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MEETING MARY London run: Jermyn Street, January 7th – 22nd Music & Lyrics: Tim Marriott Additional songs: Richard Sonnex Book: Tim Marriott Director: Kevin Pallister

Cast: Hugh Skinner (Guy), Martha Dancy (Mary), Tim Marriott (Mike), Katy Odey (Abi), Lucy May (Sophie)

Story: Mary, a prissy 18 year old English miss from Oxford visits New York to meet the father she hasn’t seen since she was a child. She is expecting a sophisticated singer-songwriter with Broadway at his

feet and a martini cocktail in his hand. What she finds is a bitter inadequate who composes advertising jingles with his gay friend, Mike, and who insists that Abi, the attractive woman who shares his apartment, is nothing more than lodger. He also neglects to tell her that he has a daughter by a previous relationship hidden away in the flat upstairs whilst Mary is visiting. Following a lot of insults, and more skeletons in the closet, there is a final reconciliation, understanding and a happy ending.

Notes: Criticised for dragging in all manner of serious issues – the 9/11 attack, terminal illness, etc –in order to give the show some unearned gravitas, most critics dismissed this as a ridiculous, horribly sentimental and badly performed waste of time.

HAVE A NICE LIFE (1st Revival) London run : Union, January 14th – 29th Music & Lyrics: Conor Mitchell Director: Conor Mitchell

Cast: Jamie Anderson (Neville), Carl Patrick (Frank), Stefanie Moore (Barbara), Kira Lauren (Amy), Sioned Jones (Sheila), Caroline Hartley (Jean), Mark Dugdale (Chris)

Second time round, this fringe production received a much better press. With a three-piece band led by the composer from the keyboard, the score was described as brilliant with witty lyrics. Original London run: Pleasance, May 2003

ACORN

ANTIQUES London run:

Theatre Royal, Haymarket, February 10th – 21st May

2005

Hugh Skinner & Tim Marriott

Julie Walters as

Mrs Overall

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

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ACORN ANTIQUES London run: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, February 10th – 21st May Music & Lyrics: Victoria Wood Book: Victoria Wood Director: Trevor Nunn Choreographer: Stephen Mear Musical Director: Nick Finlow

Cast: Julie Walters/Victoria Wood (Mrs Overall), Celia Imrie (Babs), Duncan Preston (Mr Clifford), Sally Ann Triplett (Miss Berta), Josie Lawrence, Neil Morrissey, Jill Martin, Hilary O’Neill

Songs: Manchesterford, Macaroons, Hey Hey We’re On Our Way, Have you Met Miss Babs?, Tip Top Tap, Love from Mrs O, Shagarama, Once in a Lifetime

Story: The actors in a TV soap called “Acorn Antiques” are out of work because the series has been axed, so the cast reunite with the object of turning the show into a stage musical. Act One sees them rehearse and bitch about the script, about each other and the director; Act Two sees the opening performance at the Enoch Powell Arts Centre in Sutton Coldfield with its consequent mishaps, rivalries and cock-ups.

Notes: A ten minute sketch inside a 30 minute TV comedy series had been expanded into a three hour musical. As a result, the first half and second halves were virtually two different shows. The whole thing was a muddle, but with its hugely talented cast, and its satire ranging from “Crossroads” to “Les Mis” and Starbucks to Sondheim, and with Victoria Wood and Julie Walters alternating in the lead role, it attracted an audience of fanatical supporters who roared with delight at every familiar gag and malfunctioning prop. In 2006 the show was completely re-written for a major UK tour, so that the entire show was now the “straight” musical performance of “Acorn Antiques”. Mrs Overall was played by Ria Jones and the tour received excellent notices and was felt to be much better for the changes. It is this revised version which is now regarded as the “real” show.

THE BIG LIFE London run: Theatre Royal , Stratford East, February 23rd – March 12th

Transfer: Apollo Theatre, May 23rd – Oct 1st Music: Paul Joseph Book & Lyrics: Paul Sirett Director: Clint Dyer Choreographer: Jason Pennycooke Musical Director: Robert Hyman (Paul Joseph for the transfer)

Cast: Tameka Empson (Mrs Aphrodite),

Victor Romero Evans (Ferdy), Neil Reidman (Bernie), Chris Tummings (Lennie), Marcus Powell (Dennis), Jason Pennycooke (Admiral/Eros), Claudia Cadette, Amanda Horlock, Antonia Kemi Coker, Yaa

Songs: Me Can’t Wait to Get to Inglan, Getting Hot, Whatever Happened, You Do It, The Price We Pay, Woman, Better Than You

Story: In 1948 on the Windrush, sailing from the Caribbean to England, a pact is made by a group of men: there will be no sex, and no involvement with women for three years while they work to better themselves in their new world. But the four men (Ferdy, Bernie, Lennie, Dennis) are sitting on the steps beneath the Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus when suddenly Eros springs to life, jumps down from his plinth and starts tap dancing, leading the cast into a rousing ska number. By the end of this dream sequence the four men have been joined by a quartet of extremely spunky women and the battle of the sexes begin. The show roams through a whole series of emotions – starting with the boarding-house signs which say “No blacks, No Irish, No dogs” - as the fun-loving Caribbean migrants strive for a better life in London. During scene changes, a Mrs Aphrodite, a prim Caribbean matron, sits in a box and comments on the action – superficially respectable but hilariously bawdy.

Notes: Originally staged as a try-out at Stratford East in April 2004, this was Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labours Lost” rewritten as a feel-good ska/reggae musical. A completely re-written version was staged at Stratford East for three weeks in February 2005 and, thanks to impresario Bill Kenwright, it transferred and was acclaimed as the first British black musical.

