London Musicals - Over The Footlights

1996
10
DAMN YANKEES (1st Revival)
London run: Bridewell Theatre, January 8th – February 3rd (Limited season)
Music & Lyrics: Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
Book: George Abbott & Douglass Wallop
Director: Carole Metcalfe
Choreographer: Bernard Sharpe
Musical Director: Andrew Parkyns
Cast: Liz Izen (Lola), Daniel Brown (Joe Hardy),
Peter Gale (Mr Applegate), Clovissa Newcombe,
Jill Martin, Clive Paget
Photo by Cullen Henshaw
See Original London Production: Coliseum, March
1957
Clive Paget, Robert Boniske, Seamus Kennedy,
Mark Lawson & James Pearson
THE FIELDS OF AMBROSIA
London run: Aldwych Theatre, January 31st (13 Performances)
Music: Martin Silvestri
Lyrics & Book: Joel Higgins
Director: Gregory S. Hurst
Choreographer: David Toguri
Musical Director: Mark Warman
Cast: Joel Higgins (Jonas Candide), Christine Andreas (Gretchen Herzallerliebst),
Mark Joseph (Jimmy Crawford), Mark Heenehan (Malcolm), Michael Fenton Stevens, Roger Leach,
Songs: Alone, Too Bad, Continental Sunday, All in This Together, Hungry, Do It For Me.
Story: This is a rock opera, set in the Deep South of the USA at the end of the First World War. Jonas
Candide is a travelling executioner, touring in a van containing his electric chair and providing his services to
various prisons along the way. He is required to electrocute Christine Andreas, a mysterious, aristocratic
European, found guilty of spying for Germany, but he falls in love with her. Accordingly he plans to rescue
her, but his sexual obsession leads him to commit the very crime he is paid to punish. In an apocalyptic finale
the criminal lovers are reunited in the heavenly Ambrosian fields.
Notes: This show has gone down in musical annals as one of the most gloriously awful shows of all time,
making “Springtime for Hitler” look like a triumph of good taste.
In a sub-plot we are introduced to Jimmy Crawford, a wimpish
young mortician who is gang-raped by two prisoners (and
proceeds to sing a song “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another. . . I was
just ten when I lost my mother”. As compensation, Jonas takes
Jimmy for an orgiastic session at the local brothel. The prison
warden, Malcolm, attempts to rape Christine, but then settles for
one of the male prisoners. Jonas manages to get the prostitutes
into the prison as part of his plan to recue Christine – and so it
goes on! This most preposterous story includes two shooting
fatalities, a public execution, and a dramatic fire explosion at the
end as the lovers float heaven-wards in a cloud of dry-ice and
fairy lights. An all-time stinker that closed almost as soon as it
opened, it had been enthusiastically received in its 1993 premiere
in New Jersey, USA., but lost its entire £1.3 million investment in
London.
1996
JOSEPH & THE AMAZING
TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
(6th Revival)
11
London run: Labatt’s Apollo February 27th
(71 Performances)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Director: Steven Pimlott
Choreographer: Anthony van Laast
Musical Director: Michael Dixon
Producer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Philip Schofield
Cast: Philip Schofield (Joseph), Ria Jones (Narrator),
Robert McWhir (Benjamin), Chris Holland (Pharaoh),
Barry Martin, Richard Woodford, Elizabeth Cooper-Gee
This was a revival of the production which ran at the London Palladium from June 1991 to January 1994, back
in the West End for the second time for a nine week season.
Notes: See original London Production, Albery Theatre, Feb 1973
1st revival: Westminster Theatre, Nov 1978
2nd revival: Westminster Theatre, Nov1979
3rd revival: Vaudeville Theatre, Dec 1981
4th Revival: Royalty Theatre, Dec 1986
5th Revival: London Palladium, June 1991
TOMMY (1st Revival)
London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, March 5th (391 Performances)
Music: Pete Townshend & The Who
Book: Pete Townshend & Des McAnuff (revised)
Director: Des McAnuff
Choreographer: Wayne Cilento
Musical Director: Colin Welford
Cast: Paul Keating (Tommy), Kim Wilde (Mrs Walker),
Alistair Robins (Captain Walker) , Nicola Hughes (Acid Queen),
Hal Fowler (Cousin Kevin), Megan Bertie (Nurse), John Partridge (Lover),
Ian Bartholomew (Uncle Ernie), Steve Devereaux, James Gillan.
Songs: Captain Walker, It’s a Boy, We’ve Won, Twenty-One, Amazing
Journey, See Me Feel Me, Eyesight to the Blind, Acid Queen, Pinball
Wizard, We’re Not Going to Take It
Notes: This was a completely re-written version, with many changes from
the version that ran for just three months in the West End in 1979. The
writer-director, Des McAnuff, had softened the story of the young boy
who loses all his senses when , at the age of four, he witnesses his father
killing his mother’s lover. Unable to communicate, abused by his family
and the town louts, he somehow becomes a pinball wizard. Eventually he
recovers his senses and develops into a messianic superstar. At the end of
the show he returns to the bosom of his family. The production was
notable for many stunning stage and lighting effects.
