatre, August 21st – September 7th
Music & Lyrics: Noel Coward
Book: Sheridan Morley
Director: Sheridan Morley
Choreographer: Irving Davies
Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar
Cast: John Watts (Noel Coward), Annabel Leventon (Gertrude Lawrence)
Original production King’s Head 1983; 1st revival: Comedy Theatre, Dec 1989; 2nd revival: Duke of York’s,
Dec 1991; 3rd revival: Jermyn Street, October 1997
Photo by Richard Haughton
London run: Royal Festival Hall, August 6th – 31st
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Goldman
Director: Paul Kerryson
Choreographer: David Needham
Musical Director: Julian Kelly
Producer: Raymond Gubbay
2002
39
RUTHLESS
London run: Stratford Circus,
October 2nd – 27th
Music: Marvin Laird
Book & Lyrics: Joel Paley
Director: Omar F Okai
Musical Director: Rowland Lee
Cast: Paul J. Martin (Sylvia St Croix),
Lisa Baird (Tina Denmark),
Louise Hollamby (Judy Denmark),
Julia Glass (Lita Encore)
Songs: Born to Entertain, Talent, To Play This
Part, Teaching Third Grade, I Hate Musicals,
Angel Mom, It Will Never Be That Way
Again, Unkie’s Muncle.
Story: Tina Denmark is like a nightmare Shirley Temple, breaking into song and dance at the drop of a hat.
Encouraged by the scheming agent Sylvia St Croix, Tina will stop at nothing: given the role of understudy in the
school’s musical show, she ends up playing the lead because she “accidentally” strangles her rival with a skipping
rope. Tina is shipped off to a reform school for “psychopathic ingénues”, so Sylvia works on Tina’s mother, Judy,
and launches her on a successful Broadway career. When a vengeful Tina returns from prison, there are now even
more rivals: not just her own mother, there’s her mother’s secretary (who turns out to be mother of the skippingrope strangled child); her grandmother, Lita Encore, who fancies becoming the next Ethel Merman; and even her
old drama teacher, Myrna Thorn, who wants to quit teaching for Broadway stardom. After a series of dressing-room
and backstage incidents with a shotgun, there’s only Tina left. But she decides Broadway isn’t that much fun after
all, and moves to Los Angeles to make it big in television.
Notes: This all-female musical spoofing musicals like “Gypsy” and “Mame” and films like “All About Eve”
opened off-Broadway in March 1992 and ran for 342 performances. The leading role was played by Laura Bell
Bundy and two of the understudies were the unknown Natalie Portman and Britney Spears. Although the show was
written for an all female cast, it has become somewhat of a tradition to have the role of Sylvia St. Croix performed
by a man simply because Joel Vig gave the best audition for the original 1992 production.
GREASE (4th Revival)
London run: Victoria Palace, October 2nd (389 performances)
Music & Lyrics: Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Additional songs: Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St Louis, & Scott Simon
Director: David Gilmore
Choreographer: Arlene Phillips
Musical Director: Mike Dixon
Producer: Paul Nicholas & David Ian
Cast: Greg Kohout (Danny Zuko), Caroline Sheen (Sandy), Dawn Spence (Rizzo), Matthew Cutts (Kenickie),
Emma Cannon (Marty), Tanya Oaridia (Frenchy), Richard Taylor Woods (Sonny), Daniel Boys, Ben Foster,
Paul Burnham, Lee Latchford Evans,
Lorraine Graham, Gary Jordan
Following its original six year-run in the
West End, and an extensive UK tour, this
same production was now back in London,
where it would run for a further eleven
months.
See Original London production,
New London Theatre, June 1973
1st revival, Astoria Theatre, June 1979
2nd revival: Dominion July 1993
(transfer Cambridge Oct 1996)
3rd Revival: Dominion Oct 2001
2002
40
SADLY SOLO JOE
Cast: Clive Rowe (Joe), Vivien Parry (Odetta),
Simon Greiff (Jerry), Jackie Morrison (Nicki)
Songs: Brand New Best Friends
Story: Joe is a heavily overweight 38 year old virgin,
working as a cold-caller in a telesales centre. He
Clive Rowe & Jackie Morrison
possesses a miraculous memory which has made him a
king contestant on every TV quiz show, but, sadly, this total recall means he can remember every failed love affair
and rejection in his entire life. However, things are looking up when he meets the sexually enthusiastic Odetta,
and it seems she could be the one until, suddenly, she is nabbed by Joe’s best friend Jerry. Joe even fails to get
anywhere with Nicki, the kooky Samaritan girl he phones in his lunch-break. Then, feeling betrayed, hopeless and
vindictive, Joe decides to do something about it – something very dramatic!
