London Musicals 1995-1999.pub - Over The Footlights
London Musicals 1995-1999.pub - Over The Footlights
London Musicals 1995-1999.pub - Over The Footlights
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1996<br />
DAMN YANKEES (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Bridewell <strong>The</strong>atre, January 8 th – February 3 rd (Limited season)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Richard Adler & Jerry Ross<br />
Book: George Abbott & Douglass Wallop<br />
Director: Carole Metcalfe<br />
Choreographer: Bernard Sharpe<br />
Musical Director: Andrew Parkyns<br />
10<br />
Cast: Liz Izen (Lola), Daniel Brown (Joe Hardy),<br />
Peter Gale (Mr Applegate), Clovissa Newcombe,<br />
Jill Martin, Clive Paget<br />
Photo by Cullen Henshaw<br />
See Original <strong>London</strong> Production: Coliseum, March<br />
1957<br />
Clive Paget, Robert Boniske, Seamus Kennedy,<br />
Mark Lawson & James Pearson<br />
THE FIELDS OF AMBROSIA<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Aldwych <strong>The</strong>atre, January 31 st (13 Performances)<br />
Music: Martin Silvestri<br />
Lyrics & Book: Joel Higgins<br />
Director: Gregory S. Hurst<br />
Choreographer: David Toguri<br />
Musical Director: Mark Warman<br />
Cast: Joel Higgins (Jonas Candide), Christine Andreas (Gretchen Herzallerliebst),<br />
Mark Joseph (Jimmy Crawford), Mark Heenehan (Malcolm), Michael Fenton Stevens, Roger Leach,<br />
Songs: Alone, Too Bad, Continental Sunday, All in This Together, Hungry, Do It For Me.<br />
Story: This is a rock opera, set in the Deep South of the USA at the end of the First World War. Jonas<br />
Candide is a travelling executioner, touring in a van containing his electric chair and providing his services to<br />
various prisons along the way. He is required to electrocute Christine Andreas, a mysterious, aristocratic<br />
European, found guilty of spying for Germany, but he falls in love with her. Accordingly he plans to rescue<br />
her, but his sexual obsession leads him to commit the very crime he is paid to punish. In an apocalyptic finale<br />
the criminal lovers are reunited in the heavenly Ambrosian fields.<br />
Notes: This show has gone down in musical annals as one of the most gloriously awful shows of all time,<br />
making “Springtime for Hitler” look like a triumph of good taste.<br />
In a sub-plot we are introduced to Jimmy Crawford, a wimpish<br />
young mortician who is gang-raped by two prisoners (and<br />
proceeds to sing a song “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another. . . I was<br />
just ten when I lost my mother”. As compensation, Jonas takes<br />
Jimmy for an orgiastic session at the local brothel. <strong>The</strong> prison<br />
warden, Malcolm, attempts to rape Christine, but then settles for<br />
one of the male prisoners. Jonas manages to get the prostitutes<br />
into the prison as part of his plan to recue Christine – and so it<br />
goes on! This most preposterous story includes two shooting<br />
fatalities, a public execution, and a dramatic fire explosion at the<br />
end as the lovers float heaven-wards in a cloud of dry-ice and<br />
fairy lights. An all-time stinker that closed almost as soon as it<br />
opened, it had been enthusiastically received in its 1993 premiere<br />
in New Jersey, USA., but lost its entire £1.3 million investment in<br />
<strong>London</strong>.
1996<br />
JOSEPH & THE AMAZING<br />
TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT<br />
(6 th Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Labatt’s Apollo February 27 th<br />
(71 Performances)<br />
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
Lyrics: Tim Rice<br />
Director: Steven Pimlott<br />
Choreographer: Anthony van Laast<br />
Musical Director: Michael Dixon<br />
Producer: Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
11<br />
Philip Schofield<br />
Cast: Philip Schofield (Joseph), Ria Jones (Narrator),<br />
Robert McWhir (Benjamin), Chris Holland (Pharaoh),<br />
Barry Martin, Richard Woodford, Elizabeth Cooper-Gee<br />
This was a revival of the production which ran at the <strong>London</strong> Palladium from June 1991 to January 1994, back<br />
in the West End for the second time for a nine week season.<br />
Notes: See original <strong>London</strong> Production, Albery <strong>The</strong>atre, Feb 1973<br />
1st revival: Westminster <strong>The</strong>atre, Nov 1978 2nd revival: Westminster <strong>The</strong>atre, Nov1979<br />
3rd revival: Vaudeville <strong>The</strong>atre, Dec 1981 4th Revival: Royalty <strong>The</strong>atre, Dec 1986<br />
5th Revival: <strong>London</strong> Palladium, June 1991<br />
TOMMY (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Shaftesbury <strong>The</strong>atre, March 5 th (391 Performances)<br />
Music: Pete Townshend & <strong>The</strong> Who<br />
Book: Pete Townshend & Des McAnuff (revised)<br />
Director: Des McAnuff<br />
Choreographer: Wayne Cilento<br />
Musical Director: Colin Welford<br />
Cast: Paul Keating (Tommy), Kim Wilde (Mrs Walker),<br />
Alistair Robins (Captain Walker) , Nicola Hughes (Acid Queen),<br />
Hal Fowler (Cousin Kevin), Megan Bertie (Nurse), John Partridge (Lover),<br />
Ian Bartholomew (Uncle Ernie), Steve Devereaux, James Gillan.<br />
Songs: Captain Walker, It’s a Boy, We’ve Won, Twenty-One, Amazing<br />
Journey, See Me Feel Me, Eyesight to the Blind, Acid Queen, Pinball<br />
Wizard, We’re Not Going to Take It<br />
Notes: This was a completely re-written version, with many changes from<br />
the version that ran for just three months in the West End in 1979. <strong>The</strong><br />
writer-director, Des McAnuff, had softened the story of the young boy<br />
who loses all his senses when , at the age of four, he witnesses his father<br />
killing his mother’s lover. Unable to communicate, abused by his family<br />
