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46
CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF London run: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Feb 10 – March 19 (Limited run)
Music: Ian Armit & Carl Zeller
Book: Ken Hill
Director: Ken Hill
Choreographer: Lindsay Dolan
Musical Director: Alasdair MacNeil
Cast: Steven Pacey (Old Baron), Robin Nedwell (D’Arcy),
Judith Bruce (Mrs Bancroft), Reginald Marsh (Dr Bancroft),
Diana Morrison (Kitty), Toni Palmer (Ingeborg)
Terence Hardinam (Professor Steiner) Bogdan Kominowski (Inspector Kruger)
Songs: We’re Going to Have some Fun, A Meeting by Moonlight, Every Walpurgisdorfer Knows, The Moon
is Full, Who Needs the Words?
Story: Dr and Mrs Bancroft, with daughter Kitty, are visiting an old friend from medical school, who now
lives and works with mental patients in a crumbling castle in a part of Germany swarming with wolves.
Daughter Kitty is much taken with the dishy Baron – but she ought to have known. . . it’s always the dishy ones
you have to look out for. . .
Notes: With yodelling lederhosen-clad chorus boys, and fluffy rabbits and squirrels swaying in the trees,
singing along to the music of 19th Century opera composer Carl Zeller and new lyrics by Ken Hill, this was a
pantomime-type romp (similar in style to Ken Hill’s “Phantom of the Opera” – the pre-Lloyd Webber version.)
HOT SHOE SHUFFLE London run: Queen’s Theatre, March 22 (175 Performances)
Music: Various
Director: David Atkins
Choreographer: David Atkins & Dein Perry
Musical Director: David Stratton Producer: Helen Montagu
Cast: David Atkins, Dean Perry, Kevin Coyne, Christopher Horsey, Sheldon Perry,
Dale Pengelly,
Adam Garcia, Rhonda Burchmore, Jack Webster
Songs: Putting on the Ritz, Birth of the Blues, It Don’t Mean a Thing, Little Brown
Jug
Story: Seven brothers and
their newly discovered
sister must learn their late
father’s tap-dancing
routines in order top
inherit millions. Starting
off comically bumping
into each other a lot, and
ending up dancing with
tremendous vitality and
flair – the show is an
excuse for a song and
dance exhibition “which a
generation ago would
have been a speciality act
in a revue and is now
elevated to an entire
evening’s entertainment.”
1994
47
THE BOY FRIEND (3rd Revival) London run: Players Theatre, April 14 – May 8
Music & Lyrics : Sandy Wilson
Director: Maria Charles
Choreographer: Geoffrey Webb
Musical Director: Geoffrey Brawn Producer: Dominic le Foe for Players Ventures
Cast: Jane Stoggles (Hortense),
Gemma Page (Polly Browne),
Oliver Hickey (Tony),
James Davies (Bobby van Husen),
Karen Clegg (Maisie),
Judith Bruce (Mme Dubonnet)
This was a 40th Anniversary production at the
venue where the show was first created in 1954.
Notes: See Original London production,
Wyndham’s, January 1954
First revival: Comedy Theatre,
November 1967
Second Revival: Old Vic/Albery July
1984
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE London run: Lyric Hammersmith, April 20 – May 7
Music: Various
Book: David Graham
Director: David Graham
Choreographer: Laurel Ford
Musical Director: Grantley Buck Producer: DGM Productions
Cast: Mike Berry (Archie), Georgina Field (May-Ellen), Grantley Buck (Frankie), Julie Livesey (Sherry),
Jack Pinder (Eddie), Jason Baron (Ritzi), Miles Danso (Dumbo), Mark Sangster (Skunk)
Songs: Personality, Walk Right Back, All I Have to do is Dream, Lipstick on your Collar, Only You
Story: The Romantics are a rock group aspiring to
stardom under the management of moronic Archie,
whose office happens to be a diner, and whose
“secretary” is the diner-waitress, May-Ellen. The
Romantics consist of reptilian Eddie, cute Ritzi, dim
Dumbo, and redneck Skunk. They audition by giving a
concert in the diner. And that is that!
Notes: From the Evening Standard: “ (At one point). . .
Archie yells jubilantly ‘Are we gonna have some fun
tonight or what?’ I’d say it falls into the ‘or what’
category.”