Photo by Robert Day
London run: Greenwich Theatre, October 4th – 12th
Music: Peter Readman
Book & Lyrics: Paul Ryan
Director: Richard Williams
Choreographer: Sam Pencer-Lane
Musical Director: Steven Markwick
Notes: The jump from a kind of Neil Simon comedy and its Sixties style musical numbers to a gory denouement
more like Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” or an Elizabethan Revenge play was too poorly motivated, dramatically
awkward and peculiar for most critics and audience alike. They loved the songs and raved over Clive Rowe’s
magnificent performance, but lamented the basic failure of the piece itself.
CONTACT
London run: Queen’s Theatre, October 23rd (221 performances)
Music: Various
Book: John Weidman
Director-Choreographer: Susan Stroman
Music: Pre-recorded
Producer: Michael White, Lincoln Center Theater, etc
Story: This is a trio of dance playlets on the theme of love and lust. The first, “Swinging”, sees Fragonard’s
painting “The Girl on a Swing” come to life to the Stefan Grapelli jazzed up version of “My Heart Stood Still”. In
this 18th century love-triangle the girl frolics with her aristocratic beau and her lusty young manservant. The
second, “Did You Move”, is set in a 1950s restaurant. To the accompaniment of Grieg, Bizet, Tchaikowsky and
others, a mousey New York housewife (Sarah Wildor),
accompanied by her bullying gangster husband (Craig
Urbani), fantasises about frolicking with the hunky head
waiter. The third, and main piece is called “Contact” and
features an advertising executive (Michael Praed) who is
close to suicide and drinking in a dingy dancing club where
he is vamped by a girl in a yellow dress (Leigh Zimmerman),
and ends up taking to the floor with her, all thoughts of
suicide ended. This piece is performed to a medley including
Benny Goodman big band music, and the Beach Boys’ “Do
You Wanna Dance”.
Notes: This had begun in 1998 as a Lincoln Center Theatre
project staging the one item “Contact”. It was expanded into
a full length production and played an off-Broadway venue
in October 1999. With a complete sell-out and huge praise, it
was re-worked and opened in a full-scale Broadway version
in March 2000, running for 1,010 performances and earning
Susan Stroman a Tony Award for Best Choreography. The
London production ran for six months.
Gavin Lee & Helen Anker
Photo by Lois Greenfield
Cast: Leigh Zimmerman, Michael Praed, Sarah Wildor Craig Urbani, with a chorus of 22
including Lucy Casson, Kathryn Dunn, Candice Evans, Matt Flint, Gavin Lee, Dean Street
and Scott Wyer.
2002
41
RACE WITH THE DEVIL
Cast: Paul C. Maitland (Gene Vincent),
Pat Myers (Eddie Cochran),
Jonathan Hansler (Jack Good),
Guy Mondozzi (Joe Brown),
Biba Lille-West, Alecky Blythe,
Photo by Chris King
London run: Rosemary Branch,
October 22nd – November 10th
Music & Lyrics: Various
Book: John Collis & John Joe Turner
Director: John Joe Turner
Musical Director: Carlo Edwards
Notes: First performed at the fringe venue Bird’s
Pat Myers & Paul C. Maitland
Nest, SE8 for a three week try-out in September
1997, this revised and expanded version is set during the legendary 1960 UK theatre tour by the rock’n’roll
performers Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochrane. By this time in his career the narcissistic Gene Vincent was
being considered something of a “bruised angel”, whilst Eddie Cochran was emerging as the new boy wonder.
This was a nostalgic and wry look at the pre-Beatles music scene interspersed with the various “greatest hits”
scattered throughout. Music was provided by Carlo Edwards and his Blue Cats.