2005 Photo by Alastair Muir

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I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! (1st Revival) London run: Jermyn Street, March 1st – 26th Music: Jimmy Roberts Book & Lyrics: Joe Dipietro Director: Phil Willmott Musical Director: Anthony England

Cast: John Payton, Lucy Hunter-Jaynes, Mark Hilton, Jo Cook

Notes: The original London production had flopped in 1999 after just 69 performances, and yet the original New York production of 1996 was still running off-Broadway. Nearly ten years on Broadway and not even ten weeks in London! This revival had undergone several changes and had been Anglicised to make it more UK friendly. However, “despite references to Charles and Camilla and shopping at Bluewater, the show still seems like a series of US sitcom snapshots” (The Times).

(Original London production: Comedy Theatre, July 1999)

FANNY (1st Revival) London run: Lilian Baylis Theatre, March 6th (4 Sunday performances) Music & Lyrics: Harold Rome Book: S.N. Behrman & Joshua Logan Director: Ian Marshall Fisher Musical Director: Mark Warman Producer: Lost Musicals season

Cast: James Smillie (César), Frank Lazarus (Panisse), Liza Pulman (Fanny), Arvid Larsen (Marius), Barbara Young (Honorine), Benedict Smith (Césario

This was part of a series of Sunday afternoon semi-staged performances in Ian Marshall Fisher’s season of lost musicals. The intention was to re-create musicals which had (unfairly) disappeared from the general repertoire. “Fanny” had not been seen in London for almost 50 years. These Sunday revivals were much appreciated and proved to be extremely popular with the public and critics alike.

(Original London run: Drury Lane, November 1956)

ON THE TOWN (1st Revival) London run: Coliseum, March 10th – May 24th (17 performances in repertoire)

2005

Photo by Tristram Kenton

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ON THE TOWN (1st Revival) London run: Coliseum, March 10th – May 24th (17 performances in repertoire) Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics & Book: Betty Comden & Adolph Green Director: Jude Kelly Choreographer: Stephen Mear Musical Director: Simon Lee Producer: English National Opera

Cast: Willard W. White (Workman), Helen Anker (Ivy Smith), Caroline O’Connor (Hildegarde Esterhazy), Lucy Schauffer (Clair DeLoon), Timothy Howar (Ozzie), Aaron Lazar (Gabey), Adam Garcia (Chip Offenbloch), Andrew Shore (Judge), Janine Duvitski (Lucy), Sylvia Syms, Alison Jiear, Rodney Clarke, Greg Winter, Tom Dwyer

Notes: With the exception of the veteran Willard W. White in a very small role, the cast for this show did not contain any of the ENO’s regular company, and, primarily, was a dance show rather than a singing show. This raised a lot of questions as to why the country’s National “opera” should be presenting a show performed by imported West End singers and dancers, and should have installed a £100,000 sound system for just 17 performances. However, everyone agreed it was a worthwhile revival after more than 40 years, and it proved highly popular, selling out the enormous Coliseum with no difficulty.

(Original London production: Prince of Wales. May 1963)

HIGH HEEL PARROTFISH London run: Theatre Royal, Stratford East, April 13th – May 7th Music & Lyrics: Christopher Rodriguez Book: Christopher Rodriguez Director: Paulette Randall Choreographer: Omar Okai Musical Director: Felix Cross

Cast: Peter Straker (Kitty Caress), Brian Green (Suzy), Anthony Ofgoebu (Juana), Ashley Campbell (Betty Boo), Raj Ghatak (Vashti), Nicholai La Barrie (Lucy), Sandra Bee (Leandra)

Songs: We Are So Lucky, I Will Survive

Story: Miss Miller’s bar stages an undercover drag show to mark the Carnival – this is in macho Trinidad, where a man wearing a frock is likely to be arrested for public indecency. Backstage in the shabby dressing room the disparity between the glamour of feathers and sequins and the reality of the bitchy rivalry of drag queens is apparent. The “girls” are Kitty Caress, a fading diva; Suzy, a hostess with the mostest; Juana, the Spanish firecracker; Betty Boo, the would be queen-bee; beautiful Vashti and newcomer Lucy. The only “real” girl is Sandra, the outraged ex-wife of Suzy (whose real name is Harold!), and she has turned up to cause trouble. Will they make it through to the finale or will the riot police get there first?

Notes: With an impressive half -dozen original calypsos plus some standards like “I Will Survive”, and a cast of characters including two ageing veterans, a rural Hindu, an on-the-run gangster, and an illegal immigrant – there was plenty of scope for a lively show, especially when laced with bitchy slanging matches and catfights. However, the general verdict was none of it really hung together – it was too long, too unfocused, too contrived and it lurched from farce to drama and back again, not really knowing what direction it really wanted to take.

Anthony Ofoegbu, Peter Straker & Ashley Campbell

2005

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THE FAR PAVILIONS London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, April 14th – September 17th Music: Philip Henderson Book & Lyrics: Stephen Clark Indian music & lyrics: Kuljit Bhamra Director: Gale Edwards Choreographer: Karen Bruce Indian Dances: Pilai Ray Musical Director: David Braun-White

Cast: Hadley Fraser (Ashton Pelham-Martyn), Marina Abdeen (Sita), David Burt (Lt. Harkness), Kabir Bedi (Koda Dad Khan Sahib), Stewart Scudamore ( Maharajah), David Savile (Sir Louis), Sophiya Haque (Janoo Rani), Kulvinder Ghir (Maharana), Simon Gleeson (Lt. Hamilton), Dean Hussain (Awal Shah), Dianne Pilkington (Belinda), Gayatri Iyer (Princess Anjuli) Fiona Wade, Marina Abdeen, Hannah Chick, Meryl Fernandes, Graham Vick