Original London run: Queen’s Theatre, February 1979
Photo by Donald Cooper
Die-hard Who fans complained that this version removed all the passion,
fire and rage of the original, written at the time of Woodstock and the
Vietnam War, when the only solution to the ills of society was to drop out.
However, this version had opened to ecstatic reviews on Broadway in 1993
and ran for 899 performances . This spectacular London revival received
very mixed notices, although there were rave notices for newcomer Paul
Keating in the title role. It came off after just under a year, with a
considerable financial loss – but shortly after it closed it won three Olivier
Awards (Outstanding Musical, Best Director and Best Lighting).
Nicola Hughes
1996
12
NUNSENSE (1st Revival)
London run: Jermyn Street Theatre,
March 15th – April 6th (Limited season)
Music, Book & Lyrics: Dan Goggin
Director: Graham Ashe
Musical Director: Barrie Bignold
Cast: Maggie Beckit (Sister Mary Regina),
Julie Driscoll (Sister Mary Robert-Anne),
Tricia Court (Sister Mary Hubert),
Emma Barrie (Sister Mary Amnesia)
Rebecca Little (Sister Mary Leo)
Notes: Original London run : Fortune Theatre, March 1987
DISGRACEFULLY YOURS
London run: Comedy Theatre, March 20th (21 Performances)
Music Book & Lyrics: Richard O’Brien
Director: Christopher Malcolm
Choreographer: Stacey Haynes
Musical Director: Dave Brown
Cast: Richard O’Brien (Mephistopheles Smith), Michael Dalton, Debbie Scamp, Nikki Shaw,
Dave Brown, Les Davidson, Nick Payn, Bill Robinson, Ed Spevock
Songs: The Best is Yet to Come, Heart on Fire, Incubus of Love
Photo by Hugo Glendinning
Story: Mephistopheles Smith is holding a devil’s revivalist meeting in
his Disco-Club Inferno PLC, a yuppiefied venue from which
trainspotters, ad men and sinners are banned: only those who love sex,
drugs and rock’n’roll are admitted. Entertainment is provided by
“Brother” Michael Dalton (in a pink tutu) and the Fabulous Frockettes
and consists of “hunky, funky and spunky” gags as they “try to get to
the bottom of Sodom”
Notes: Originally staged at the previous year’s Edinburgh Festival,
this was booked into the Comedy for a limited three week run (21
performances).
The critics unanimously stated this was 21
performances too many.
Neil Smith for “What’s On” was
representative when he wrote: “If you’re the kind of a person who
likes to spend a night on the town in bondage and fishnets, you’ll
probably have a ball. But if you’re the type who balks at the prospect
of a bald 54-year-old making a complete dick of himself, you’d best
steer well clear”
Richard O’Brien
1996
13
PASSION
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench
London run: Queen’s Theatre, March 26th
(215 Performances)
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Lapine
Director: Jeremy Sams
Choreographer: Jonathan Buttrell
Musical Director: Mark W. Dorrell
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Cast: Michael Ball (Giorgio), Maria Friedman (Fosca),
Helen Hobson (Clara), David Firth (Colonel Ricci),
Hugh Ross (Doctor Tambourri), Michael Heath,
Michael Cantwell, Simon Green, Ian McLarnon,
Songs: Happiness, I Wish I Could Forget You, Is This What
You Call Love?, Loving You, Farewell Letter, No One Has
Ever Loved You
Maria Friedman & Michael Ball
Story: The story begins in Milan with Giorgio, an army
officer, in bed with his mistress, Clara, a beautiful married woman, as they sing of their “perfect love”. He is
about to be transferred to an army outpost, so they promise to write to each other daily and make love with their
words. At the outpost Giorgio meets Fosca, the sickly, unattractive cousin of the colonel in charge. Fosca
becomes obsessed with Giorgio, pursuing him relentlessly and offering him “love
without reason”. Unable to handle this naked emotion, Giorgio urges Clara to leave
her husband and child and marry him – but she refuses. He realises this former
“perfect love” is a pale shadow of the “real love” shown him by Fosca, and he
surrenders to Fosca’s passion – with disastrous results for them both.
Notes: Based on Ettore Scola’s film “Passione d’Amore” and the novel “Fosca”, the
1994 Broadway production won four Tony Awards and was hailed as one of the most
important musicals of recent years, running for 280 performances. The London
production did not fare quite so well, in spite of rave notices for Maria Friedman and
excellent ones for Michael Ball. The production was described as a “chamber opera”
of such intensity that it would not be to everyone’s taste, but generally was highly
praised and admired. It had a six month run, though at the end of the year it did
receive the Evening Standard Award as the Best Musical of the Year.
