London Musicals 1980-1984.pub - Over The Footlights

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1984STARLIGHT EXPRESSLondon run: Apollo Victoria, March 27 th (7,461 Performances)Music: Andrew Lloyd WebberLyrics: Richard StilgoeBook: Andrew Lloyd WebberDirector: Trevor NunnChoreographer: Arlene PhillipsMusical Director: David CaddickProducer: Really Useful Theatre Co36Cast: Jeff Shankley (Greaseball), Chrissy Wickham (Ashley),Nancy Wood (Buffy), Frances Ruffelle (Dina), Stephanie Lawrence (Pearl),Michael Staniforth (C.B.), Lon Satton (Poppa),Jeffrey Daniel (Electra), Ray Shell (Rusty)Songs: Rolling Stock, Call Me Rusty, A Lotta Locomotion, Pumping Iron, AC/DC, He Whistled At Me, Belle, Uncoupled, One Rock’n’Roll Too Many, OnlyYou, Light at the End of the TunnelStory: The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life, and the ensemble play railwayengines, coaches, trucks, etc, in a race to become the fastest engine on the American railroad, and not without agood deal of romantic coupling.Notes: The performers were required to race around the theatre on roller-skates. They underwent several monthsof skating training to be able to take part and the theatre itself had to undergo major alterations to accommodateracing tracks running through the auditorium, up to the circle, then back down through the stalls. The show wenton to become one of the major hits of all time, with world-wide productions.PEGLondon run: Phoenix Theatre, April 12 th (146 Performances)Music & Lyrics: David HenekerBook: Robin Miller & Ronald MillarDirector: Ian JudgeChoreographer: Sheila FalconerMusical Director: Kevin AmosProducer: Louis Busch HagerCast: Sian Phillips (Mrs Chichester), Edward Duke (Alaric Chichester),Patricia Michael (Ethel Chichester), Martin Smith (Sir Gerald Adair),Ann Morrison (Peg O’Connell),), Julia Sutton (Bennett), Liza Sadovy (Dora),Kim Smith , David McAlister, John Hewer.Songs: Flat Broke, Pretty Dresses, When a Woman Has to Choose, Come Away With Me, ManhattanHometown (Interpolated- Peg O’ My Heart )Story: The Chichester family, Mother, Alaric and Ethel are broke, but hope to inherit a substantial sum from arelative’s will. They are shocked to find the money is left to Peg O’Connell, a young niece from New York, whois considered to be rather “common” and loud. However, Mrs Chichester will receive £1000 a year if she acts asgoverness and chaperone. Peg and her dog Mickey arrive – unaware of the financial set-up. Peg finds the familya bit too starchy and formal, and gets on better with Dora, the housemaid, and Bennett, the parlour-maid. Shealso becomes very friendly with the ordinary man she knows as “Jerry” (not knowing he is Sir Gerald, the familysolicitor.) Mrs Chichester wants Alaric to marry Peg (for the money) , but Peg turns him down in a kindly way –she has fallen in love with “Jerry” – but Jerry tells her the truth about her inheritance and says his pride will notlet him marry her – the interest on her money will earn more in one year than he will in five. Peg announces shenever liked money anyway, and will give it to the servants and to the Chichesters so they can all live happilyever after. Everyone raises a toast to “Peg O’ My Heart” and to a happy and peaceful New Year – 1914.Notes: Based on the play “Peg O’ My Heart” by J. Hartley Manners, it was felt to be sugary sentiment andtotally unbelievable. Critical reaction of the show was almost universally damning: “If the show had neveropened a large number of people would have been spared the misery of having to work on it, and a small numberof people would have been spared the misery of having to sit through it.”
WEST SIDE STORY (3 rd Revival)London run: Her Majesty’s Theatre, May 16 th (17 months)Music: Leonard BernsteinLyrics: Stephen SondheimBook: Arthur LaurentsDirector-Choreographer: Tom AbbottMusical Director: Grant HossackProducer: Richard Pilbrow198437Cast: Steven Pacey (Tony), Jan Hartley (Maria),Richard Pettyfer (Riff), Michael Gyngell (Diesel),Sam Williams (Bernardo), Lee Robinson (Anita) -This production had originated at Leicester Haymarket and openedin December 1983. It had been on a UK tour which culminated ina West End season from May 1984 to October 1985. Later castchanges saw Peter Bruce and Karyn O’Neill take over the leads.Notes:Original London production, Her Majesty’s, Dec 1958First revival: Collegiate Theatre, July 1973Second revival: Shaftesbury Theatre, December 1974Steven Pacey & Jan HartleyPhoto by Leicester HaymarketTHE IMPORTANCELondon run: Ambassadors’ Theatre, May 31 st (29 Performances)Music & Lyrics: John Hugh Dean (Sean O’Mahoney)Director: Tony CravenChoreographer: Sheila O’NeillMusical Director: Bryan BennettProducer: Theatre of Comedy & J.S.ParkerCast: Patrick Ryecart (Jack Worthing), David Firth (Algernon), Judy Campbell (Lady Bracknell),Ruth Mayo (Gwendolen), Karen Lancaster (Cecily), Sheila Bernette (Miss Prism),Robert Dorning (Dr Chasuble)Songs: Bunburying, I Must Write This Down Before I Forget, Sincerely Yours, I Am Never WrongNotes: Oscar Wilde’s “Importance of Being Earnest”, had previously been adapted into a musical on severaloccasions, but never with any real success. This 1984 version by Sean O’Mahoney was the only one to date toreach the West End , though it only managed a very short run. Earlier attempts included “Found in aHandbag” (1957), with music by Allon Bacon, staged at Margate and “Half in Ernest” (1958), with music byVivian Ellis which ended its pre-West End tour out of town (although it did get a later production in the USA).Other attempts included “Ernest in Time, or My Dark Gentleman” (1958) with music by John de Gray, stagedat Canterbury, and “Ernest” (1959) with music by Malcolm Sircom, staged at Farnham. It was said the play isso perfect that the songs seemed like intrusions into the familiar and much-loved dialogue.
Page 4 and 5: 381984ON YOUR TOES (Revival)London
Page 7: THE HIRED MANLondon run: Astoria Th

London Musicals 1980-1984.pub - Over The Footlights

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