Songs: Two Worlds Collide, Hawa Mahal, Torn in Two, The Pindi Club Ball, Look in the Mirror, Gabbru Put Punjab de Memsahibs, Who Could Have Known?, The Fathers of India, Blood Red Bride, We Have to Be Gods, Born to the Battle, Freedom and Honour, Hourney of Our Hearts

Story: Set in 19th Century India, the story revolves around an orphaned boy, Ashok, initially raised by an Indian woman before learning that he is actually of English parentage. He is sent to the mother country, receives a British education, and as Lieutenant Ashton Pelham-Martyn, returns to India as a British army officer. Now his loyalties and emotions are torn in different directions. As a boy he lost his heart to Princess Anjuli, the Maharajah’s daughter, and witnessed a vile murder committed by the girl’s wicked stepmother, Janoo Rani. As a man he has to struggle with his sense of identity and his conflicting emotions - still in love with Anjuli, but engaged to the very English Belinda – until she rejects him because of his “Indian” upbringing – and then suffering further rejection by some of his regiment when they learn of his background. However, in all the machinations, warmongering and politicking of the British Raj, his adoring best friend, Lieutenant Walter Hamilton, in the siege of Kabul, sacrifices his own life to save Ashton and finally enables Ash and Anjuli to depart into the sunset, clearly on their way to their own Shangri-La.

Notes: Margaret Mary Kaye’s 1978 novel “The Far Pavilions” became a world-wide best-seller, and was described as “a ‘Gone with the Wind’ of the North West Frontier”. In 1984 the novel was adapted into an epic three-part TV mini series starring Ben Cross as Ashton, Amy Irving as Anjuli, and featuring Omar Sharif, Christopher Lee, John Gielgud, Robert Hardy, Saeed Jaffrey and Rupert Everett . It was another huge success with world-wide sales. When her permission was sought to turn the work into a musical, M.M. Kaye publicly wondered if this would not be a step too far. She died, aged 95, just as rehearsals began for its musical premiere. Several critics did, indeed, claim this was an adaptation too far. However, it was so splendidly vulgar, with lavish costumes, a sung-through score, an endlessly revolving stage-set, a touch of the Bollywoods and some gloriously over-the-top performances, that the overall reaction was one of pleasure.

2005 Photos by Alastair Muir

Hadley Fraser & Gayatri Iyer Kulvinder Ghir, Sophiya Haque & company

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BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSICAL London run: Victoria Palace, May 11th Music: Elton John Book & Lyrics: Lee Hall Director: Stephen Daldry Choreographer: Peter Darling Musical Director: Philip Bateman

Cast: James Lomas/George Maguire/Liam Mower (Billy), Haydn Gwynne (Mrs Wilkinson), Tim Healy (Dad), Joe Caffrey (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Trevor Fox (George), Steve Elias (Mr Braithwaite), Stephanie Putson (Dead Mum), Isaac James (Older Billy) Brad Kavanagh/Ashley Long/Ryan Longbottom (Michael), Brook Havana Bailey/Emma Hudson/Lucy Stephenson (Debbie),

Songs: The Stars Look Down, Shine, Grandma’s Song, Solidarity, Expressing Yourself, Born to Boogie, Merry Christmas Mrs Thatcher, He Could Be a Star, Electricity, Swan Lake.

Story: In County Durham, during the 1984-86 coal miners’ strike, motherless 11 year-old Billy secretly leaves his boxing practice and becomes the only boy in Mrs Wilkinson’s ballet class. When his furious Dad finds out, Billy is forbidden to attend the dancing lessons, but encouraged by Mrs Wilkinson and her daughter, Debbie, Billy secretly gets free lessons. Billy’s Dad and brother Tony are engaged in daily battles with the riot police, and struggling to support the family with very little strike pay. When they learn that Billy has been entered for an audition with the Royal Ballet School in London, they embarrass and mock him in front of everyone. A humiliated Billy decides to give up the audition and stop dancing. During a maudlin Christmas Party at the Community Centre, Billy’s young friend, Michael confesses that he is gay and has feelings for him, but Billy explains that although he likes ballet, he is not gay. Nonetheless, he lets Michael give him a kiss on the cheek. Michael leaves, and Billy suddenly feels like dancing for the first time since the day of the aborted audition. His spontaneous dance is secretly observed by his father who, overcome with emotion, decides he must support Billy’s talent. To raise the necessary money he breaks his union principals, crosses the picket line and becomes a strike-breaker. This infuriates Tony and leads to a serious fight, but some of the striking miners support Billy, and another strike-breaker gives him hundreds of pounds. Billy eventually succeeds in his audition, and is accepted at the Royal Ballet School. Billy leaves Durham, says goodbye to the miners, to Mrs. Wilkinson and to Debbie, and when Michael arrives to say goodbye, Billy gives him a friendly kiss on the cheek. Billy leaves the past behind him and looks to a bright future. The miners know their industry is dying, but the community spirit lives on in their support for Billy.

Notes: The musical was based on the 2000 film of the same name. The original film was partly inspired by A.J. Cronin’s 1935 novel “The Stars Look Down”. The musical earned excellent notices - "the greatest British musical I have ever seen" (Daily Telegraph), "a theatrical masterpiece" (Daily Mail) and won four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical awarded jointly to all three boys who played Billy. The Broadway production opened in November 2008, earning totally rave reviews, winning ten Tony Awards, and recovering its entire $18 million investment in 14 months. (The New York production closed on January 8th, 2012 following 40 previews and 1,304 performances.)