ELVIS THE MUSICAL (1st Revival)
London run: Prince of Wales Theatre, April 15th (192 Performances)
Music & Lyrics: Various
Director: Keith Strachan & Carole Todd
Choreographer: Carole Todd
Musical Director: James Compton
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Cast: Alexander Bar (Young Elvis), Timothy Whitnall (Middle Elvis),
P.J.Proby (Older Elvis), Shelley Bond, Eddie Burton, Jonell Elliott, Bob Golding,
Anna Kumble, Lottie Mayor, James Pearson, Kevin Rooney
This revival achieved a run of 24 weeks
Original London run: Astoria Theatre, November 1977
1996
14
SALAD DAYS (4th Revival)
London run: Vaudeville Theatre, April 18th (148 Performances)
Music: Julian Slade
Lyrics & Book: Julian Slade & Dorothy Reynolds
Director: Ned Sherrin
Choreographer: Lindsay Dolan
Musical Director: Stuart Hutchinson
Cast: David Morton (Tramp), Nicola Fulljames (Jane), Simon Connolly (Timothy),
Richard Sisson (Troppo), Elizabeth Counsell, Gay Soper, Kit Hesketh-Harvey,
Sarah Mortimer
This production originated at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford and was
mounted to mark the 40th anniversary of the show – although it was actually 42
years since its London premiere. It ran just under five months.
Notes: See Original Production , Vaudeville Theatre, August 1954.
First Revival: Prince’s Theatre, December 1961
Second Revival: Lyric, Hammersmith, August 1964
Third Revival: Duke of York's, April 14 1976
CALAMITY JANE (1st Revival)
London run: Sadler’s Wells,, May 23rd – June 15th (Limited run)
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
Book: Charles K. Freeman
Director: Paul Kerryson
Choreographer: David Needham
Musical Director: Jeremy Fisher
Producer: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
Cast: Gemma Craven (Calamity Jane), Stephen McGann (Wild Bill Hickok),
Stuart Pendred (Lieutenant Danny Martin), Nicole Carty (Adelaide Adams),
Grace Kinirons (Katie Brown), James Gavin (Francis Fryer)
This season at Sadler’s Wells was part of national tour. Gemma Craven
received a lot of praise, but it was felt the scenery and staging was not up to
London standards.
Notes: Original London run: BAC Main, December , 1994
DAMES AT SEA (2nd Revival)
London run: Ambassadors Theatre, May 29th – July 20th
Music: Jim Wise
Lyrics & Book: George Haimsohn & Robin Miller
Director: John Gardyne
Choreographer: Lindsay Dolan
Musical Director: Christopher Littlewood
Cast: Kim Criswell (Mona), Sara Crowe (Joan), Peter Duncan (Hennessey),
Joanne Farrell (Ruby), Jason Gardiner (Dick), John Peterson (Lucky)
This was a limited run as part of the Covent Garden Festival. It was hoped it might
extend, but in spite of decent notices, it failed to draw the crowds.
Notes: Original London run: Duchess Theatre, August 1969
First Revival: Village, NW2, August 1993
1996
15
CAMELOT (2nd Revival)
London run: Freemason’s Hall, June 7th
(2 days only special performance)
Music: Frederick Loewe
Lyrics & Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Director: Frank Dunlop
Choreographer: Brad Jeffries
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine
Producer: Covent Garden Festival
This was a two day only Festival revival, described as “cobbled together.
. . under-rehearsed, inaudible and undercast” (Spectator)
Notes: See original London run: Drury Lane, August 1964
First revival: Apollo Victoria, November 1982
Paul Nicholas & Samantha Janus
SWEENEY TODD (3rd Revival)
London run: Holland Park, June 18th – 22nd (Limited run)
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
Director: Christopher Bond
Musical Director: Mark Warman
Producer: Newpalm Productions
Cast: Ray Shell (Sweeney Todd), Nicky Croydon (Mrs Lovett), Darryl Knock (Anthony),
Simon Masterton-Smith (Judge Turpin), Justine Koos (Joanna), Paul J. Medford (Tobias), Steve Elias (Pirelli),
Jackie Marks (Beggar Woman)
This was staged in the open-air Holland Park theatre for just six performances. It was generally well received.
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
FOLLIES (1st Revival)
London run: Kenneth More Theatre, June 18th—22nd (Limited run)
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Goldman
Director: Vivyan Ellacott
Choreographer: Loraine Porter
Musical Director: Edna Graham
Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
Cast: Laura Nayman (Sally), Loraine Porter (Phyllis),
Reg Wheeler (Buddy), Leonard Charles (Ben), Don Fletcher (Weisman),
Brenda Brackley (Carlotta), Frances Chanter (Stella),
Hilda Hooper (Heidi), Lynn Temple (Solange), Jenny Oates (Hattie),
David Rose & Joan Baxter, Jeremy Smith, Nic Greenshields, Pharic Scott
This was the first London production of the “original” Broadway version.
The 1987 London premiere had new songs and some alterations
requested by Cameron Mackintosh, but Sondheim ultimately decided he
preferred this earlier version. This production used Maria Bjornson’s
original West End costumes, kindly loaned by Cameron Mackintosh.