and the town louts, he somehow becomes a pinball wizard. Eventually he<br />
recovers his senses and develops into a messianic superstar. At the end of<br />
the show he returns to the bosom of his family. <strong>The</strong> production was<br />
notable for many stunning stage and lighting effects.<br />
Die-hard Who fans complained that this version removed all the passion,<br />
fire and rage of the original, written at the time of Woodstock and the<br />
Vietnam War, when the only solution to the ills of society was to drop out.<br />
However, this version had opened to ecstatic reviews on Broadway in 1993<br />
and ran for 899 performances . This spectacular <strong>London</strong> revival received<br />
very mixed notices, although there were rave notices for newcomer Paul<br />
Keating in the title role. It came off after just under a year, with a<br />
considerable financial loss – but shortly after it closed it won three Olivier<br />
Awards (Outstanding Musical, Best Director and Best Lighting).<br />
Original <strong>London</strong> run: Queen’s <strong>The</strong>atre, February 1979<br />
Nicola Hughes<br />
Photo by Donald Cooper
NUNSENSE (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Jermyn Street <strong>The</strong>atre,<br />
March 15 th – April 6 th (Limited season)<br />
Music, Book & Lyrics: Dan Goggin<br />
Director: Graham Ashe<br />
Musical Director: Barrie Bignold<br />
Cast: Maggie Beckit (Sister Mary Regina),<br />
Julie Driscoll (Sister Mary Robert-Anne),<br />
Tricia Court (Sister Mary Hubert),<br />
Emma Barrie (Sister Mary Amnesia)<br />
Rebecca Little (Sister Mary Leo)<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run : Fortune <strong>The</strong>atre, March 1987<br />
1996<br />
12<br />
DISGRACEFULLY YOURS<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Comedy <strong>The</strong>atre, March 20 th (21 Performances)<br />
Music Book & Lyrics: Richard O’Brien<br />
Director: Christopher Malcolm<br />
Choreographer: Stacey Haynes<br />
Musical Director: Dave Brown<br />
Cast: Richard O’Brien (Mephistopheles Smith), Michael Dalton, Debbie Scamp, Nikki Shaw,<br />
Dave Brown, Les Davidson, Nick Payn, Bill Robinson, Ed Spevock<br />
Songs: <strong>The</strong> Best is Yet to Come, Heart on Fire, Incubus of Love<br />
Story: Mephistopheles Smith is holding a devil’s revivalist meeting in<br />
his Disco-Club Inferno PLC, a yuppiefied venue from which<br />
trainspotters, ad men and sinners are banned: only those who love sex,<br />
drugs and rock’n’roll are admitted. Entertainment is provided by<br />
“Brother” Michael Dalton (in a pink tutu) and the Fabulous Frockettes<br />
and consists of “hunky, funky and spunky” gags as they “try to get to<br />
the bottom of Sodom”<br />
Photo by Hugo Glendinning<br />
Notes: Originally staged at the previous year’s Edinburgh Festival,<br />
this was booked into the Comedy for a limited three week run (21<br />
performances). <strong>The</strong> critics unanimously stated this was 21<br />
performances too many. Neil Smith for “What’s On” was<br />
representative when he wrote: “If you’re the kind of a person who<br />
likes to spend a night on the town in bondage and fishnets, you’ll<br />
probably have a ball. But if you’re the type who balks at the prospect<br />
of a bald 54-year-old making a complete dick of himself, you’d best<br />
steer well clear”<br />
Richard O’Brien
PASSION<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Queen’s <strong>The</strong>atre, March 26 th<br />
(215 Performances)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim<br />
Book: James Lapine<br />
Director: Jeremy Sams<br />
Choreographer: Jonathan Buttrell<br />
Musical Director: Mark W. Dorrell<br />
Producer: Bill Kenwright<br />
Cast: Michael Ball (Giorgio), Maria Friedman (Fosca),<br />
Helen Hobson (Clara), David Firth (Colonel Ricci),<br />
Hugh Ross (Doctor Tambourri), Michael Heath,<br />
Michael Cantwell, Simon Green, Ian McLarnon,<br />
Songs: Happiness, I Wish I Could Forget You, Is This What<br />
You Call Love, Loving You, Farewell Letter, No One Has<br />
Ever Loved You<br />
1996<br />
Maria Friedman & Michael Ball<br />
Story: <strong>The</strong> story begins in Milan with Giorgio, an army<br />
officer, in bed with his mistress, Clara, a beautiful married woman, as they sing of their “perfect love”. He is<br />
about to be transferred to an army outpost, so they promise to write to each other daily and make love with their<br />
words. At the outpost Giorgio meets Fosca, the sickly, unattractive cousin of the colonel in charge. Fosca<br />
becomes obsessed with Giorgio, pursuing him relentlessly and offering him “love<br />
without reason”. Unable to handle this naked emotion, Giorgio urges Clara to leave<br />
her husband and child and marry him – but she refuses. He realises this former<br />
“perfect love” is a pale shadow of the “real love” shown him by Fosca, and he<br />
surrenders to Fosca’s passion – with disastrous results for them both.<br />
Notes: Based on Ettore Scola’s film “Passione d’Amore” and the novel “Fosca”, the<br />
1994 Broadway production won four Tony Awards and was hailed as one of the most<br />
important musicals of recent years, running for 280 performances. <strong>The</strong> <strong>London</strong><br />
production did not fare quite so well, in spite of rave notices for Maria Friedman and<br />
excellent ones for Michael Ball. <strong>The</strong> production was described as a “chamber opera”<br />
of such intensity that it would not be to everyone’s taste, but generally was highly<br />
praised and admired. It had a six month run, though at the end of the year it did<br />
receive the Evening Standard Award as the Best Musical of the Year.<br />
13<br />
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench<br />
ELVIS THE MUSICAL (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Prince of Wales <strong>The</strong>atre, April 15 th (192 Performances)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Various<br />