2005

Photo by David Scheinmann

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BARNUM (3rd Revival) London run: Union, May 10th – June 4th Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Michael Stewart Book: Mark Bramble Director: Paul Tate & Andrew Lynford Choreographer: Andrew Lynford Musical Director: Danny Whitby Producer: Paul Tate

Cast: Chris Coughlin (PT Barnum), Sarah-Jane Bourne (Charity Barnum), James Thomas (Ringmaster), Daniel Whiteley (Tom Thumb), Angela Brereton (Jenny Lind), Natasha Cox, Guy Newman, Debbie Chapman. Philip Giorgi, Wendy Morgan, Hannah Lindo, Charlotte Milchard

Attempting to stage this epic circus show in a tiny fringe theatre inevitably led to questions like where are the acrobats, the trapeze artists, the tightrope walkers? The “human” story at the heart of the show was simply too weak to carry the show on its own. The general verdict was: nicely sung, but no more.

Notes: See Original Production: London Palladium June 1981; First Revival: Victoria Palace, March 1985 Second revival: Dominion Theatre, December 1992

SILK STOCKINGS London run: Lilian Baylis , May 22nd – June 12th (4 Sunday performances) Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath & Abe Burrows Director: Ian Marshall Fisher Choreographer: Roland Brine Musical Director: Simon Beck Producer: Lost Musicals season

Cast: Valerie Cutko (Ninotchka), Martin Turner (Steven Canfield), Jessica Martin (Janice Dayton), Frank Lazarus, David Phipps-Davis, Nigel Anthony, James Vaughan, Neil McCaul, Samantha Giffard, Andrew Beavis Songs: Paris Loves Lovers, It’s a Chemical Reaction, That’s All, All of You, Too Bad, Satin and Silk, Without Love, The Red Blues.

Story: Based on the 1939 Greta Garbo film “Ninotchka”, this is the story of a humourless Russian woman official who is doubly seduced, by Paris itself, and by Steve, a fast-talking American talent scout involved in

convincing a Soviet composer, famous for his “Ode to a Tractor”, to write the score for a Hollywood version of “War and Peace” starring the empty-headed starlet, Janice Dayton. It was a satire on Stalin’s Russia (with some anti-Hollywood jokes thrown in) and very much a product of Eisenhower’s Cold War era.

Notes: This was part of a series of Sunday afternoon semi-staged performances in Ian Marshall Fisher’s season of lost musicals. This show had never been presented in London. The original Broadway production opened in February 1955 and ran for 478 performances with Hildegarde Neff, Don Ameche and Gretchen Wyler. It was later filmed with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

2005

Martin Turner, Jessica Martin & Valerie Cutkko

Photo by Lucas Orme

Charlotte Milchard

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SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (2nd Revival) London run: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, May 28th - July 3rd Music: Stephen Sondheim & others Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Director-Choreographer: Racky Plews Musical Director: Chris Lambert

Cast: Nikki Gerrard, Susie Harriet, James Pearson, Andrew MacDonald (Narrator)

Notes: This production avoided the standard “evening-dress” concert-type approach, and staged the numbers often in costume, with props, and with the male performer occasionally going into drag to join the girls. During the run there was a regular change of narrators.

Original London run: Mermaid Theatre, May 1976; First revival: Greenwich Theatre, July 1997

THE MUSICAL MEDIUM London run: Landor, May 31st – June 18th Music & Lyrics: Stuart Wood Director: Robert McWhir Musical Director: Stuart Wood

Cast: Carol Ball (Peggy Trivet), Leo Andrew (Schubert), Paul Spicer (George), Colleen Daley (Despina)

Story: Frumpy piano teacher, Peggy Trivet, is also a practising medium, and is in frequent contact with dead composers: Beethoven working on his 10th Symphony, Wagner on a sequel to his Ring Cycle. But her main contact is Franz Schubert, who has written another song, and would like her to release it to the world. Schubert is also impressed by her talented piano pupil, George, and wants Peggy help George escape the clutches of his mad Greek mother, Despina, and go off to study at the Juilliard School. (Thanks to a racing tip from Schubert’s long-dead sister, Clara, George is able to earn the financial means to carry out his studies.)

Notes: This was considered to be a fun idea for a show, and containing a very promising score and lyrics. The book was in urgent need of development, and the whole venture was not helped by being performed to recorded music. However, Stuart Wood was reckoned to be a talent worth watching.

2005

Leo Andrew, Carol Ball,

Paul Spicer & Colleen Daley Photo by Stagephoto

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GUYS AND DOLLS (4th Revival) London run: Piccadilly Theatre, June 1st (773 performances) Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows Director: Michael Grandage Choreographer: Rob Ashford Musical Director: Jae Alexander Producer: Donmar Warehouse, Ambassador Theatre Group, David Ian,

etc

Cast: Ewan McGregor (Sky Masterton), Jane Krakowski (Miss Adelaide), Douglas Hodge (Nathan Detroit), Jenna Russell (Sarah Browne), Martyn Ellis (Nicely-Nicely), Cory English (Benny), Niall Buggy, Norman Bowman, Matthew Cole, Sévan Stephan

This revival was very different in approach from the hugely successful National Theatre version, but it was generally regarded as equally as exciting and enjoyable. Ewan MacGregor came in for some mixed reviews, and most of the plaudits were for the American choreographer, Rob Ashford, for creating some of the most exciting dancing to be seen in the West End. Cast changes during the run saw Nigel Harman replace Ewan McGregor, and Nigel Lindsay and Neil Morrissey take over as Nathan Detroit. At the end of its first year further cast changes included Patrick Swayze as Nathan Detroit, Adam Cooper as Sky Masterton, Claire Sweeney as Miss Adelaide, and Kelly Price promoted from the chorus to take over as Sarah Brown. The production ran for almost two years, and closed on April 14th 2007.