OUR HOUSE
London run: Cambridge Theatre, October 28th (331 performances)
Music: Madness
Book: Tim Firth
Director: Matthew Warchus
Choreographer: Peter Darling
Musical Director: Philip Bateman
Cast: Michael Jibson (Joe Casey), Julia Gay (Sarah), Lesley Nicol (Joe’s Mum),
Ian Reddington (Joe’s Dad), Richard Frame, Oliver Jackson, Tameka Empson,
Andrea Francis, Matt Cross, Mike Scott, James Beattie, Mark Hilton, Paul Kemble
Songs: Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, Driving in my Car, It Must Be Love, Night
Boat to Cairo, Back in My Arms Again
Notes: On the surface this was another compilation “greatest hits” show
of the “We Will Rock You” kind. However, the numbers were wrapped
around a skilful narrative with inventive and cheerful choreography and a
much praised central performance from Michael Jibson as Joe. Although
the show received mostly enthusiastic notices, business was very patchy:
a series of matinees were cancelled, then matinee days were re-arranged
until unexpectedly the show won the 2003 Olivier Award for Best
Musical of the Year. This gave it a boost, and it continued to run until
mid-August, 2003 – a ten month run.
Photo by Alastair Muir
Story: Two interweaving stories begin when scally-lad Joe, following in his Dad’s criminal footsteps, breaks
into a building site to impress his girl-friend, Sarah. The police turn up: will he come quietly, or make a run for
it? From here on, the show alternates between showing how Joe’s life
would develop if he had given himself up, and how it would if he had
scarpered. One decision leads to detention and no-hope jobs but eventual
salvation; the other to brief glory as a junior property tycoon and an
ultimate come-uppance. This double narrative, with the audience
witnessing both possible scenarios –
a quick-change challenge of
versatility for the actor playing Joe – sees the two halves finally come
together in a fast-moving climax. Naturally, being a pop-music musical,
at the end virtue will be rewarded, vice punished, and sentimentality will
triumph.
2002 42
ROMEO AND JULIET – THE MUSICAL
London run: Piccadilly Theatre, November 4th
(101 performances)
Music: Gerard Presgurvic
Lyrics: Don Black
Book: David Freeman & Don Black
Director: David Freeman
Choreographer: Christine Hassid
Musical Director: Howard Moody
Producer: Glem UK, Adam Kenwright, City Lights UK
Photo by Catherine Ashmore
Cast: Andrew Bevis (Romeo), Lorna Want (Juliet),
Rachid Sabitri (Mercutio), Alexis James (Tybalt),
Sévan Stephan (Friar Lawrence), Jane McDonald (Nurse),
David Bardsley (Lord Capulet), Michele Hooper (Lady Capulet),
James Graeme (Lord Montague), Louise Davidson (Lady Montagu),
Tim Walton (Paris), Matt Dempsey (Benvolio)
Lorna Want & Andrew Bevis
Songs: Verona, Born to Hate, All Days are the Same without Love,
Born to Love, Two Different Worlds, And Now She is in Love,
These Are My Rivers, Word is On the Street, God Knows Why,
Guilty.
Notes: The French original - “Roméo et Juliette: de la Haine à l'Amour” - with music and lyrics by Gérard
Presgurvic premiered in Paris in January 2001, and was hugely successful. It received a Flemish-language
production in Belgium and then this English-language London version. There was some praise for Jane McDonald,
better known as the accidental star of the BBC documentary “The Cruise”, and all agreed she turned out to be
unexpectedly good and the best thing in the show. However, from there onwards, it was all downhill. Samples of
the dialogue included: “Lady Montague is in a right state” and “Romeo’s dipping his wick in the old man’s
daughter”. Samples of the lyrics included: “Now she’s in love and everything has changed/ Her feelings and her
hair have all been re-arranged” and “Forbidden love comes at a price/But it is worth the sacrifice” Samples of the
reviews included: “Witless, banal, clumsily staged, abysmally written and often buttock-clenchingly embarrassing”
and “Aficionados of all-time great bad musicals had better make haste. This one is a real collector’s item”. It was
unanimously accorded major disaster status, and limped on just 14 weeks. However, M. Presgurvic need not have
been too depressed by his London failure. Since then, it has been translated into Hungarian, Russian, German,
Spanish, Romanian and Japanese, and has been produced in a dozen different countries ranging from Canada to
South Korea. It has been particularly successful in Vienna and Eastern Europe.
London run: Albany, November 13th – 23rd
(Repeated at the Cottesloe: Feb 8-15, 2003)
Music: Kurt Weill
Lyrics: Jeremy Sams
Book: Bertolt Brecht (trans. Anthony Meech)
Director: Tim Baker
Choreographer: Francesca Jaynes
Musical Director: Douglas Whyte
Producer: Royal National Theatre Co
Cast: Michael Shaeffer (Macheath),
David Rubin (Peachum), Harvey Virdi (Mrs Peachum) ,
Natasha Lewis (Polly), Lois Naylor (Lucy Brown), Elizabeth Marsh (Jenny), Christopher Dickens, James Lailey
A nine-strong company, playing their own musical instruments, and working on the premise that a band of beggars
has broken into the National Theatre, formed the basis of this RNT touring production. It received a great deal of
praise and was cited as an example of how the show could be effectively modernised as compared with the National
Theatre’s disastrous updated “Villains’ Opera” staged at the National two years earlier.