Notes: Original London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, July 1987
Photo by Robbie Jack
Cast: Paul Nicholas (King Arthur), Samantha Janus (Guinevere),
Desmond McNamara (Merlin/Pellinore),
Robert Meadmore (Sir Lancelot), Jason Donovan (Mordred),
1996
16
RAGS (1st Revival)
London run: Spitalfields Market Opera, June 18th—23rd
Music: Charles Strouse
Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz
Book: Joseph Stein
Director: Raymond Wright & Barry Hooper
Choreographer:
Musical Director: Graham Nichols
Cast: Jill Gardner (Rebecca), Lee Wright/ Daryl Fox (David), Terry Ashwell (Older David),
Richard Reece (Nathan Hershkowitz), Simon Rothman (Saul), Gill Hack (Bella Cohen), Denis Steer (Avram),
Josh Rochford (Ben Levitowitz),
Notes: The original 1986 Broadway production closed after only four performances (and 18 previews) and a
dramatically rewritten and streamlined production was created in 1991 and performed at The American Jewish
Theatre, New York City. This version had 9 actors playing all of the roles, and a reduced set, with two pushcarts
on stage and imaginary windows, with the actors describing the exterior activity. The music was provided by two
pianos. The story was now told in retrospect by the Older David, the heroine's young son.
The first UK production, at the Kenneth More Theatre in 1992 was basically the original 1986 version with one or
two amendments from the 1991 re-write. This version at the Spitalfields Market Opera was the 1991 version but
instead of 9 actors playing many different parts, it was enlarged with a cast of 25 and with an orchestra rather than a
piano score. Accordingly, it counted as the fourth different version of this show.
Original London production: Kenneth More Theatre, November 1992
BY JEEVES (1st Revival)
London run: Duke of York’s, July 2nd (104 Performances)
Transferred to Lyric Theatre, October 3rd (164 Performances)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics & Book: Alan Ayckbourn
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Choreographer: Sheila Carter
Musical Director: Kate Young
Producer: Really Useful Company
Cast: Steven Pacey (Bertie Wooster), Malcolm Sinclair (Jeeves), Simon Day (Gussie),
Richard Long (Stinker), Lucy Tregear (Honoria Glossop), Cathy Sara (Stiffy Byng), Diana
Morrison (Madeleine), Nicholas Haverson (Bingo Little),
Robert Austin (Sir Watkyn Bassett)
Songs: New Songs: A False Start, That Was Nearly Us, Love’s Maze, The Hallo Song, By Jeeves, What Have You
Got to Say, It’s a Pig, The Wizard Rainbow. (Retained from the original: Code of the Woosters, Travel Hopefully,
When Love Arrives, Banjo Boy, Half a Moment.)
Steven Pacey & Malcolm Sinclair
Notes: This was a completely revised version of
“Jeeves”, the 1975 flop, re-titled “By Jeeves”.
Instead of the large-scale original, the new version
was a small-scale play with songs. Ayckbourn
had thrown out the aunts and the pigs and all the
other eccentric stuff and created an entirely new
plot: Bertie intends to play his banjo at a charity
performance at the local village hall but Jeeves
hides the offending instrument. Andrew Lloyd
Webber came up with eight new songs with five
songs retained from the original. This time it was
a success, described as “one of the slickest
comebacks since Lazarus”. However, it still only
managed just over a six month run.
Original London run:
Her Majesty’s Theatre, April 1975
1996
17
MARTIN GUERRE
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench
London run: Prince Edward Theatre, July 10th
Revised version: November 11th
(Total 675 Performances)
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics: Alain Boublil (trans Herbert Kretzmer/Edward Hardy)
Additional Lyrics: Stephen Clark
Book: Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Director: Declan Donnellan
Choreographer: Bob Avian
Musical Director: David Charles Abell
Cast: Iain Glenn (Arnaud du Thil), Juliette Caton (Bertrande de Rols),
Matt Rawle (Martin Guerre), Michael Matus (Benoit), Jerome Pradon (Guillaume),
Ann Emery, Sheila Reid, Julia Sutton, Susan Jane Tanner, Martin Turner.
(In the revised version the role of Bertrande was shared with Rebecca Lock)
Songs: All I Know, Tell Me When to Go, When We Were Young, Here Comes the
Morning, Why Won’t You Love Me? (Added in the revised version): Working on
the Land
Story: Martin Guerre, a real-life historical figure in the anti-Protestant town of
Artigat, is forced into an arranged marriage with Bertrande de Rols in order to
produce a Catholic heir. The marriage is unsatisfactory and complicated by the fact that a childhood friend,
Guillaume, is secretly in love with Bertrande. When war breaks out with the Protestants Martin is happy to leave for
the battlefield, where he befriends Arnaud du Thil, and tells him his story. At this point, the musical begins. Martin
disappears, assumed dead in the fighting. Arnaud goes to his village to inform Bertrande of her husband's death but,
mistaken for the deceased soldier by the residents, he decides to take on the identity of Martin Guerre. Bertrande
decides to keep his secret and the two fall in love. Guillaume, who had hoped for a chance with Bertrande while her
husband was away, becomes jealous of the supposedly returned soldier. He discovers that “Martin” and Bertrande
are secret Protestants and rouses a mob to attack them. Benoit, the village idiot, steps in to announce that Arnaud is
an imposter and not the real Martin Guerre, and he is arrested and tried for deception. A shock witness at the trial is
the real Martin Guerre himself, having apparently survived the war. The imprisoned Arnaud is freed by Martin who
forgives him for stealing his identity, and recognises Arnaud and Bertrande's love for each other. However, the mob
sets the town ablaze and Guillaume stabs Arnaud before he can escape. As Arnaud dies in Bertrande's arms, Martin
and Bertrande sing mournfully about love and then separate for good.