See original London run: Coliseum, May 1953; 1st revival: Olivier Theatre, March 1982; 2nd revival: Prince of Wales, June 1985; 3rd revival: Olivier Theatre, December 1996

TICK TICK. . . BOOM! London run: Chocolate Factory, June 9th – September 3rd Music & Lyrics: Jonathan Larson Book revised by: David Auburn Director: Scott Schwartz Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli Musical Director: Carolie Humphris

Cast: Neil Patrick Harris (Jonathan), Cassidy Janson (Susan), Tee Jaye (Michael)

Story: Jonathan is a struggling composer, working weekends as a waiter to subsidise his art. Hoping to get his work staged on Broadway, but about to hit his 30th birthday, he is conscious that time is running out. His best friend, gay Michael, has already given up the fight to be an actor – and has got a decent job and the flashy car and

the new apartment that comes with a “proper” career. His dancer-girlfriend, Susan, is also tired of starving in a garret and longs for a proper home with a dishwasher. Will Jonathan, teetering in the brink of a nervous breakdown before the first public performance of his work “Superbia”, finally sell out? Or will he follow his musical and artistic heart?

Notes: Originally work-shopped in 1990 as a one-person dramatic monologue, but never staged, this was an autobiographical piece by Jonathan Larsen, who would later gain overnight fame as the composer of the musical “Rent” and who died, suddenly at the age of 35, on the eve of the first preview of “Rent”. The work-shop production was revised by the playwright David Auburn into a show for three actors, and ran six months off-Broadway, followed by a US tour and several foreign country productions. This was its UK premiere. It had great interest value, but was ultimately not a particularly successful piece of theatre.

2005

Jenna Russell, Ewan McGregor,

Douglas Hodge & Jane Krakowski

Photo by Lorenzo Agius

Tee Jaye, Cassidy Janson & Neil Patrick Harris

Photo by Alastair Muir

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THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES London run: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, June 20th (Limited 8 week run) Music: Various Created by: David King Director-Choreographer: Gary Lloyd Musical Director: Barry Robinson

Singers: Ken Prymus, Maurey Richards, N’Kenge Simpson-Hoffman, Jonnie Fiori, Natalyia Roni, Ty Stephens, Chris Murrell, Vea Williams, David Jennings

Notes: With a cast of 9 singers and 12 dancers, an onstage orchestra of 16 musicians and a medley of 36 songs associated with Ray Charles, this was a tribute compilation staged just a year after his death. It was billed as “a new musical created by David King”. The critics hated it – claiming false pretences, since it was nothing more than a concert , and claimed the loudest sound of the evening was that of Ray Charles spinning in his grave.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (1st Revival) London run: Heaven, June 20th – July 1st Music & Lyrics: Stephen Trask Book: John Cameron Mitchell Director: John Maher Choreographer: Simone de la Rue Musical Director: Stephen Trask Cast: David Bedella (Hedwig), K.T. Newman (Yitzak)

Staged at the gay disco venue Heaven as part of the Pride Festival of 2005.

Original London production: Playhouse, September 2000

SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS London run: Lyric Hammersmith, July 5th – 23rd Music & Lyrics: Morrissey and Marr Director: Andrew Wale Choreographer: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Musical Director: Perrin Manzer Allen Cast: Katie Brayben, Krysten Cummings, Sigalit Feig, Garrie Harvey, Sean Kingsley, Katrine Lunde Songs: Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me, I Won’t Share You, The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, Asleep, Please Let Me Get what I Want, Barbarism Begins at Home Notes: There was no narrative structure to this show which, musically, was a compilation of songs recorded by The Smiths (Morrissey and Johnny Marr). Whilst the vocal and musical performance was agreed to be powerful and talented, the show itself mystified the audience. It consisted of a series of episodes against back projections of jerky Super 8 films, interpreting the lyrics of the songs. These episodes included, amongst others, a man in a white rabbit suit simulating sex with a girl dressed as a leather-clad Alice in Wonderland, a man and a woman having occasional sex on a table, Helga the au-pair with red hair plaits, and a finale where the rabbit gets shot and has his throat slit. As one reviewer said: “The white rabbit wasn’t the only unhappy bunny by the end of 90 minutes”.

2005

David Bedella

Photo by Tristram Kenton

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EVENING PRIMROSE London run: Lilian Baylis, July 3rd (4 Sunday performances) Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman Director: Ian Marshall Fisher Musical Director: Mark Warman Producer: Lost Musicals Season

Cast: Michael Matus (Charles Snell), Betsy Blair (Mrs Monday), Gary Raymond (Roscoe), Jennifer Higham (Ella), James Vaughan, David O’Brien, Sylvia Seymour, Myra Sands

Songs: Take Me to the World, I Remember, If You Can Find Me I’m Here, When

Story: Charles Snell, a disenchanted poet, hides in Stern’s Manhattan department store after closing time to escape from the realities of everyday life. He thinks he’s alone with just the store’s mannequins, but they turn out to be hermits who have secretly been there for years and have created their own society with its rules and social order. The store society is ruled over by Mrs Monday, a kind of queen bee, and her right-hand man, Roscoe. Charles falls in love with one of the mannequins, Ella, and their developing romance is the main part of the plot. Charles plans to escape back into the outside world with Ella, but Mrs. Monday calls in the “Dark Men”, and in a “Twilight Zone” ending, when the store opens the next morning two new handsome bride and groom mannequins appear, eerily resembling Ella and Charles.