See Original London production, Royal Court, Feb 1956; First revival: Prince of Wales, February 1972;
Second revival: Olivier Theatre, March 1986; Third revival: Donmar Warehouse, December 1994
Photo by Ivan Kyncl
THE THREEPENNY OPERA
(4th Revival)
2002
43
RENT (2nd Revival)
London run: Prince of Wales, December 5th (108 performances)
Music, Lyrics & Book: Jonathan Larson
Director: Paul Kerryson
Choreographer: Mykal Rand
Musical Director: Karl Pendlebury
Cast: Dougal Irvine (Mark Cohen), Damien Flood (Roger),
Debbie Kurup (Mimi), Mig Aseya (Angel), Mykal Rand (Tom),
Caprice (Maureen), Wendy Mae Brown (Joanne),
This was the same production that had played the Prince of Wales
exactly a year earlier, playing an 8 week limited run prior to a UK tour.
Because of the early closure of “The Full Monty” the Prince of Wales
was empty and at the same time the “Rent” tour was off the road
because most provincial theatres were playing pantomime. It made
sense for “Rent” to return for a 14 week season. There had been some
cast changes over the past year.
Original London production: Shaftesbury Theatre, May 1998
First revival: Prince of Wales, December 2001
ANYTHING GOES (3rd Revival)
London run: Olivier Theatre, Dec 18th – Mar 22nd (45 performances repertoire)
Transfer: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane , Sept 26th 2003 (387 performances)
Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter
Book: Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse
New book: Timothy Crouse & John Weidman
Director: Trevor Nunn
Choreographer: Stephen Mear
Musical Director: James Dunsmore
Cast: Sally Ann Triplett (Reno Sweeney), John Barrowman (Billy Crocker),
Denis Quilley (Elisha Whitney), Mary Stockley (Hope Harcourt),
Simon Day (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Martin Marquez (Moonface Martin),
Annette McLaughlin (Erma),
Kevin Brewis
Original London Production, Palace Theatre June 1925.
First revival: Saville Theatre, November 1969
Second revival: Prince Edward, July 1989
Sally Ann Triplett & John Barrowman
Photo by Catherine Ashmore
After its repertoire run at the Olivier, and a gap of some six
months, the show was re-produced at Drury Lane for a 49 week
run. The transfer featured most of the same principal cast,
though Denis Quilley’s role was now played by Barrie Ingham
2002
44
PETER PAN – A Musical Adventure
London run: Royal Festival Hall, December 19th – January 12th
Music: George Stiles
Lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Book: Willis Hall & Anthony Drewe
Director: Ian Talbot
Choreographer: Gillian Gregory
Musical Director: James Dodgson
Producer: Raymond Gubbay
Cast: Susannah York (Narrator) James Gillan (Peter Pan),
Lottie Mayor (Wendy), Claire Moore (Mrs Darling),
Richard Wilson (Mr Darling/Captain Hook),
David Bamber (Smee), Merv Addibb (Nana),
Philip Scutt (Slightly), Sinta Soekadar (Tiger Lily),
Jordan Metcalfe (Nibs), Ian Caddick, John Conroy,
Songs: When I Kill Peter Pan, It’s a Curse to be a Pirate with a
Conscience, Look Back Through a Rose-Tinted Eye-Patch
Susannah York
Notes: This had originally been staged as a onenight semi-staged concert-version, as a “work in
progress at the Royal Festival Hall ( See: April 26th
2001 ) This was an expanded version with a lot
more staging.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (2nd Revival)
London run: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, December 21st – January 26th 2003
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman
Director: John Plews
Choreographer: Ijy De Luca
Musical Director: Christopher Whitehead
Cast: Adam Kelly (Seymour), Susie Harriet (Audrey),Brenden Lovett (Orin), Iain Dootson (Mushnik),
Jody Peach, Racky Plews, Vanessa Havell
Notes: See Original London production: Comedy Theatre, October 1983
First revival: Landor, May 2001