Director: Keith Strachan & Carole Todd<br />
Choreographer: Carole Todd<br />
Musical Director: James Compton<br />
Producer: Bill Kenwright<br />
Cast: Alexander Bar (Young Elvis), Timothy Whitnall (Middle Elvis),<br />
P.J.Proby (Older Elvis), Shelley Bond, Eddie Burton, Jonell Elliott, Bob Golding,<br />
Anna Kumble, Lottie Mayor, James Pearson, Kevin Rooney<br />
This revival achieved a run of 24 weeks<br />
Original <strong>London</strong> run: Astoria <strong>The</strong>atre, November 1977
SALAD DAYS (4 th<br />
Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Vaudeville <strong>The</strong>atre, April 18 th (148 Performances)<br />
Music: Julian Slade<br />
Lyrics & Book: Julian Slade & Dorothy Reynolds<br />
Director: Ned Sherrin<br />
Choreographer: Lindsay Dolan<br />
Musical Director: Stuart Hutchinson<br />
1996<br />
14<br />
Cast: David Morton (Tramp), Nicola Fulljames (Jane), Simon Connolly (Timothy),<br />
Richard Sisson (Troppo), Elizabeth Counsell, Gay Soper, Kit Hesketh-Harvey,<br />
Sarah Mortimer<br />
This production originated at the Yvonne Arnaud <strong>The</strong>atre, Guildford and was<br />
mounted to mark the 40 th anniversary of the show – although it was actually 42<br />
years since its <strong>London</strong> premiere. It ran just under five months.<br />
Notes: See Original Production , Vaudeville <strong>The</strong>atre, August 1954.<br />
First Revival: Prince’s <strong>The</strong>atre, December 1961<br />
Second Revival: Lyric, Hammersmith, August 1964<br />
Third Revival: Duke of York's, April 14 1976<br />
CALAMITY JANE (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Sadler’s Wells,, May 23rd – June 15th (Limited run)<br />
Music: Sammy Fain<br />
Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster<br />
Book: Charles K. Freeman<br />
Director: Paul Kerryson<br />
Choreographer: David Needham<br />
Musical Director: Jeremy Fisher<br />
Producer: Belgrade <strong>The</strong>atre, Coventry<br />
Cast: Gemma Craven (Calamity Jane), Stephen McGann (Wild Bill Hickok),<br />
Stuart Pendred (Lieutenant Danny Martin), Nicole Carty (Adelaide Adams),<br />
Grace Kinirons (Katie Brown), James Gavin (Francis Fryer)<br />
This season at Sadler’s Wells was part of national tour. Gemma Craven<br />
received a lot of praise, but it was felt the scenery and staging was not up to<br />
<strong>London</strong> standards.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: BAC Main, December , 1994<br />
DAMES AT SEA (2nd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Ambassadors <strong>The</strong>atre, May 29 th – July 20th<br />
Music: Jim Wise<br />
Lyrics & Book: George Haimsohn & Robin Miller<br />
Director: John Gardyne<br />
Choreographer: Lindsay Dolan<br />
Musical Director: Christopher Littlewood<br />
Cast: Kim Criswell (Mona), Sara Crowe (Joan), Peter Duncan (Hennessey),<br />
Joanne Farrell (Ruby), Jason Gardiner (Dick), John Peterson (Lucky)<br />
This was a limited run as part of the Covent Garden Festival. It was hoped it might<br />
extend, but in spite of decent notices, it failed to draw the crowds.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Duchess <strong>The</strong>atre, August 1969<br />
First Revival: Village, NW2, August 1993
CAMELOT (2 nd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Freemason’s Hall, June 7 th<br />
(2 days only special performance)<br />
Music: Frederick Loewe<br />
Lyrics & Book: Alan Jay Lerner<br />
Director: Frank Dunlop<br />
Choreographer: Brad Jeffries<br />
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine<br />
Producer: Covent Garden Festival<br />
Cast: Paul Nicholas (King Arthur), Samantha Janus (Guinevere),<br />
Desmond McNamara (Merlin/Pellinore),<br />
Robert Meadmore (Sir Lancelot), Jason Donovan (Mordred),<br />
This was a two day only Festival revival, described as “cobbled together.<br />
. . under-rehearsed, inaudible and undercast” (Spectator)<br />
Notes: See original <strong>London</strong> run: Drury Lane, August 1964<br />
First revival: Apollo Victoria, November 1982<br />
Paul Nicholas & Samantha Janus<br />
1996<br />
15<br />
Photo by Robbie Jack<br />
SWEENEY TODD (3 rd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Holland Park, June 18 th – 22 nd (Limited run)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim<br />
Book: Hugh Wheeler<br />
Director: Christopher Bond<br />
Musical Director: Mark Warman<br />
Producer: Newpalm Productions<br />
Cast: Ray Shell (Sweeney Todd), Nicky Croydon (Mrs Lovett), Darryl Knock (Anthony),<br />
Simon Masterton-Smith (Judge Turpin), Justine Koos (Joanna), Paul J. Medford (Tobias), Steve Elias (Pirelli),<br />
Jackie Marks (Beggar Woman)<br />
This was staged in the open-air Holland Park theatre for just six performances. It was generally well received.<br />
Notes: See Original <strong>London</strong> production: Drury Lane <strong>The</strong>atre, July 1980;<br />
1st revival: Half Moon <strong>The</strong>atre, May 1985; 2nd revival: Cottesloe June 1993/Lyttleton December 1993<br />
FOLLIES (1st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Kenneth More <strong>The</strong>atre, June 18th—22nd (Limited run)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim<br />
Book: James Goldman<br />
Director: Vivyan Ellacott<br />
Choreographer: Loraine Porter<br />
Musical Director: Edna Graham<br />
Producer: Cameron Mackintosh<br />
Cast: Laura Nayman (Sally), Loraine Porter (Phyllis),<br />
Reg Wheeler (Buddy), Leonard Charles (Ben), Don Fletcher (Weisman),<br />
Brenda Brackley (Carlotta), Frances Chanter (Stella),<br />
Hilda Hooper (Heidi), Lynn Temple (Solange), Jenny Oates (Hattie),<br />
David Rose & Joan Baxter, Jeremy Smith, Nic Greenshields, Pharic Scott<br />