Notes: Based on the 1982 French film “The Return of Martin Guerre”, and a 1993 re-make “Sommersby”, this was
a £3.75 million mega-musical which had apparently been seven years in the planning. The original previews were
cancelled and delayed for three weeks because of technical difficulties, leading to threatened court-action from
disappointed ticket-holders demanding compensation for expenses incurred. It was an impressive, worthy but
somewhat dark and humourless show and received a series of very unenthusiastic reviews. Business dropped off,
but rather than abandon the show, Cameron
Mackintosh spent another half million pounds
on a major re-write, including new songs (and
the services of yet another lyricist, Stephen
Clark) and much revision. Four months after
opening, the show closed for three days and was
then re-launched as the “New Martin Guerre”.
It was shorter and more focussed on the
romantic story, with less religious conflict and
more emphasis on the character of Bertrande.
However, it closed in February 1998, in spite of
winning the Olivier Award for Best New
Musical, allegedly with total losses of £7
million.
(Another revised version was created for a UK
tour and opened at the West Yorkshire
Playhouse in November 1998. Third time
lucky, it finally received much critical praise.)
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench
Iain Glenn & Juliette Caton
1996
18
PROMISES PROMISES (1st Revival)
London run: Bridewell Theatre, July 18th – August 10th
Music: Burt Bacharach
Lyrics: Hal David
Book: Neil Simon
Director: John J.D. Sheehan
Choreographer: Sam Spencer Lane
Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar
Universally panned, for the out-dated show itself and for a poor
production, this was summed up by Jack Tinker as “Woefully undercast, hopelessly under-directed, laughably under-designed, the entire
venture sags with a sense of its own inadequacy”.
Notes: Original London run: Prince of Wales, October 1969
Marcus Allen Cooper with
Suzanna McKellan & Jemima Price
VOYEURZ
London run: Whitehall Theatre, July 22nd (64 Performances)
Music, Book & Lyrics: Michael Lewis & Peter Rafelson
Director: Michael Lewis & Peter Rafelson
Choreographer: Bunty Mathias & Annabel Haydn
Musical Director: Fem 2 Fem
Producer: Michael White
Cast: Sally Anne Marsh (Jane), Krysten Cummings (Andi), Natasha Kristie (Eve),
Robert Nurse (Pretty Boy Lloyd), Marcus J. McCue (Zephyr), Belinda Chapman (Cruel Ella),
Lisa Torun (Chakra Calm)
Songs: The Hole, Stand Back, A World Full of Pain, Sex on a Train, Tantric Sex
Photo by Donna Francesca
Story: Jane, a young Virginian farm-girl, wakes up in the night
feeling she is missing out on something. She decides to find some
excitement by visiting a school friend in New York. On the train
she meets Andi, a temptress, who invites her to spend a girls’ night
out in a nightclub called Voyeurz. In the club, scantily clad girls
fondle themselves and the odd bits of scaffolding and, for some
reason, Jane ends up in a cage, watching their multi-orgasmic
activities and filming them with a camcorder. This is then
projected onto a large screen above the stage. The Club’s owner,
Eve, encourages Jane to join in a series of Lesbian games, some
S&M activities, a lot of groping , and some games with sex toys.
As the activities reach their “climax”, Jane wakes up again, back in
her bed in Virginia – and it’s all been a dream.
Notes: Michael White, famous for “Rocky Horror Show” and “Oh
Calcutta”, had apparently invested £1 million in this lavish “adult
entertainment”. The publicity said that he hoped people would
leave the theatre “wanting to have sex – with whatever and
whomever”. Inevitably the show was totally derided by the critics,
claiming it offered not just simulated sex, but simulated singing,
dancing and acting and a simulated book and music. It came off
after 8 weeks having lost its entire investment.