1994
Jason Baron & Jack Pinder Photo
by
Tri
stra
m K
ento
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Photo
by
Rober
t W
ork
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48
COPACABANA London run: Prince of Wales, June 23rd (525 Performances)
Music: Barry Manilow
Lyrics: Bruce Sussman & Jack Feldman
Book: Barry Manilow, Bryce Sussman & Jack Feldman
Director: Roger Redfarn
Choreographer: Dorian Sanchez
Musical Director: Andy Rumble
Cast: Gary Wilmot (Tony/Stephen), Nicola Dawn (Lola), Richard Lyndon (Rico),
Anna Nicholas (Conchita), Howard Attfield (Sam), Jenny Logan (Gladys),
Duncan Smith (McManus)
Songs: Who Needs to Dream, Sweet Heaven, Dancin’ Fool, Man Wanted, Just Arrived, Jump Shout Boogie,
At the Copacabana
Story: Set in the 1940s, struggling composer Stephen writes a song (“Copacabana”), about the ambitious Lola
arriving in Manhattan from Oklahoma, intent on becoming a showgirl. In the song she is kidnapped by Rico
and whisked off to Havana. But all
ends happily when she is rescued by
the heroic Tony who shoots Rico and
gets his girl.
Notes: A lavish production with
loads of feathers, glitz and
computerised effects, said to be filled
with girls with pineapples on their
heads and fruit around their genitalia
– the critics praised the cast, but hated
the show. The legions of Barry
Manilow fans kept it running for
fifteen months, although the business
fell away once Gary Wilmot left the
cast (he was replaced by Darren Day
towards the end of the first year).
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (2nd Revival) London run: London Palladium, June 28 - September 3
Music: Jerry Bock
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
Book: Joseph Stein
Director-Choreographer: Jerome Robbins (re-produced by Sammy Dallas Bayes)
Musical Director: Nick Barnard
Cast: Topol (Tevye), Sara Kestelman (Golde), Margaret Robertoson (Yente),
David Bacon (Lazar Wolf), Peter Darling (Perchick), Jacquelyn Yorke (Tzeitel),
Neil Rutherford (Motel), Adi Topol-Margalith (Chava), George Little (Innkeeper),
Millie Kieve, Alastair Bull
It had been 27 years since Topol first played Tevye in London, and it was reckoned
he had now played the role some 1,500 times. Back in 1967 at the age of 31 he had
to leave the role to return to Israel to fight in the Six Day War – and his understudy, George Little, took over
for the duration. George Little was also in this current revival, playing the part of the Innkeeper. This time,
too, Topol’s daughter, Adi, was in the show, playing his stage daughter.
Notes: See original London production, Her Majesty's, February 1967
First revival: Apollo Victoria June 1984
1994
Photo
by
Cli
ve B
ard
a
49
ROCKY HORROR SHOW
(2nd Revival) London run: Duke of York’s Theatre , June 29
(69 Performances)
Music & Lyrics: Richard O’Brien
Director: Christopher Malcolm
Choreographer: Stuart Hopps
Musical Director: Dave Brown Producer: Christopher Malcolm, Rocky Horror London Ltd
Cast: Nicholas Parsons (Narrator),
Jonathan Morris (Frank-n-Furter),
David Ingram (Rocky Horror), Paul Collis (Brad),
Sophie Lawrence (Janet), Kraig Thornber (Riff-Raff),
Patricia Quinn (Magenta), Joanne Redman (Columbia),
Peter Gallagher(Eddie/Dr Scott)
This was back in the West End to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the show’s opening. It was more or less the
same production from 1990, and had been touring.
Notes: See original production: Theatre Upstairs (Royal Court), June 19th 1973
Transferred to the Comedy Theatre, April 1979; First revival: Piccadilly Theatre, July 1990
SHE LOVES ME (1st Revival) London run: Savoy Theatre, July 12th (407 Performances)
Music: Jerry Black
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
Book: Joe Masteroff
Director: Scott Ellis
Choreographer: Rob Marshall
Musical Director: Robert Scott
Cast: Ruthie Henshall (Amalia Balash),
John Gordon-Sinclair (Georg Nowack),
Tracie Bennett (Ilona Ritter), Gerard Casey (Steven Kodaly),
David de Keyser (Zoltan Maraczek),
Barry James (Ladislaw Sipos)
This much-praised revival ran until the start of July, 1995 –
almost one year.