This was the first <strong>London</strong> production of the “original” Broadway version.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 1987 <strong>London</strong> premiere had new songs and some alterations<br />
requested by Cameron Mackintosh, but Sondheim ultimately decided he<br />
preferred this earlier version. This production used Maria Bjornson’s<br />
original West End costumes, kindly loaned by Cameron Mackintosh.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Shaftesbury <strong>The</strong>atre, July 1987
RAGS (1st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Spitalfields Market Opera, June 18th—23rd<br />
Music: Charles Strouse<br />
Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz<br />
Book: Joseph Stein<br />
Director: Raymond Wright & Barry Hooper<br />
Choreographer:<br />
Musical Director: Graham Nichols<br />
Cast: Jill Gardner (Rebecca), Lee Wright/ Daryl Fox (David), Terry Ashwell (Older David),<br />
Richard Reece (Nathan Hershkowitz), Simon Rothman (Saul), Gill Hack (Bella Cohen), Denis Steer (Avram),<br />
Josh Rochford (Ben Levitowitz),<br />
Notes: <strong>The</strong> original 1986 Broadway production closed after only four performances (and 18 previews) and a<br />
dramatically rewritten and streamlined production was created in 1991 and performed at <strong>The</strong> American Jewish<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre, New York City. This version had 9 actors playing all of the roles, and a reduced set, with two pushcarts<br />
on stage and imaginary windows, with the actors describing the exterior activity. <strong>The</strong> music was provided by two<br />
pianos. <strong>The</strong> story was now told in retrospect by the Older David, the heroine's young son.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first UK production, at the Kenneth More <strong>The</strong>atre in 1992 was basically the original 1986 version with one or<br />
two amendments from the 1991 re-write. This version at the Spitalfields Market Opera was the 1991 version but<br />
instead of 9 actors playing many different parts, it was enlarged with a cast of 25 and with an orchestra rather than a<br />
piano score. Accordingly, it counted as the fourth different version of this show.<br />
Original <strong>London</strong> production: Kenneth More <strong>The</strong>atre, November 1992<br />
1996<br />
16<br />
BY JEEVES (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Duke of York’s, July 2nd (104 Performances)<br />
Transferred to Lyric <strong>The</strong>atre, October 3 rd (164 Performances)<br />
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
Lyrics & Book: Alan Ayckbourn<br />
Director: Alan Ayckbourn<br />
Choreographer: Sheila Carter<br />
Musical Director: Kate Young<br />
Producer: Really Useful Company<br />
Cast: Steven Pacey (Bertie Wooster), Malcolm Sinclair (Jeeves), Simon Day (Gussie),<br />
Richard Long (Stinker), Lucy Tregear (Honoria Glossop), Cathy Sara (Stiffy Byng), Diana<br />
Morrison (Madeleine), Nicholas Haverson (Bingo Little),<br />
Robert Austin (Sir Watkyn Bassett)<br />
Songs: New Songs: A False Start, That Was Nearly Us, Love’s Maze, <strong>The</strong> Hallo Song, By Jeeves, What Have You<br />
Got to Say, It’s a Pig, <strong>The</strong> Wizard Rainbow. (Retained from the original: Code of the Woosters, Travel Hopefully,<br />
When Love Arrives, Banjo Boy, Half a Moment.)<br />
Steven Pacey & Malcolm Sinclair<br />
Notes: This was a completely revised version of<br />
“Jeeves”, the 1975 flop, re-titled “By Jeeves”.<br />
Instead of the large-scale original, the new version<br />
was a small-scale play with songs. Ayckbourn<br />
had thrown out the aunts and the pigs and all the<br />
other eccentric stuff and created an entirely new<br />
plot: Bertie intends to play his banjo at a charity<br />
performance at the local village hall but Jeeves<br />
hides the offending instrument. Andrew Lloyd<br />
Webber came up with eight new songs with five<br />
songs retained from the original. This time it was<br />
a success, described as “one of the slickest<br />
comebacks since Lazarus”. However, it still only<br />
managed just over a six month run.<br />
Original <strong>London</strong> run:<br />
Her Majesty’s <strong>The</strong>atre, April 1975
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench<br />
MARTIN GUERRE<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Prince Edward <strong>The</strong>atre, July 10 th<br />
Revised version: November 11 th<br />
(Total 675 Performances)<br />
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg<br />
Lyrics: Alain Boublil (trans Herbert Kretzmer/Edward Hardy)<br />
Additional Lyrics: Stephen Clark<br />
Book: Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg<br />
Director: Declan Donnellan<br />
Choreographer: Bob Avian<br />
Musical Director: David Charles Abell<br />
1996<br />
Cast: Iain Glenn (Arnaud du Thil), Juliette Caton (Bertrande de Rols),<br />
Matt Rawle (Martin Guerre), Michael Matus (Benoit), Jerome Pradon (Guillaume),<br />
Ann Emery, Sheila Reid, Julia Sutton, Susan Jane Tanner, Martin Turner.<br />
(In the revised version the role of Bertrande was shared with Rebecca Lock)<br />
Songs: All I Know, Tell Me When to Go, When We Were Young, Here Comes the<br />
Morning, Why Won’t You Love Me (Added in the revised version): Working on<br />
the Land<br />
Story: Martin Guerre, a real-life historical figure in the anti-Protestant town of<br />
Iain Glenn & Juliette Caton<br />
Artigat, is forced into an arranged marriage with Bertrande de Rols in order to<br />
produce a Catholic heir. <strong>The</strong> marriage is unsatisfactory and complicated by the fact that a childhood friend,<br />
Guillaume, is secretly in love with Bertrande. When war breaks out with the Protestants Martin is happy to leave for<br />
the battlefield, where he befriends Arnaud du Thil, and tells him his story. At this point, the musical begins. Martin<br />