Photo by Robert Workman
Cast: Marcus Allen Cooper (Chuck Baxter), Vanessa Cross (Fran
Kubelik), Murray Woodfield (J. D. Sheldrake), Harry Dickman (Dr
Dreyfuss), Joyce Springer (Marge), Simon Clark (Jesse Vanderhoff),
Louise Ann Wesley (Vivien Della Hoya)
1996
19
PAINT YOUR WAGON (1st Revival)
London run: Regent’s Park Open Air, July 26th – September 2nd
(Limited run)
Music: Frederick Loewe
Book & Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner
Director: Ian Talbot
Choreographer: Lisa Kent
Musical Director: Catherine Jayes
Cast: Tony Selby (Ben Rumson), Claire Carrie (Jennifer),
Chook Sibtrain (Julio), Gavin Muir, Simon Nock, John Berlyne,
Ellen O’Grady, Liz Izen
Notes: Original London run: Her Majesty’s, February 1953
Claire Carrie & Chook Sibtain
FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY
London run: Lyric Theatre, August 12th (32 Performances)
Music & Lyrics: Various
Book: Maggie Norris & Guy Picot
Director-Choreographer: Carole Todd
Musical Director: Keith Strachan
Producer: Bill Kenwright
Cast: Gerry Marsden (Himself), Carl Krishner (Young Gerry), Jaison Beeson, ,
Neil Dale, Richard Mogendorf. Adam Keast, Andy Cairns, Jacqui Cryer,
Sean Fitzpatrick, Vicki Stevens, Kevin Jackson, Sam Kelly.
Songs: I Like It, Needles and Pins, You’ll Never Walk Alone, It’s Gonna Be All
Right
Story: The life story of Gerry Marsden (not a particularly dramatic one!) used as
an excuse to re-create a number of songs from the 1960s and to impersonate names like Billy J. Kramer, Cilla
Black, Lulu, Freddie Garrity, John Lennon, etc. The novelty was Gerry Marsden himself in his own tribute
show.
Notes: Described as “charitable, gentle and inoffensive, more a concert than a musical”, Gerry Marsden’s
genuinely nice and sunny personality charmed most of the critics. It ran 8 weeks.
THE FANTASTICKS (3rd Revival)
London run: King’s Head, August 7th – September 15th (Limited run)
Music: Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics: Tom Jones
Director: Dan Crawford
Choreographer: Elizabeth Blake
Musical Director: Edward Goggin
Cast: Jonathan Morris (El Gallo), Katey Crawford Kastin (Luisa) ,
Joseph Millson (Matt), John Walters (Bellamy),
Roger Bingham (Hucklebee), Michael Cotterill (Henry),
Kim Joyce (Mortimer), Tim Eagle (The Mute)
Generally it was felt this show – still running off-Broadway after 36 years –
was a timid, milk-soppy, sugary-sweet and fragile thing, not really worth the
bother of staging. However, the critics were very impressed with newcomer
Joseph Millson.
Notes: See Original production: Apollo Theatre, September 1961
First revival: Hampstead Theatre Club, May 1970
Second revival: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, July 1990
1996
20
ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
(1st Revival)
London run: Bridewell Theatre, Aug 16th – Sept 7th
Music: Cy Coleman
Book & Lyrics: Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Director: Carol Metcalfe
Choreographer: Jenny Arnold
Musical Director: Mark W. Dorrell
Cast: Michael N. Harbour (Oscar Jaffee),
Kathryn Evans (Lily Garland), Peter Hilton (Bruce Granit),
Josephine Gordon (Letitia Primrose), Clive Paget,
Martin Callaghan, Stephen Matthews, Louise Davidson
Photo by Mark Douet
Although some critics felt the show really needed a lavish
set to match its operetta style, most agreed this was a
delightful revival of an extremely clever, witty musical.
Notes: Original London run:
Her Majesty’s Theatre, March 1980
Michael N. Harbour & Kathryn Evans
KISS THE SKY
London run: Shepherd’s Bush Empire, August 21st – September 14th
Music & Lyrics: Various
Book: Jim Cartwright
Director: Mike Bradwell
Musical Director: Neil McArthur
Cast: Alan Williams (The Traveller),
Brierley Arnell, Simon Fogg, Benn Goddard,
Geoff Hayes, Richard Henders, Rob Jarvis,
Caron Pascoe, Jenna Russell, Mark Saville
Story: Essentially this was yet another compendium show
of Sixties numbers: Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Pink
Floyd, Janis Joplin and Lennon & McCartney. During the
course of a “Love and Peace” rock festival , The Traveller
tells us what it was like to stroll up the King’s Road to a
squat, take drugs in Amsterdam, visit a free-love
commune in India, and join the circle of Hippies trying to
make the Pentagon disappear. There is a Hippie wedding
and the audience are asked to shut their eyes and transmit
love and enlightenment to the universe beyond.
Notes: Very mixed reviews, of course. For some it was a
jolly nostalgic trip, for others a mega-loud, shapeless and
pointless exercise.
Alan Williams & Richard Henders
1996
21
INTO THE WOODS (1st Revival)
London run: Landor Theatre, September 4th – 28th (Limited run)
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: James Lapine
Director: Caterina Loriggio
Choreographer: Maxine Braham
Musical Director: Robert Hyman
Cast: David Brett (Narrator), Alexandra Sumner (Witch),
Darren Hudson (Jack), Eileen Gourlay (Jack’s Mother),
David Bradshawe (Baker), Julia Howson (Baker’s Wife),
Chloe Buswell (Cinderella), Heather Davies (Rapunzel),
Shona White (Red Riding Hood), Jon de Ville (Cinderella’s Prince),
Roland Powell (Rapunzel’s Prince), Estelle Collins
This was the first small-scale fringe production of this highly
complex work, but even though accompanied by a few synthesisers
and a flute and hardly any scenery at all , it was highly praised.