See Original London run: Lyric Theatre, April 1964
THE CARD (1st Revival) London run: Open Air Theatre, August 1 – September 6
Music & Lyrics: Tony Hatch & Jackie Trent
New lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Book: Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall
Director: Ian Talbot
Choreographer: Gillian Gregory
Musical Director: Catherine Jayes Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
Cast: Peter Duncan (Denry Machin),
Jane Lowe (Mrs Machin), John Turner (Mr Duncalf),
Hayley Mills (Countess of Chell) ,
Jessica Martin (Ruth Earp), Jenna Russell (Nellie Cotterill)
Notes: Following its open air season the production went
on a UK Tour. See Original London production: Queen’s
Theatre, July 1973
1994
Patricia Quinn, Kraig Thornber & Joanne Redman
John Gordon Sinclair & Ruthie Henshall
Peter Duncan & Hayley Mills
Photo
by
Houst
on R
oger
s
Photo
by
Donald
Cooper
Photo
by
Ala
stair
Muir
50
THE OFFICIAL TRIBUTE TO THE BLUES BROTHERS
(1st Revival) London run: Comedy Theatre, September 21st (46 Performances)
Music: Various
Director: David Leland
Choreographer: Carole Todd
Musical Director: Tony McCormick
Cast: Mark White (Jake), Giles New (Elwood), Doreen Chanter, Paul Murphy, Mary Pearce (The Bluettes).
Notes: This was back in the West End after its UK tour. The show now had a new title: “The Official Tribute
to the Blues Brothers” suggesting that somewhere along the way it had received approval from the Belushi
family.
ONLY THE LONELY London run: Piccadilly Theatre, September 27 1994 – October 14 1995
Transferred to the Whitehall Theatre, October 19 1995 – March 10, 1996
(Performance total: 611 Performances)
Music: Various
Book: Shirlie Roden & Jon Miller
Director: Bill Kenwright/Ian Kellgren
Musical Director: Keith Hayman Producer: Bill Kenwright
Cast: Larry Branson (Roy Orbison), James Carroll Jordan (Bobbie Blackburn), Stephen Tremblay (Wesley
Orbison), Martin Glyn-Murray (Bruce Springsteen), Catherine Porter (Claudette, Mrs Orbison) Sophy
Ackroyd , Paul Besterman, Shelley Blond, Rob Jarvis, Kevin Jones, Dave Mayberry, Anne Smith
Songs: Running Scared, It’s Over, Pretty Woman, Blue Bayou, Only the Lonely.
Story: The late Roy Orbison’s life story is told to his son Wesley by his father’s best friend, Bobbie
Blackburn. His real-life story was a dramatic one: young wife killed in a motorcycle accident, infant children
die in fire, fame, followed by 20 years in the Wilderness, then back on top again, only to suffer a heart attack.
During his career he appeared alongside artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Dusty Springfield, Bob Dylan,
Patsy Cline and the Beatles – and various cast members shared these roles, creating a gripping life-story and
some great music.
Notes: Larry Branson bore an uncanny resemblance to Roy Orbison and had toured the USA for several years
in a tribute show. In May 1995 the cast was joined by P. J. Proby with his own 15 minute spot, and the show
underwent a few changes, being re-named “The Roy Orbison Story”. The show transferred to the Whitehall
Theatre in October 1995 and finally closed on March 10th 1996.
1994
Larry Branson Roy Orbison
51
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND London run: Royalty Theatre (renamed “Island”), September 28th (145
Performances)
Music: Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics & Book: Lynn Ahrens
Director: David Toguri/Gwenda Hughes
Choreographer: David Toguri
Musical Director: Martin Lowe
Cast: Lorna Brown (Ti Moune), Anthony Corriette (Daniel),
P.P.Arnold (Erzulie, goddess of Love), Sharon D. Clarke ( Asaka, goddess of Earth),
Clive Rowe (Papa Ge – Death) , Trevor Michael Georges (The Water God),
Suzanne Packer, Shezwae Powell, Mark Vincent, Johnny Worthy
Songs: We Dance, One Small Girl, And the Gods Heard Her Prayer, Forever Yours, Mama Will Provide, Why
We Tell the Story
Story: During a terrible thunderstorm the following
story is told in an effort to calm a frightened young
girl: Once on this island in the time of black slaves and
Creole aristocrats, the orphan Ti Moune fell in love
with the well-born mulatto landowner Daniel as she
nursed him following a car accident. However, they
could never marry: his skin colour was creamy coffee,
hers was black jet. Ti Moune made a pact with the
local gods – her life for Daniel’s. He survived to marry
another, and she died of grief, but the gods turned her
into a palm tree and she was able to provide shelter for
Daniel’s home for all his life.
Notes: Based on the novel “My Love, My Love” by
Rosa Guy, this is basically an all-black adaptation of
Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” story.