disappears, assumed dead in the fighting. Arnaud goes to his village to inform Bertrande of her husband's death but,<br />
mistaken for the deceased soldier by the residents, he decides to take on the identity of Martin Guerre. Bertrande<br />
decides to keep his secret and the two fall in love. Guillaume, who had hoped for a chance with Bertrande while her<br />
husband was away, becomes jealous of the supposedly returned soldier. He discovers that “Martin” and Bertrande<br />
are secret Protestants and rouses a mob to attack them. Benoit, the village idiot, steps in to announce that Arnaud is<br />
an imposter and not the real Martin Guerre, and he is arrested and tried for deception. A shock witness at the trial is<br />
the real Martin Guerre himself, having apparently survived the war. <strong>The</strong> imprisoned Arnaud is freed by Martin who<br />
forgives him for stealing his identity, and recognises Arnaud and Bertrande's love for each other. However, the mob<br />
sets the town ablaze and Guillaume stabs Arnaud before he can escape. As Arnaud dies in Bertrande's arms, Martin<br />
and Bertrande sing mournfully about love and then separate for good.<br />
Notes: Based on the 1982 French film “<strong>The</strong> Return of Martin Guerre”, and a 1993 re-make “Sommersby”, this was<br />
a £3.75 million mega-musical which had apparently been seven years in the planning. <strong>The</strong> original previews were<br />
cancelled and delayed for three weeks because of technical difficulties, leading to threatened court-action from<br />
disappointed ticket-holders demanding compensation for expenses incurred. It was an impressive, worthy but<br />
somewhat dark and humourless show and received a series of very unenthusiastic reviews. Business dropped off,<br />
but rather than abandon the show, Cameron<br />
Mackintosh spent another half million pounds<br />
on a major re-write, including new songs (and<br />
the services of yet another lyricist, Stephen<br />
Clark) and much revision. Four months after<br />
opening, the show closed for three days and was<br />
then re-launched as the “New Martin Guerre”.<br />
It was shorter and more focussed on the<br />
romantic story, with less religious conflict and<br />
more emphasis on the character of Bertrande.<br />
However, it closed in February 1998, in spite of<br />
winning the Olivier Award for Best New<br />
Musical, allegedly with total losses of £7<br />
million.<br />
(Another revised version was created for a UK<br />
tour and opened at the West Yorkshire<br />
Playhouse in November 1998. Third time<br />
lucky, it finally received much critical praise.)<br />
17<br />
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench
PROMISES PROMISES (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Bridewell <strong>The</strong>atre, July 18 th – August 10 th<br />
Music: Burt Bacharach<br />
Lyrics: Hal David<br />
Book: Neil Simon<br />
Director: John J.D. Sheehan<br />
Choreographer: Sam Spencer Lane<br />
Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar<br />
Cast: Marcus Allen Cooper (Chuck Baxter), Vanessa Cross (Fran<br />
Kubelik), Murray Woodfield (J. D. Sheldrake), Harry Dickman (Dr<br />
Dreyfuss), Joyce Springer (Marge), Simon Clark (Jesse Vanderhoff),<br />
Louise Ann Wesley (Vivien Della Hoya)<br />
Universally panned, for the out-dated show itself and for a poor<br />
production, this was summed up by Jack Tinker as “Woefully undercast,<br />
hopelessly under-directed, laughably under-designed, the entire<br />
venture sags with a sense of its own inadequacy”.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Prince of Wales, October 1969<br />
Marcus Allen Cooper with<br />
Suzanna McKellan & Jemima Price<br />
1996<br />
18<br />
Photo by Robert Workman<br />
Photo by Donna Francesca<br />
VOYEURZ<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Whitehall <strong>The</strong>atre, July 22 nd (64 Performances)<br />
Music, Book & Lyrics: Michael Lewis & Peter Rafelson<br />
Director: Michael Lewis & Peter Rafelson<br />
Choreographer: Bunty Mathias & Annabel Haydn<br />
Musical Director: Fem 2 Fem<br />
Producer: Michael White<br />
Cast: Sally Anne Marsh (Jane), Krysten Cummings (Andi), Natasha Kristie (Eve),<br />
Robert Nurse (Pretty Boy Lloyd), Marcus J. McCue (Zephyr), Belinda Chapman (Cruel Ella),<br />
Lisa Torun (Chakra Calm)<br />
Songs: <strong>The</strong> Hole, Stand Back, A World Full of Pain, Sex on a Train, Tantric Sex<br />
Story: Jane, a young Virginian farm-girl, wakes up in the night<br />
feeling she is missing out on something. She decides to find some<br />
excitement by visiting a school friend in New York. On the train<br />
she meets Andi, a temptress, who invites her to spend a girls’ night<br />
out in a nightclub called Voyeurz. In the club, scantily clad girls<br />
fondle themselves and the odd bits of scaffolding and, for some<br />
reason, Jane ends up in a cage, watching their multi-orgasmic<br />
activities and filming them with a camcorder. This is then<br />
projected onto a large screen above the stage. <strong>The</strong> Club’s owner,<br />
Eve, encourages Jane to join in a series of Lesbian games, some<br />
S&M activities, a lot of groping , and some games with sex toys.<br />
As the activities reach their “climax”, Jane wakes up again, back in<br />
her bed in Virginia – and it’s all been a dream.<br />
Notes: Michael White, famous for “Rocky Horror Show” and “Oh<br />
Calcutta”, had apparently invested £1 million in this lavish “adult<br />
entertainment”. <strong>The</strong> publicity said that he hoped people would<br />
leave the theatre “wanting to have sex – with whatever and<br />
whomever”. Inevitably the show was totally derided by the critics,<br />
claiming it offered not just simulated sex, but simulated singing,<br />
dancing and acting and a simulated book and music. It came off<br />
after 8 weeks having lost its entire investment.