Notes: Original London run: Phoenix Theatre, September 1990
ROMANCE ROMANCE
London run: Bridewell, September 13th –October 5th
Music: Keith Hermann
Lyrics & Book: Barry Harman
Director: Steven Dexter
Choreographer: Mitch Sebastian
Musical Director: Simon Lee/Robert Purvis
Cast: Mark Adams (Alfred/Sam), Ria Jones (Josefine/Monica), Steve
Billingsley, Beth Robson, Tony Timberlake, Anne Wood
Story: This is two separate one-act musicals. The first, “The Little
Comedy” is set in 19th Century Vienna (based on a short story by Arthur
Schnitzler). Josefine, a Viennese courtesan decides to sleep with someone
she likes, rather than someone who pays her. She chooses Alfred, a poor
young poet, who (surprise, surprise!) turns out to be a wealthy aristocrat
who wants to be loved for himself and not his money. Two dancers dance
and mime the fictions the lovers weave about themselves.
The second story, “Summer Share” is set in 29th Century Manhattan
(based on a one-act play by Jules Renard). Sam (Husband A) and Monica
(Wife B) stay up after their partners have gone to bed. They gossip, flirt,
and drift toward making love, then he holds back at the last moment and
she feels rejected.
Notes: With both couples played by the same performers, this was much
praised as being reminiscent of Sondheim, elegant, intelligent and worthy
of transfer.
1996
SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ
London run: Prince of Wales Theatre, October 23rd (813 Performances)
Music & Lyrics: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
Director: Jerry Zaks
Choreographer: Joey McKneely
Musical Director: Louis St Louis
Cast: Adrian Bailey, Victor Trent Cook, B.J.Crosby,
Delee Lively, Deb Lyons, Stephanie Pope,
Devin Richards, Robert Torti, Alton Fitzgerald
White.
Songs: Hound Dog, Fools Fall in Love, Yakety Yak,
Stand By Me, Jailhouse Rock Spanish Harlem, Love
Potion Number Nine, Teach Me How to Shimmy, I
Who Have Nothing
Notes: A straightforward compilation show of 39
numbers sung and danced by a cast of six black and
three white performers, and a seven-piece band.
There was no attempt to tell a story or create a plot –
just two hours devoted to the music of Leiber &
Stoller. A huge hit on Broadway, it was also highly
praised when the all-American cast transferred to the
West End, and managed a run of nearly two years.
The highlight of the show was DeLee Lively in the
number “Teach Me How to Shimmy”
DeLee Lively in her “shimmy” number
SCROOGE THE MUSICAL
London run: Dominion Theatre, November 12th – February 1st 1997
(Limited season)
Music, Lyrics & Book: Leslie Bricusse
Director-Choreographer: Tudor Davies
Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar
Producer: Graham Mulvein
Cast: Anthony Newley (Scrooge),
Richard Shelton (Young Scrooge),
Tom Watt (Bob Cratchit),
John Faal/Jamie Meyer (Tiny Tim),
Stephen Earle (Jacob Marley),
Felicity Soper (Christmas Past),
David Alder (Christmas Present),
Martin Hibbert (Christmas Yet to
Come)
Songs: I Hate People, I Like Life, December the Twenty-Fifth,
Thank You Very Much
Notes: This was a touring production in London for the Christmas
season. It was felt to be a poor musical, but a jolly enough
Christmas pageant. Most of the critics managed to come out with
“Bah, humbug!”
Anthony Newley
22
1996 23
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
(1st Revival)
London run: Lyceum, November 19th
(567 Performances)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Director: Gale Edwards
Choreographer: Aletta Collins
Musical Director: Simon Lee
Producer: Really Useful Company
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench
Cast: Steve Balsamo (Jesus),
Zubin Varla (Judas),
Paul Hawkyard (Peter),
Glenn Carter (Simon Zealotes),
Joanna Ampil (Mary),
Peter Gallagher (Caiaphas),
David Burt (Pilate),
Nick Holder (Herod)
This revival, 25
years on, was
chosen to open the
newly renovated
and
restored
Lyceum Theatre. It
was highly praised
as a darker, less
glittery and much
stronger production
than the original, and newcomer Steve Balsamo was generally hailed as the best
sung Jesus ever, and a star in the making. Zubin Varla and Joanna Ampil were
also picked out for excellent performances. It ran for a year and four months,
closing at the end of March, 1998.
Notes: Original London run: Palace Theatre, August 1972
THE OFFICIAL TRIBUTE TO THE BLUES BROTHERS
(2nd Revival)
London run: Apollo Theatre, December 11th (45 Performances)
Music: Various
Director: David Leland
Choreographer: Carole Todd
(recreated by Mark White)
Musical Director: Jeff Wraight
Cast: Brad Henshaw (Jake), Simon J. Foster (Elwood),
Michelle Dixon, Ronnie Dangerfield, Ambrose (The
Bluettes).