The musical originally opened on Broadway in
October 1990 and ran for 469 performances. The
British premiere opened at the Birmingham Rep in July
1994 and immediately transferred to the West End.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN London run: King’s Head, November 21 – December 18 (Limited run)
Music & Lyrics: Thomas Morgan & Kevin Meatcher
Director: Dan Crawford
Choreographer: Irving Davies
Musical Director: Nick Finlow
Cast: Gary Cady (Peter Carter), Fiona Sinnott (June), Martin Connor (Conductor),
Simon Clark (Abraham Farlan), Michael Medwin (Dr Reeves), Brogden Miller (Bob
Trubshaw),
Godfrey Kenton (Judge)
Songs: Everyone’s a Fool for Love, What Keeps Dreamers Awake
Story: In the last week of the Second World War, Peter Carter, a British airman, bales out over the Channel
without a parachute, having previously made radio contact with June, an American girl at the base. He should
have died. Perhaps he did. The divine authorities had their eye off the ball and did not record the event. Thus
he is stuck in limbo, torn between going to Heaven or returning to earth with the girl. A Heavenly conductor is
sent down to sort things out, appointing Abraham Farlan to prosecute on behalf of the laws of the Universe, and
Doctor Reeves to defend, arguing that “Love is the Law”
Notes: Based on the film “A Matter of Life and Death” by Michael Power and Emeric Pressburger which
originally starred David Niven and Marius Goring, this show won the 1994 Vivian Ellis Best New Musical
Award.
1994
Photo
by
Donald
Cooper
52
OUT OF THE BLUE London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, November 23rd (20 Performances)
Music: Shub-Ichi Tokura
Book & Lyrics: Paul Sand
Director: David Gilmore
Choreographer: John Combe
Musical Director: Simon Lee Producer: Tokura Productions UK
Cast: James Graeme (Father Marshall), Greg Ellis (Young James),
Meredith Braun (Hideko), Simon Burke (Young Hiyashi),
David Burt (Old Hiyashi), Stephanie Lao (Young Hana) , Paulette Ivory
(Grown up Hana), Michael McCarthy (Dr Akizuki)
Story: The story moves backwards and forwards between 1945 in Nagasaki and 1970 in Boston and tells of
John Marshall, an American prisoner-of-war , who, after the war, married Hideko, the Japanese sister of his
brutal camp commandant, Hiyashi. Hideko bore him a child but succumbed to radiation sickness, and then
Hiyashi informed Marshall that Hana, the child, had also died. Marshall returned to the USA and became a
Catholic priest. On the 25th anniversary of the Nagasaki bomb Father Marshall meets Dr Akizuki, on a lecture
tour for Peace, and is persuaded to make his first return visit, only to discover that Hana survived, as did his
brother-in-law, unforgiving, still fighting a personal war against America.
Notes: This was a sung-through soft-rock piece, and the programme contained a heartfelt plea for nuclear
disarmament from the Mayor of Nagasaki. However well intentioned the piece, the critics unanimously agreed
the whole show was a total, confused mess, offering trite lyrics, and bland and dull music. However, the show
had been performed with enormous success throughout Japan.
CALAMITY JANE London run: BAC Main, December 9 – January 21 (Limited run)
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster
Book: Charles K. Freeman
Director: Phil Willmot
Choreographer: Jack Gunn
Musical Director: Annemarie Lewis Thomas Producer: The Steam Industry
Cast: Leigh McDonald (Calamity Jane),
Jason Griffiths (Wild Bill Hickok),
Nigel Denham, (Lieutenant Danny Martin),
Tina Deen (Adelaide Adams), Michelle Bissell (Katie Brown),
Matthew Woolcott (Francis Fryer)
Songs: The Deadwood Stage, I Just Blew in from the Windy City,
Black Hills of Dakota, A Woman’s Touch, Secret Love, ‘Tis
Harry I’m Planning to Marry
Story: The rootin’ tootin’ cowboys of Deadwood City are
drooling over cigarette cards of singer Adelaide Adams, so the pistol-toting, Calamity Jane, always eager to be
one of the boys, promises to go to Chicago and bring back this star performer to perform in Henry Miller’s bar.
She returns in triumph, but doesn’t realise she has brought back Adelaide’s humble maid, Katie Brown, instead
of the real thing. Troubles grow because Calamity has her heart set on Lieutenant Danny Martin, but Danny
hits it off with Katie/Adelaide instead. However, it’s been clear from the start that Calamity really should end
up with the much more suitable Wild Bill Hickok – and, once all the misunderstandings, mistaken identities
and so on are sorted out – that’s exactly what happened.