Notes: Originally a short story by John Collier, in 1966 this was commissioned by an American TV company as a 45 minute television musical, containing four songs. The TV cast was headed by Anthony Perkins. As an early example of Sondheim’s work this was an eagerly awaited, British premiere, but it was, in reality, strictly for dedicated Sondheim fans.

DANCING IN THE STREETS London run: Cambridge Theatre, July 19th (319 performances) Music: Various Director & Compiler: Keith Strachan Choreographer: Carole Todd Musical Director: Iain Vince-Gatt

Notes: This was yet another compilation show, this time based on the back catalogue of Tamla Motown. In a kind of “Stars in their Eyes” programme, a cheerfully relentless MC (Ray Shell) introduced various members of the 13 strong cast impersonating the likes of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross,

Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, Smokey Robinson et al, with a lot of high energy, and explosive dance. The show itself had an aura of camp irony, which together with its sheer exuberance made it marginally more welcome than the several other compilations shows that had broken out in the West End this season. It ran for 319 performances and 12 previews, ending April 22nd, 2006.

2005

Jennifer Higham & Michael Matus

Photo by Lucas Orme

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HMS PINAFORE (Revival) London run: Open Air, July 21st – September 10th Music: Arthur Sullivan Lyrics: W.S. Gilbert New version: Herbert Appleman Director: Ian Talbot Choreographer: Bill Deamer Musical Director: Catherine Jayes Producer: New Shakespeare Company

Cast: Desmond Barrit (Sir Joseph Porter), Lesley Nicol (Buttercup), Simon Thomas (Ralph Rackstraw), Scarlett Strallen (Josephine), Hal Fowler (Captain Corcoran), Gary Wilmot (Dick Deadeye)

Notes: The new libretto enlarged the role of Dick Deadeye, making him a kind of commentator on the action, and providing him with a series of asides to “modernise” the proceedings. This was not especially welcomed by the majority of the critics, but the overwhelming high-spirits of the show, and especially the glorious over-the-top performance by Desmond Barritt, made this an evening that was almost universally praised.

See earlier London Production: Her Majesty’s, February 1962 Also Old Vic revival April, 1986

BEHIND THE IRON MASK London run: Duchess Theatre, August 2nd (23 performances) Music & Lyrics: John Robinson Book: Colin Scott & Melinda Walker Director: Tony Craven Choreographer: Conchita Del Campo Musical Director: Alasdair MacNeill

Cast: Sheila Ferguson (Gypsy), Robert Fardell (Prisoner), Mark McKerracher (Jailer)

Songs: There is Sweet Music, Do You Look for Love?, Touch Me, You’ll Never Leave Here, Who’s the Prisoner Here?, Take Me as I Am, I’m a Lady, If All This Means Love

Story: With just three characters, this is the story of a jailer who meets a gypsy temptress and smuggles her back into the jail where a man in an iron mask is incarcerated, and thus

begins a love-triangle story. However, if her presence in the jail is ever discovered, it will mean certain death for them all, so they have to decide whether to kill or to hide her.

Notes: This show was greeted with unanimous hoots of derision and disappeared within three weeks. Some of the critical comments were: “Absolutely all expense has been spared on the skimpy set”; the leading man spends the

whole show “in headgear that makes him look like a mix of Darth Varder, Hannibal Lecter and a charred parrot”; “in a supposedly erotic dance, Feguson wafts her skirt as if she is measuring up for curtains and talks of love and passion as though checking off a shopping list”; “to suggest it is plain terrible does not do justice to its sheer, gothic relentless awfulness”; “The prisoner’s big number is called ‘Touch Me’. Given this show, the phrase that comes to mind is ‘not with a bargepole’”. This show joined the legendary group of the most awful West End shows ever.

2005

Desmond Barrit

Sheila Ferguson & Robert Fardell Photo by Marilyn Kingwill

Photo by Tristram Kenton

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INTO THIN AIR London run: New Players, September 1st - 24th Music & Lyrics: Robert Gray Director-Choreographer: Stewart Nicholls Musical Director: Karl Pendlebury Cast: Wayne Sleep (Adjutant), Cate Debenham-Taylor (Pilot Officer Ripley), William Ludwig (Grebleips), James Bisp, James Head, Rachel Izen, Sorelle Marsh. Story: It’s 1957 in a secret and remote RAF station where the duties are almost non-existent, so the station adjutant decides to put on a musical revue to while away the time. However, he only has four other men and women on the site – so the casting is limited. Then suddenly Ripley, a beautiful new Pilot Officer arrives, so things are looking up. However, she brings chilling news: it is actually the year 2005, and the RAF station and its occupants mysteriously vanished into thin air back in 1957. Then Grebleips, an extra-terrestrial, suddenly arrives and declares his avid interest in earthling mating rituals, and demands that the boys and girls in air-force blue perform for him.

Notes: With more than a nod to “Brigadoon”, “Dr Who” and “The Rocky Horror Show” this was an entertaining, light-hearted piece of nonsense, with a pastiche score ranging from Cole Porter, to G&S and 1950s rock-n-roll performed by a cast of 7 and a 3-piece band. The book enabled a series of time-warp gags with mobile phones, Viagra, etc., and offered plenty of opportunity for Wayne Sleep to perform a series of dances.