PAINT YOUR WAGON (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Regent’s Park Open Air, July 26 th – September 2nd<br />
(Limited run)<br />
Music: Frederick Loewe<br />
Book & Lyrics: Alan Jay Lerner<br />
Director: Ian Talbot<br />
Choreographer: Lisa Kent<br />
Musical Director: Catherine Jayes<br />
Cast: Tony Selby (Ben Rumson), Claire Carrie (Jennifer),<br />
Chook Sibtrain (Julio), Gavin Muir, Simon Nock, John Berlyne,<br />
Ellen O’Grady, Liz Izen<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Her Majesty’s, February 1953<br />
1996<br />
19<br />
Claire Carrie & Chook Sibtain<br />
FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Lyric <strong>The</strong>atre, August 12 th (32 Performances)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Various<br />
Book: Maggie Norris & Guy Picot<br />
Director-Choreographer: Carole Todd<br />
Musical Director: Keith Strachan<br />
Producer: Bill Kenwright<br />
Cast: Gerry Marsden (Himself), Carl Krishner (Young Gerry), Jaison Beeson, ,<br />
Neil Dale, Richard Mogendorf. Adam Keast, Andy Cairns, Jacqui Cryer,<br />
Sean Fitzpatrick, Vicki Stevens, Kevin Jackson, Sam Kelly.<br />
Songs: I Like It, Needles and Pins, You’ll Never Walk Alone, It’s Gonna Be All<br />
Right<br />
Story: <strong>The</strong> life story of Gerry Marsden (not a particularly dramatic one!) used as<br />
an excuse to re-create a number of songs from the 1960s and to impersonate names like Billy J. Kramer, Cilla<br />
Black, Lulu, Freddie Garrity, John Lennon, etc. <strong>The</strong> novelty was Gerry Marsden himself in his own tribute<br />
show.<br />
Notes: Described as “charitable, gentle and inoffensive, more a concert than a musical”, Gerry Marsden’s<br />
genuinely nice and sunny personality charmed most of the critics. It ran 8 weeks.<br />
THE FANTASTICKS (3 rd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: King’s Head, August 7 th – September 15 th (Limited run)<br />
Music: Harvey Schmidt<br />
Lyrics: Tom Jones<br />
Director: Dan Crawford<br />
Choreographer: Elizabeth Blake<br />
Musical Director: Edward Goggin<br />
Cast: Jonathan Morris (El Gallo), Katey Crawford Kastin (Luisa) ,<br />
Joseph Millson (Matt), John Walters (Bellamy),<br />
Roger Bingham (Hucklebee), Michael Cotterill (Henry),<br />
Kim Joyce (Mortimer), Tim Eagle (<strong>The</strong> Mute)<br />
Generally it was felt this show – still running off-Broadway after 36 years –<br />
was a timid, milk-soppy, sugary-sweet and fragile thing, not really worth the<br />
bother of staging. However, the critics were very impressed with newcomer<br />
Joseph Millson.<br />
Notes: See Original production: Apollo <strong>The</strong>atre, September 1961<br />
First revival: Hampstead <strong>The</strong>atre Club, May 1970<br />
Second revival: Regent’s Park Open Air <strong>The</strong>atre, July 1990
ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY<br />
(1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Bridewell <strong>The</strong>atre, Aug 16 th – Sept 7 th<br />
Music: Cy Coleman<br />
Book & Lyrics: Betty Comden & Adolph Green<br />
Director: Carol Metcalfe<br />
Choreographer: Jenny Arnold<br />
Musical Director: Mark W. Dorrell<br />
Cast: Michael N. Harbour (Oscar Jaffee),<br />
Kathryn Evans (Lily Garland), Peter Hilton (Bruce Granit),<br />
Josephine Gordon (Letitia Primrose), Clive Paget,<br />
Martin Callaghan, Stephen Matthews, Louise Davidson<br />
1996<br />
20<br />
Although some critics felt the show really needed a lavish<br />
set to match its operetta style, most agreed this was a<br />
delightful revival of an extremely clever, witty musical.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run:<br />
Her Majesty’s <strong>The</strong>atre, March 1980<br />
Michael N. Harbour & Kathryn Evans<br />
Photo by Mark Douet<br />
KISS THE SKY<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Shepherd’s Bush Empire, August 21st – September 14 th<br />
Music & Lyrics: Various<br />
Book: Jim Cartwright<br />
Director: Mike Bradwell<br />
Musical Director: Neil McArthur<br />
Cast: Alan Williams (<strong>The</strong> Traveller),<br />
Brierley Arnell, Simon Fogg, Benn Goddard,<br />
Geoff Hayes, Richard Henders, Rob Jarvis,<br />
Caron Pascoe, Jenna Russell, Mark Saville<br />
Story: Essentially this was yet another compendium show<br />
of Sixties numbers: Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Pink<br />
Floyd, Janis Joplin and Lennon & McCartney. During the<br />
course of a “Love and Peace” rock festival , <strong>The</strong> Traveller<br />
tells us what it was like to stroll up the King’s Road to a<br />
squat, take drugs in Amsterdam, visit a free-love<br />
commune in India, and join the circle of Hippies trying to<br />
make the Pentagon disappear. <strong>The</strong>re is a Hippie wedding<br />
and the audience are asked to shut their eyes and transmit<br />
love and enlightenment to the universe beyond.<br />
Notes: Very mixed reviews, of course. For some it was a<br />
jolly nostalgic trip, for others a mega-loud, shapeless and<br />
pointless exercise.<br />
Alan Williams & Richard Henders
1996<br />
INTO THE WOODS (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Landor <strong>The</strong>atre, September 4 th – 28 th (Limited run)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim<br />
Book: James Lapine<br />
Director: Caterina Loriggio<br />
Choreographer: Maxine Braham<br />
Musical Director: Robert Hyman<br />
21<br />
Cast: David Brett (Narrator), Alexandra Sumner (Witch),<br />
Darren Hudson (Jack), Eileen Gourlay (Jack’s Mother),<br />
David Bradshawe (Baker), Julia Howson (Baker’s Wife),<br />
Chloe Buswell (Cinderella), Heather Davies (Rapunzel),<br />
Shona White (Red Riding Hood), Jon de Ville (Cinderella’s Prince),<br />
Roland Powell (Rapunzel’s Prince), Estelle Collins<br />
This was the first small-scale fringe production of this highly<br />
complex work, but even though accompanied by a few synthesisers<br />
and a flute and hardly any scenery at all , it was highly praised.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Phoenix <strong>The</strong>atre, September 1990<br />
ROMANCE ROMANCE<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Bridewell, September 13 th –October 5th<br />
Music: Keith Hermann<br />
Lyrics & Book: Barry Harman<br />
Director: Steven Dexter<br />
Choreographer: Mitch Sebastian<br />
Musical Director: Simon Lee/Robert Purvis<br />
Cast: Mark Adams (Alfred/Sam), Ria Jones (Josefine/Monica), Steve<br />
Billingsley, Beth Robson, Tony Timberlake, Anne Wood<br />
Story: This is two separate one-act musicals. <strong>The</strong> first, “<strong>The</strong> Little<br />
Comedy” is set in 19 th Century Vienna (based on a short story by Arthur<br />
Schnitzler). Josefine, a Viennese courtesan decides to sleep with someone<br />
she likes, rather than someone who pays her. She chooses Alfred, a poor<br />
young poet, who (surprise, surprise!) turns out to be a wealthy aristocrat<br />
who wants to be loved for himself and not his money. Two dancers dance<br />
and mime the fictions the lovers weave about themselves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second story, “Summer Share” is set in 29 th Century Manhattan<br />
(based on a one-act play by Jules Renard). Sam (Husband A) and Monica<br />
(Wife B) stay up after their partners have gone to bed. <strong>The</strong>y gossip, flirt,<br />
and drift toward making love, then he holds back at the last moment and<br />
she feels rejected.<br />
Notes: With both couples played by the same performers, this was much<br />
praised as being reminiscent of Sondheim, elegant, intelligent and worthy<br />
of transfer.
SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Prince of Wales <strong>The</strong>atre, October 23 rd (813 Performances)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller<br />
Director: Jerry Zaks<br />
Choreographer: Joey McKneely<br />
Musical Director: Louis St Louis<br />
Cast: Adrian Bailey, Victor Trent Cook, B.J.Crosby,<br />
Delee Lively, Deb Lyons, Stephanie Pope,<br />
Devin Richards, Robert Torti, Alton Fitzgerald<br />
White.<br />
Songs: Hound Dog, Fools Fall in Love, Yakety Yak,<br />
Stand By Me, Jailhouse Rock Spanish Harlem, Love<br />
Potion Number Nine, Teach Me How to Shimmy, I<br />
Who Have Nothing<br />
1996<br />
22<br />
Notes: A straightforward compilation show of 39<br />
numbers sung and danced by a cast of six black and<br />
three white performers, and a seven-piece band.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was no attempt to tell a story or create a plot –<br />
just two hours devoted to the music of Leiber &<br />
Stoller. A huge hit on Broadway, it was also highly<br />
praised when the all-American cast transferred to the<br />
West End, and managed a run of nearly two years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> highlight of the show was DeLee Lively in the<br />
number “Teach Me How to Shimmy”<br />
DeLee Lively in her “shimmy” number<br />
SCROOGE THE MUSICAL<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Dominion <strong>The</strong>atre, November 12 th – February 1 st 1997<br />
(Limited season)<br />
Music, Lyrics & Book: Leslie Bricusse<br />
Director-Choreographer: Tudor Davies<br />
Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar<br />
Producer: Graham Mulvein<br />
Cast: Anthony Newley (Scrooge),<br />
Richard Shelton (Young Scrooge),<br />
Tom Watt (Bob Cratchit),<br />
John Faal/Jamie Meyer (Tiny Tim),<br />
Stephen Earle (Jacob Marley),<br />
Felicity Soper (Christmas Past),<br />
David Alder (Christmas Present),<br />
Martin Hibbert (Christmas Yet to<br />
Come)<br />
Songs: I Hate People, I Like Life, December the Twenty-Fifth,<br />
Thank You Very Much<br />
Notes: This was a touring production in <strong>London</strong> for the Christmas<br />
season. It was felt to be a poor musical, but a jolly enough<br />
Christmas pageant. Most of the critics managed to come out with<br />
“Bah, humbug!”<br />
Anthony Newley
1996<br />
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR<br />
(1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Lyceum, November 19 th<br />
(567 Performances)<br />
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber<br />
Lyrics: Tim Rice<br />
Director: Gale Edwards<br />
Choreographer: Aletta Collins<br />
Musical Director: Simon Lee<br />
Producer: Really Useful Company<br />
Cast: Steve Balsamo (Jesus),<br />
Zubin Varla (Judas),<br />
Paul Hawkyard (Peter),<br />
Glenn Carter (Simon Zealotes),<br />
Joanna Ampil (Mary),<br />
Peter Gallagher (Caiaphas),<br />
David Burt (Pilate),<br />
Nick Holder (Herod)<br />
23<br />
Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench<br />
This revival, 25<br />
years on, was<br />
chosen to open the<br />
newly renovated<br />
a n d r e s t o r e d<br />
Lyceum <strong>The</strong>atre. It<br />
was highly praised<br />
as a darker, less<br />
glittery and much<br />
stronger production<br />
than the original, and newcomer Steve Balsamo was generally hailed as the best<br />
sung Jesus ever, and a star in the making. Zubin Varla and Joanna Ampil were<br />
also picked out for excellent performances. It ran for a year and four months,<br />
closing at the end of March, 1998.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run: Palace <strong>The</strong>atre, August 1972<br />
THE OFFICIAL TRIBUTE TO THE BLUES BROTHERS<br />
(2nd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Apollo <strong>The</strong>atre, December 11 th (45 Performances)<br />
Music: Various<br />
Director: David Leland<br />
Choreographer: Carole Todd<br />
(recreated by Mark White)<br />
Musical Director: Jeff Wraight<br />
Cast: Brad Henshaw (Jake), Simon J. Foster (Elwood),<br />
Michelle Dixon, Ronnie Dangerfield, Ambrose (<strong>The</strong><br />
Bluettes).<br />
Back in the West End for a Christmas season, and still<br />
touring the UK for the rest of the year.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> Production:<br />
Whitehall <strong>The</strong>atre, September 1991<br />
First Revival: Comedy <strong>The</strong>atre, Sep 1994<br />
Simon Foster & Brad Henshaw
NINE<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Donmar Warehouse, December 12 th – March 8 th<br />
Music & Lyrics: Maury Yeston<br />
Book: Arthur Kopit<br />
Director: David Leveaux<br />
Choreographer: Jonathan Buttrell<br />
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine<br />
Cast: Larry Lamb (Guido Contini), Susannah Fellows (Luisa),<br />
Clare Burt (Carla), Eleanor David (Claudia),<br />
Sara Kestelman (Liliane le Fleur), Dilys Laye (Mother), Ria Jones,<br />
Kiran Hocking, Jenny Galloway<br />
Songs: My Husband Makes Movies, A Call from the Vatican, Only with<br />
