London Musicals 1980-1984.pub - Over The Footlights

Photo by Reg WilsonUNDERNEATH THE ARCHESLondon run: Prince of Wales, March 4 th (15 months)Music & Lyrics: VariousBook: Patrick Garland & Brian Glanville with Roy Hudd & Chesney AllenDirector: Roger RedfarnChoreographer: Tudor DaviesMusical Director: Clive ChaplinProducer: Bernard Delfont & Richard M. MillsCast: Roy Hudd (Bud Flanagan), Christopher Timothy (Chesney Allen),Julia Sutton (Florrie Forde), Joe Black, Peter Glaze, Tommy Godfrey, Billy Gray,Don Smoothey (The Crazy Gang)15Songs: Just ForLaughs, UmbrellaMan, Flanagan. The Old Bull and Bush, HeyNeighbour, Hometown, Siegfried Line, Maybeit’s Because I’m a Londoner, StrollingStory: The story of the lives and career ofFlanagan and Allen and their long associationwith the Crazy Gang, this was an opportunityto re-create some of their more famoussketches – “Well Done Gordon”, “BrokenBlossoms” etc – and to re-introduce most ofthe songs associated with the Flanagan andAllen double act. At some performances theelderly and somewhat frail Chesney Allenwould make an appearance and join in thesinging.Notes: The production originated at theChichester Festival Theatre.Joe Black, Tommy Godfrey, Christopher Timothy, Billy Gray, Roy Hudd, Don Smoothey & Peter Glaze1982GUYS AND DOLLS (1st Revival)London run: Olivier Theatre, March 9 th (Repertoire)Music and lyrics: Frank LoesserBook: Jo Swerling & Abe BurrowsDirector: Richard EyreChoreographer: David ToguriMusical Director: Tony BrittenCast: Ian Charleson (Sky Masterton),Julia McKenzie (Miss Adelaide),Bob Hoskins (Nathan Detroit),Julie Covington (Sarah Browne),David Healy (Nicely-Nicely)This was a National Theatre Production. It received rave notices, and hasbecome one of the legendary successes of the 1980s. It was scheduled fora limited number of performances, and was later brought back into therepertoire, followed by a tour. It then was re-created for the West End in1985.Notes: See original London run: Coliseum, May 1953Julia McKenzie as Miss AdelaidePhoto by Catherine Ashmore

BOOGIE WOOGIE BUBBLE ‘N’ SQUEAKLondon run: Mayfair Theatre, March 25 th (Very short run)Music & Lyrics: VariousDirector: Stuart HoppsCast: Leonie Hofmeyer, Sarah McNair, Michele Maxwell1982Notes: Three singers, collectively presenting themselves as the Skirted Issue, sing the past and presentrepertoire of a number of girl trios, including The Sisters Andrews, McGuires, Beverleys, Supremes, Pointer,and the Three Degrees and the Shangri-Las. The show makes satirical fun of the styles and songs, the illusionof real-life harmony among the girls, the fraudulence of stage allure – and in some unspecified way whichdoesn’t quite come off – makes a statement connected with Feminism. It did not receive good notices and wasquickly withdrawn.16BEAUTIFUL DREAMERLondon run: Greenwich Theatre, April 22 ndMusic & Lyrics: Stephen FosterBook: Roy HuddDirector: Roger HainesChoreographer: Kenn Oldfield(Season)Cast: Simon Green (Stephen Foster), Christina Matthews, Dorothy Vernon,Ian Burford, Paul Bentley, Harry DickmanStory: The life-story of Stephen Foster, incorporating much of his musical output.Notes: This originated at the Haymarket, Leicester.SONG AND DANCELondon run: Palace Theatre, April 8 th (781 performances)Music: Andrew Lloyd WebberLyrics: Don BlackDirector: John CairdChoreographer: Anthony Van LaastMusical Director: Kenny ClaytonProducer: Cameron MackintoshCast: Marti Webb & Wayne Sleepwith Linda-Mae Brewer, JaneDarling, Andrea Durant, LindaGibbs, Claude-Paul Henry, AndyNorman, Sandy Strallen, PaulTomkinsonSongs: Tell Me on a Sunday, Take That Look Off YourFace, Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad, Come Back with theSame Look in Your EyesNotes: This was a show in two parts. The “song” half was asong-cycle called “Tell Me on a Sunday” – a simple tale of ayoung English woman in New York and the trials andtribulations she experiences through a series of unhappy loveaffairs. This was performed by Marti Webb. The second halfwas called “Variations”, a suite of variations on a theme byPaganini, and was interpreted in dance by Wayne Sleep and ateam of eight dancers. (During the long run the Marti Webbrole was taken over by Gemma Craven, Lulu and LizRobertson. Wayne Sleep’s role was later danced by StephenJeffries, Graham Fletcher, John Meehan and Paul Tomkinson)Photo by Donald Cooper

PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Revival)London run: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane May 26 th (17 months)Music: Arthur SullivanLyrics: W.S.GilbertDirector: Wilford LeachChoreographer: Graciela DanieleProducer: Michael WhiteCast: Tim Curry (Pirate King),Pamela Stephenson (Mabel),George Cole (Major General),Michael Praed (Frederic),Annie Ross (Ruth), Bonnie Langford, Louise Gold198217Notes: This was based on JosephPapp’s New York ShakespeareFestival Production. It was acompletely “new” look at the show– a kind of Broadway version ofG&S – and received excellentnotices for its exuberance and sheerfun (without straying too far fromthe original!)Photo by Zoe DominicIt ran for 17 months, finishing onOctober 29th, 1983Tim CurryBEGGAR’S OPERA (3rd Revival)London run: Cottesloe Theatre, July 1stMusic arranged by Dominic MuldowneyDirector: Richard EyreChoreographer: David ToguriProducer: A National Theatre ProductionCast: Harry Towb (Peachum),June Watson (Mrs Peachum),Belinda Sinclair (Polly Peachum),Paul Jones (Macheath),Fiona Hendley (Jenny Diver),Imelda Staunton (Lucy Lockitt),David Ryall (Lockitt)This revival was set in a Victorian Workhouse and was well receivedby the critics. It was always planned for a limited run.Notes: See Aldwych Theatre, July 16 th, 1963First revival: Apollo, September 12 th 1968Second revival: Lyric Hammersmith, August 1980Paul Jones as MacheathPhoto by Donald Cooper