DO I HEAR A WALTZ? (1st Revival) London run: Landor, September 7th – October 1st Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents Director: Myles Stinton Musical Director: Danny Whitby Cast: Anna Stolli (Leona Samish), Daniel Gillingwater (Renato di Rossi), Susan Raasay (Signora Floria), Zoe Ann Brown (Mrs McIlhenny), Ian Dring (Mr McIlhenny), Alexander Evans, Conall McCoy, Julia Riley, Paul Russell, Gabriella Santinelli Original London production: Landor, June 1999

2005

Photo by Lisa Bowerman

Wayne Sleep

Photo by Stagephoto

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HAIR (3rd Revival) London run: Gate, September 22nd – October 29th Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics & Book: Gerome Ragni and James Rado Director: Daniel Kramer Choreographer: Ann Yee Musical Director: Steve Hill

Cast: Charles Aitken (Claude), Kevin Wathen (Berger), Gary Amers (Woof), Golda Rosheuvel (Hud), Joanna Ampil (Sheila), Robyn Isaac (Jeannie), Nancy Wei-George (Crissy)

Notes: This was an updated production, moving the setting from Vietnam in the 1960s to the current Iraq War, and updating LBJ to George Bush, etc. A second nude scene reproduced the notorious human pyramid photos of Abu Ghraib. However, this updating made no real sense: a musical about the lost “love and peace” generation became one about brash layabouts refusing to grow up; Claude was no longer the hapless victim of a policy forcing young men into the killing fields, rather he now volunteers for the army. It was generally felt that “Hair”

was truly a period piece which belonged in the 1960s, and this attempt at updating it did not really work. However, it was agreed the show still has one of the best musical scores to come out of that decade, well worth hearing again.

Original London production, Shaftesbury Theatre, September 1968. First revival:

Queen’s Theatre. June 1974; Second Revival:

Old Vic, September 1993

HIGH SOCIETY (2nd Revival) London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, October 10th (120 performances) Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Arthur Kopit Additional lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Director: Ian Talbot Choreographer: Gillian Gregory Musical Director: James Dunsmore Producer: New Shakespeare Company/Churchill Bromley, etc.

Cast: Graham Bickley (Dexter), Paul Robinson (Mike), Ria Jones (Liz), Katherine Kinglsey (Tracy), Royston Kean (Uncle Willie),

Jerry Hall (Mother Lord), Claire Redcliffe, Bryan Torfeh, David Alder

Notes: This was a revival of the 2003 Open-Air Theatre production. According to the Independent: “In Regent’s Park this was just the summertime ticket. . .inside the Shaftesbury, badly microphoned, desperately choreographed and tinnily accompanied by a band of just six musicians, it looks a bit cheap. . .”. Top billing was given to Jerry Hall, in the small and somewhat insignificant role of the mother of the bride. However, just eleven days after the Press Night Jerry Hall withdrew from the show, suffering from glandular fever. (Exactly one year earlier Jerry Hall had left the cast of “My Darlin’ Janey” at the King’s Head, again suffering from glandular fever.) Her role was taken over by her understudy, Ali McInnes. Originally announced for a six-month run, the show closed on January 21st 2006 after just 15 weeks.

Original London production: Victoria Palace, February 1987 First revival: Open Air Theatre, July 2003

2005 Photo by Tristram Kenton

Jerry Hall as Mother Lord

Photo by PhotographersDirect.com

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DR FOSTER London run: Menier Chocolate Factory, October 20th – November 5th

Music: Malcolm Newton Book & Lyrics: Adrian Schiler Director: Adrian Schiler Choreographer: Lynne Page Musical Director: Malcolm Newton

Cast: Rachel Pickup (Dr Foster), Zubin Varla (Mephistopheles), Sergio Covino (Archangel Gabriel), Emily Watcher (Yummy), Anna Lowe (Lovely) Story: An aspiring geeky academic summons up Mephistopheles, prepared to sell her soul in return f o r a c a d e m i c achievement and “all the

pies in the world”, but – shock! – Mephisto turns the offer down. Her soul isn’t worth buying – she’s too good, and, anyway, Hell is overcrowded. The Archangel Gabriel celebrates with some mambo dancing. Notes: A very thin plot, but there was some praise for the composing debut of Malcolm Newton.

THE NEXT BIG THING London run: New Players Theatre, November 2nd – December 3rd Music & Lyrics: Mark Burton & Pete Sinclair Additional songs: Willie Dowling Director: Clive Paget Choreographer: Jenny Arnold Musical Director: John Maher Cast: Jon-Paul Hevey (Mike West), Melissa Lloyd (Fenda, etc.), Jon Boydon (Zak Love), Glenn Chapman (Malcolm, etc.), Lisa Baird, Anna Carmichael, Kieron Crook, Hugo Degenhardt, Guy James, Robin Johnson, James Parkes. Story: Mike West is a wannabe rock star, and is inspired in this quest by the sexy spirit of his red Fender Guitar. Despite the efforts of Malcolm, the punk group manager, it becomes clear that Mike’s talent can’t hold a candle to his bandmate, Zak

Love, who is destined to be the real success. Notes: The plot was just an excuse for a series of original songs sending up every pop music trend from 60s pop to punk, new romanticism and glam rock. With a cast of 11 in a series of quick-changes, outrageous costumes, and great energy, this was a likeable, fun show.

2005 Photo by Elliot Franks

Jon Boydon as Zak Love

Photo by Colin White

Rachel Pickup & Zubin Varla

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SCROOGE THE MUSICAL (1st Revival) London run: London Palladium, November 8th – January 14th 2006 (Limited season) Music, Lyrics & Book: Leslie Bricusse Director: Bob Tomson Choreographer: Lisa Kent Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar Producer: Bill Kenwright

Cast: Tommy Steele (Scrooge), Tom Solomon (Young Scrooge), Glyn Kerslake (Bob Cratchit), Barry Howard (Jacob Marley), Gemma Page (Christmas Past), James Head (Christmas Present), Ian Sanders (Christmas Yet to Come)

Notes: According to a plaque in the Dress Circle Bar, Tommy Steele has headlined more performances at the London Palladium than any other artist (his last show being “Singing in the Rain” in 1989). Although this cheery cockney persona doesn’t immediately suggest Scrooge, he was welcomed back like a conquering hero. It was very enjoyable Christmas fayre.