Back in the West End for a Christmas season, and still
touring the UK for the rest of the year.
Notes: Original London Production:
Whitehall Theatre, September 1991
First Revival: Comedy Theatre, Sep 1994
Simon Foster & Brad Henshaw
1996
24
NINE
London run: Donmar Warehouse, December 12th – March 8th
Music & Lyrics: Maury Yeston
Book: Arthur Kopit
Director: David Leveaux
Choreographer: Jonathan Buttrell
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine
Cast: Larry Lamb (Guido Contini), Susannah Fellows (Luisa),
Clare Burt (Carla), Eleanor David (Claudia),
Sara Kestelman (Liliane le Fleur), Dilys Laye (Mother), Ria Jones,
Kiran Hocking, Jenny Galloway
Story: Guido Contini, a celebrated but tormented director, has come to a
Venetian spa to escape from his problems, which include his relationship
with Luisa (his wife), Carla (his mistress), Claudia (his protégé) ,
Liliane le Fleur (his agent), and his mother. The production, which
contains a flashback to Guido’s youth, also includes some cinematic-type
touches like an “overture” in which Guido conducts his women as if they
were instruments, and an impressionistic version of the Folies Bergères.
Photo by Ivan Kyncl
Songs: My Husband Makes Movies, A Call from the Vatican, Only with
You, Folies Bergères, Be Italian, Unusual Way, The Grand Canal,
Simple, Be on Your Own
Larry Lamb
Notes: Adapted from the Italian by Mario Fratti and based on the Fellini Film “8½”. The original Broadway
production had a cast of 21 women and just one man. It ran for 732 performances and won four Tony Awards.
It had been given a London concert performance at the Festival Hall in 1992 with Jonathan Pryce and Liliane
Montevecchi, and the resultant CD introduced the work to many enthusiasts in the UK. This was its first
staged performance. It was praised for its sophistication and emotional depth, though many felt the music was
too subtle and haunting, the mood too brittle and bitter-sweet to find a mass audience. Like Sondheim, this was
specialist fare.
LISTEN TO THE WIND (1st Revival)
London run: Kings Head Theatre, December 13th - January 19th
Music & Lyrics: Vivian Ellis
Book: Angela Ainley Jeans (revised by Humphrey Carpenter)
Director: Dan Crawford
Musical Director: Michael Lavine
Cast: Paul Wilcox (Miss Lush/Miranda), Ben McCosker (Jeremy),
Gabrielle Hamilton Grandmother),
Cameron Blakeley (Pearson/Black Thundercloud), Naomi Bell, Steffan Boje,
Philip Coleman, Michael Gyngell, Ben McCokser, Olivia Hallinan, Jane Lesley,
James Powell, Vicky Taylor.
New songs: Musical Chairs, It’s Nice to be
Back Home Again, Palace of the Winds.
Notes: Original London run:
Arts Theatre, December 1955
Ben McCosker, Olivia Hallinan,
Victoria Taylor & Michael Gyngell
Photo by Bill Cooper
This first revival after 42 years received an
overhauled book by Humphrey Carpenter.
Vivian Ellis wrote three new songs for this
show, though sadly he died in June, six months
before the opening night.
1996
25
MARRY ME A LITTLE
London run: Bridewell Theatre, December 16th – January 11th (Limited season)
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Craig Lucas & Norman Rene
Director: Clive Paget
Choreographer: Louise Davidson
Musical Director: Rowland Lee
Cast: Clive Carter, Rebecca
Front
Photo by Tristram Kenton
Songs: Can That Boy Foxtrot, Bang, The Girls of
Summer, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Your Eyes
are Blue, It Wasn’t Meant to Happen
Clive Carter & Rebecca Front
Notes: This is a compilation of Sondheim songs, most
of them intended for, but cut from, other shows. They
have been spun into a story of sorts, where a man and a
woman are each alone in their respective apartments on
Saturday night. They sing of loneliness and longing,
although there is a glimmer of hope in the air. Finally,
however, as the last song says: “It Wasn’t Meant to
Happen”. Generally regarded as a treat for Sondheim
lovers, but one critic acidly pointed out “this slight
revue proves only that Sondheim knows which songs to
dump”.
GUYS AND DOLLS (3rd Revival)
London run: Olivier Theatre, December 17th – March 29th 1997 (Limited season)
Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser
Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows
Director: Richard Eyre
Choreographer: David Toguri
Musical Director: Tony Britten
Cast: Clarke Peters (Sky Masterton), Imelda Straunton (Miss Adelaide), Henry Goodman (Nathan Detroit),
Joanna Riding (Sarah Browne), Clive Rowe (Nicely-Nicely), Wayne Cater (Benny), Kieran Creggan,
Sharon D. Clarke
Notes: See original London run:
Coliseum, May 1953
1sr revival: Olivier Theatre,
March 1982
2nd revival: Prince of Wales,
June 1985
Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman
& Company
Photo by John Haynes
This revival of the hugely
successful
1982 production
proved that lightning can strike
twice. It was hugely enjoyable,
and every bit as good as its
earlier, definitive incarnation.