Notes: This stage version was adapted from the Doris Day/Howard Keel film screenplay by James O’Hanlon
1994
Leigh McDonald & Michelle Bissett
Photo
by
Rober
t W
ork
man
53
OLIVER (4th Revival) London run: London Palladium,
December 8,1994 - February 21, 1998
Music, Lyrics, Book: Lionel Bart
Director: Sam Mendes
Choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Musical Director: Martin Koch Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
Cast: Jonathan Pryce (Fagin), Sally Dexter (Nancy),
Miles Anderson (Bill Sykes),
Gregory Bradley/James Daley (Oliver),
Paul Bailey/Adam Searles (Artful Dodger),
James Saxon (Mr Bumble), Jenny Galloway (Widow Corney),
David Delve (Mr Sowerberry)
This £3.5 million lavish production was praised as the ultimate
version, and went on to become the longest-running show in the
history of the London Palladium.
Subsequent Fagins included George
Layton, Jim Dale, Russ Abbott, Robert
Lindsay and Barry Humphries.
Subsequent Nancys included Claire
Moore, Ruthie Henshall and Sonia
Swaby. A huge success.
Notes: See original Production,
New Theatre June 1960
First revival: Piccadilly Theatre, April 1967
Second revival: Albery Theatre, December 1977
Third revival: Aldwych Theatre, December 1983
FLORA THE RED MENACE London run: Orange Tree, December 5th (65 Performances)
Music: John Kander
Lyrics: Fred Ebb
Book: David Thompson
Director: Sam Walters
Choreographer: Christine Ling
Musical Director: Matthew Strachan
Cast: Lucy Treager (Flora), Dale Rapley (Harry), Elizabeth Mansfield (Charlotte), Christopher Staines,
Colin Farrell, Nicola Fulljames, Graeme Henderson, Julie-Ann Ward, John Hudson
Songs: Dear Love, All I Need is One Good Break, Knock Knock, Sing Happy, Palamino Pal, Not Every Day of
the Week, Express Yourself.
Story: In the 1930s Depression years, Flora, a naïve young girl, encouraged by Harry,
her boy friend, joins the Communist Party. However she is not really committed to the
cause, unlike Charlotte, who is far more dedicated to the Red cause and even more
committed to Harry himself. Harry resists her advances, and he and Flora get back
together.
Notes: The original Broadway production in 1965 featured 19 year old Liza Minelli and
lasted only 87 performances, though it won Liza a Tony Award for best actress. The
original show had a book by George Abbott and Robert Russell. Over 20 years later the
show was given a new book by David Thompson and several additional Kander and Ebb
songs and the new version was presented off-Broadway in 1987. This was its London
premiere (though it had been performed at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge in 1992)
1994
Jonathan Pryce
54
THE THREEPENNY OPERA (3rd Revival) London run: Donmar Warehouse, December 14th (109 Performances)
Music: Kurt Weill
Lyrics & Book: Bertolt Brecht (trans. Robert David MacDonald)
New lyrics: Jeremy Sams
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Choreographer: Quinny Sacks
Musical Director: Gary Yershon
Cast: Tom Hollander (Macheath), Tom Mannion (Peachum),
Beverley Klein (Mrs Peachum) ,Sharon Small (Polly),
Natasha Bain (Lucy Brown),
Tara Hugo (Jenny), Ben Albu,
Simon Walter, Jeremy Harrison
This production was much praised for Jeremy
Sams’ new lyrics which were felt to reflect the
contemporary spirit intended by Brecht’s
original. It was set in the future – 2001 – with
the coronation of Britain’s next king, William V.
Notes: See Original London production, Royal Court, February 1956.
First revival: Prince of Wales, February 1972
Second revival: Olivier Theatre, March 1986
PETER PAN – THE BRITISH MUSICAL London run: Cambridge Theatre, December 20 – January 21 1995
Music, Lyrics & Book: Piers Chater-Robinson
Director: Pier Chater Robinson
Choreographer: George May
Musical Director: Chris Summerfield Producer: Elly Mercer
Cast: Ron Moody (Capt. Hook/Mr Darling),
Nicola Stapleton (Peter Pan),
Debbie Wall (Wendy),
Rosemary Williams (Mrs Darling),
Pinky Amador (Tiger Lily),
Harry Dickman (Smee),
David Anthony (Nana)
Notes: Apart from the welcome reappearance of Ron Moody in the West End
after a long absence, there was hardly anything to recommend this new
musical version of J.M.Barrie’s famous story. The Times said: “This
dreadful musical hovers, or rather wobbles, between the insufferably
twee and the lethally stupid”. The Sunday Telegraph: “. . there are naff
tunes, naffer lyrics, and dowdy sets. . .”
1994
Tom Mannion & Beverley Klein
Photo
by
Mark
Douet
Ron Moody & Nicola Stapleton