Original London Production: Dominion, November 1996

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (3rd Revival) London run: Union, November 8th - 26th Music: Stephen Sondheim & others Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Director: Andrew Lynford Musical Director: Michael Cryne

Cast: Alison Egan, Natalie Searles, Denise Silvey, Gavin James, Morgan James, Chris Gee (Narrator)

Notes: This was the second production of this show in 2005, and returned to the standard “evening-dress” concert-type approach Original London run: Mermaid Theatre, May 1976 First revival: Greenwich Theatre, July 1997 Second revival: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, May 2005

DANNY AND SYLVIA London run: Jermyn Street, November 10th – 26th Original Music: Bob Bain Book and Lyrics: Robert McElwaine Director-Choreographer: Kenn Oldfield Musical Director: Karl Pendlebury

Cast: Richard Brightiff (Danny Kaye), Jessica Martin (Sylvia Fine)

Songs: (Original songs): If I Knew Then, I’m a Star (and songs by various composers from Danny Kaye’s films and shows. )

Story: Robert McElwaine was a long-time friend and colleague of Danny Kaye, and has created a story of how Danny and Sylvia met, how they worked together, got married, separated, and then got together again, and how the savvy Sylvia provided the discipline that made the mercurial Danny Kaye an international star. Because Richard Brightiff had an uncanny resemblance to the young Danny Kaye, and captured his personality and act so well, and because Jessica Martin gave a very powerful performance, this show was much praised.

2005

Tommy Steele & Barry Howard

Richard Brightiff

Photo by Marilyn Kingwill

Photo by Union Theatre

Photo by Keith Pattison

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SUNDAY IN THE PARK

WITH GEORGE (1st Revival) London run: Menier Chocolate Factory, Nov 29th – March 12th, 2006 Transfer: Wyndhams , May 23rd 2006 – Sept 2nd Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine Director: Sam Buntrock Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli Musical Director: Caroline Humphris

Cast: Daniel Evans (George), Anna Jane Casey (Dot), Gay Soper, Joanne Redman, Simon Green, Liza Sadovy, Alasdair Harvey, Christopher Colley, Sarah French Ellis, Kaisa Hammarlund, Mark McKerracher

Notes: Fifteen years after its coolly received National Theatre premiere, this fringe production had almost all the critics reaching for their superlatives. With a small cast, a five-piece band and its ambitious production techniques and computer graphics, this show was visually and technically breathtaking. And with the brilliant central performances from Daniel Evans, Anna Jane Casey and Gay Soper it was hailed as unforgettable, with several critics deciding it was a Sondheim masterpiece.

Its major achievement seems to be welding the two separate acts together – earlier critics had claimed this was two separate shows, with no real link between the 1880s Paris of Seurat and the 1980s USA of his (fictional) grandson. The production transferred to Wyndhams Theatre in May 2006 and ran until September 2nd . It had the same principal cast, except Jenna Russell replaced Anna Jane Casey who was unavailable. It won five Olivier Awards, including Outstanding Musical Production, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. The production was re-created for a limited engagement on Broadway between January and June 2008, again with Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell.

Original London Production: Lyttleton Theatre, March 1990

JACK THE RIPPER (1st Revival) London run: Jermyn Street, December 1st – 22nd Music: Ron Pember Lyrics & Book: Ron Pember & Denis Demarne Director-Chorerographer: Tim McArthur Musical Director: Stephen Hose

Cast: Alex Browne (Chairman), Leanne Masterton (Marie Kelly), Janine Hales (Annie), William Ludwig (Montague Druitt), Cathy McManamon (Lizzie Stride), Mark Lambourne (Daniel Mendoza),

Kris Abrahams, Peter Huntley, Philip Lee, Hannah Lindo, Clare Thomas. Maggie Robson

Notes: With 12 actors and one pianist, this was a scaled down revival of the show first seen in London 30 years earlier.

Original London production: Ambassadors/Cambridge September 1974

2005

Daniel Evans

Photo by Tristram Kenton

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SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS (1st Revival) London run: The Venue, December 6th – February 4th 2006 Music & Lyrics: Robin Forrest & Jonathan Croose Book & Additional lyrics: Charlotte Mann & Michael Fidler Director: Michael Fidler Choreographer: Bruno Fanioli Musical Director:

Cast: Scott Baker (Saucy Jack), Faye Tozer (Jubilee), Gemma Zirfas (Anna), Melita Nicola (Bunny), Carl Mullaney (Booby), Mark Carroll (Dr Whackoff),

Carmen Cusack (Chesty), Joel Karie (Sammy), Paul Christopher (Mitch) Original London Production: Queen’s Theatre, March 1998

THE WIZ (1st Revival) London run: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, December 17th – January 29th 2006 Music & Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: Frank Baum & William Brown Director: John Plews Choreographer: Racky Plews Musical Director: Christopher Whitehead Cast: Sarah Boulton (Dorothy), Sasha Hermann (Aunt Em), Stuart Hickey (Uncle Henry/The Wiz), Spencer James (Scarecrow), Emma Lindars (Evillene), Louisa Copperwaite (Addaperle), Andrew Fitzpatrick (Lion), Jonathan Eio (Tinman), Georgina Wyatt, Caroline Fox Performed by an all-white cast and in the tiny fringe venue, this was praised for its youthful energy and little else. Original London Production: Lyric Hammersmith, December 1984

2005

Photo by London Evening Standard