You, Folies Bergères, Be Italian, Unusual Way, <strong>The</strong> Grand Canal,<br />
Simple, Be on Your Own<br />
Story: Guido Contini, a celebrated but tormented director, has come to a<br />
Venetian spa to escape from his problems, which include his relationship<br />
with Luisa (his wife), Carla (his mistress), Claudia (his protégé) ,<br />
Liliane le Fleur (his agent), and his mother. <strong>The</strong> production, which<br />
contains a flashback to Guido’s youth, also includes some cinematic-type<br />
touches like an “overture” in which Guido conducts his women as if they<br />
were instruments, and an impressionistic version of the Folies Bergères.<br />
Larry Lamb<br />
1996<br />
Notes: Adapted from the Italian by Mario Fratti and based on the Fellini Film “8½”. <strong>The</strong> original Broadway<br />
production had a cast of 21 women and just one man. It ran for 732 performances and won four Tony Awards.<br />
It had been given a <strong>London</strong> concert performance at the Festival Hall in 1992 with Jonathan Pryce and Liliane<br />
Montevecchi, and the resultant CD introduced the work to many enthusiasts in the UK. This was its first<br />
staged performance. It was praised for its sophistication and emotional depth, though many felt the music was<br />
too subtle and haunting, the mood too brittle and bitter-sweet to find a mass audience. Like Sondheim, this was<br />
specialist fare.<br />
24<br />
Photo by Ivan Kyncl<br />
LISTEN TO THE WIND (1 st Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Kings Head <strong>The</strong>atre, December 13 th - January 19 th<br />
Music & Lyrics: Vivian Ellis<br />
Book: Angela Ainley Jeans (revised by Humphrey Carpenter)<br />
Director: Dan Crawford<br />
Musical Director: Michael Lavine<br />
Cast: Paul Wilcox (Miss Lush/Miranda), Ben McCosker (Jeremy),<br />
Gabrielle Hamilton Grandmother),<br />
Cameron Blakeley (Pearson/Black Thundercloud), Naomi Bell, Steffan Boje,<br />
Philip Coleman, Michael Gyngell, Ben McCokser, Olivia Hallinan, Jane Lesley,<br />
James Powell, Vicky Taylor.<br />
New songs: Musical Chairs, It’s Nice to be<br />
Back Home Again, Palace of the Winds.<br />
This first revival after 42 years received an<br />
overhauled book by Humphrey Carpenter.<br />
Vivian Ellis wrote three new songs for this<br />
show, though sadly he died in June, six months<br />
before the opening night.<br />
Notes: Original <strong>London</strong> run:<br />
Arts <strong>The</strong>atre, December 1955<br />
Ben McCosker, Olivia Hallinan,<br />
Victoria Taylor & Michael Gyngell<br />
Photo by Bill Cooper
Photo by Tristram Kenton<br />
MARRY ME A LITTLE<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Bridewell <strong>The</strong>atre, December 16 th – January 11 th (Limited season)<br />
Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim<br />
Book: Craig Lucas & Norman Rene<br />
Director: Clive Paget<br />
Choreographer: Louise Davidson<br />
Musical Director: Rowland Lee<br />
Clive Carter & Rebecca Front<br />
Cast: Clive Carter, Rebecca<br />
Front<br />
1996<br />
25<br />
Songs: Can That Boy Foxtrot, Bang, <strong>The</strong> Girls of<br />
Summer, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Your Eyes<br />
are Blue, It Wasn’t Meant to Happen<br />
Notes: This is a compilation of Sondheim songs, most<br />
of them intended for, but cut from, other shows. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
have been spun into a story of sorts, where a man and a<br />
woman are each alone in their respective apartments on<br />
Saturday night. <strong>The</strong>y sing of loneliness and longing,<br />
although there is a glimmer of hope in the air. Finally,<br />
however, as the last song says: “It Wasn’t Meant to<br />
Happen”. Generally regarded as a treat for Sondheim<br />
lovers, but one critic acidly pointed out “this slight<br />
revue proves only that Sondheim knows which songs to<br />
dump”.<br />
GUYS AND DOLLS (3 rd Revival)<br />
<strong>London</strong> run: Olivier <strong>The</strong>atre, December 17 th – March 29 th 1997 (Limited season)<br />
Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser<br />
Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows<br />
Director: Richard Eyre<br />
Choreographer: David Toguri<br />
Musical Director: Tony Britten<br />
Cast: Clarke Peters (Sky Masterton), Imelda Straunton (Miss Adelaide), Henry Goodman (Nathan Detroit),<br />
Joanna Riding (Sarah Browne), Clive Rowe (Nicely-Nicely), Wayne Cater (Benny), Kieran Creggan,<br />
Sharon D. Clarke<br />
This revival of the hugely<br />
successful 1982 production<br />
proved that lightning can strike<br />
twice. It was hugely enjoyable,<br />
and every bit as good as its<br />
earlier, definitive incarnation.<br />
Notes: See original <strong>London</strong> run:<br />
Coliseum, May 1953<br />
1sr revival: Olivier <strong>The</strong>atre,<br />
March 1982<br />
2nd revival: Prince of Wales,<br />
June 1985<br />
Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman<br />
& Company<br />
Photo by John Haynes