Photo by Donald CooperDennis Waterman & Amanda Redman1982WINDY CITYLondon run: Victoria Palace, July 20th(250 Performances)Music: Tony MacaulayBook & Lyrics: Dick VosburghDirector: Peter WoodMusical Director: Anthony BowlesProducer: Louis Benjamin & Toby RowlandsCast: Dennis Waterman (Hildy Johnson),Anton Rodgers (Walter Burns),Diane Langton (Mollie Malloy),Amanda Redman (Esther Stone),Robert Longden (Earl Williams) ,Victor Spinetti, Shaun Curry, David Sinclair18Songs: Hey Hallelujah, Wait Till I Get You On Your Own, Waltz for Mollie, Long Night Again Tonight, Noone Walks Out on Me, Perfect Casting, Bensinger’s Poem, Water Under the BridgeStory: Hildy Johnson, a crime reporter for 15 years, is saying goodbye to his fellowworkers – he is getting married to Esther Stone and moving to New York. They payscant attention, eagerly awaiting the hanging of Earl Williams, the “Bolshevick” (anevent which will help re-elect the unscrupulous Mayor.) News breaks: Williams hasescaped! Everyone rushes off, leaving Hildy alone, then, to his surprise, Williamsclimbs in through a window. Hildy hides the escapee in a roll-top desk, postpones hiswedding, and calls Mr Burns, his editor – this could be the scoop of a lifetime. Whatfollows is a comedy of the misogyny of the newspaper world, problems with MollieMalloy (the tart with a heart), the corruption of the mayoral office, and theruthlessness of newspaper editors.Notes: Based on the play “The Front Page” by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthurDESTRY RIDES AGAINLondon run: Donmar Warehouse, September 30th (40 Performances)Music: Harold RomeBook: Leonard GersheDirector: Robert WalkerChoreographer: Stuart HobbsCast: Alfred Molina (Destry), Jill Gascoigne (Frenchy), Nicola Blackman (Clara), Julian LittmanSongs: Ballad of the Gun, I Know Your Kind, Anyone Would Love You, Once Knew a Fella,That Ring on the FingerStory: Set in the brawling frontier town ofBottleneck in the 1890s, with a violence hatingsheriff, Thomas Jefferson Destry, and a toughcookiesaloon entertainer, Frenchy, this is astory of the good guys versus the bad guys.With scenes in the Last Chance Saloon and theParadise Alley bordello run by Rose Lovejoy,this is billed as a “whoopin’, shootin’, hollerin’“ showNotes Based on the story by Max Brand, thisbegan life as a Hollywood film (in fact filmedthree times) most notably with MarleneDietrich as Frenchy.Jill Gascoigne & Alfred MolinaPhoto by Donald Cooper

198219Nola York outside the Astoria TheatreWILD WILD WOMENLondon run: Astoria Theatre, June 15 th(29 Performances)Music: Nola YorkBook & Lyrics: Michael RichmondDirector: Michael RichmondChoreographer: Marcia KingMusical Director: Stuart PedlarProducer: Ray Cooney & Laurie MarshCast: James Lister (Clanton),Marc Urquhart (McLaird),Marcia King (Sister Priscilla),Lesley Joseph (Madame Lola),Steve Devereaux (Bill Tibbs),Susanna Felowes (Alice Tibbs),Gordon Reid (Judge West),Clive CarterStory: The McLairds and the Clantons have been tearing the Wild West town of Aggroville apart for manyyears in a long-lasting feud. But they are forced to re-think when a nun arrives in town, swinging a guitar androsary with equal enthusiasm. She persuades the womenfolk to withhold their “marital favours” until all gunsare firmly back in their holsters. This creates a golden business opportunity for Madam Lola and the “soileddoves” of The Red Candle Saloon. Mixed in with this Lysistrata tale is a Romeo and Juliet tale adding to whatwas billed as a “rollickin', whisky swillin', gun-totin', thigh-slapper of a musical”.Notes: Originally performed at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, this began as a piece written for studentsat Mountview Theatre School. This production at the Astoria was an attempt at creating the American style“dinner theatre” - where stalls seats were removed and replaced with tables and chairs, and a meal was servedprior to the start of the show.THE MIKADO (Revival)London run: Cambridge Theatre, September 28th.(4 months)Music: Arthur SullivanLyrics: W.S.GilbertDirector: Chris HayesChoreographer: Michele HardyMusical Director: Ed ColemanProducer: Bill Kenwright & Paul Gregg.Cast: Murray Melvin (Ko-Ko), Nicholas Smith (Mikado),Gary Lyons (Nanki Poo), John Hewer (Pooh-Bah),Stella Goodier (Yum Yum), Eileen Gourlay (Katisha)Notes: This was a Theatre Royal Plymouth Production.Eileen Gourlay as KatishaPhoto by Sven Arnstein

ANDY CAPPLondon run: Aldwych Theatre, September 29 th(99 Performances)Music: Alan PriceLyrics: Alan Price & Trevor PeacockDirector: Braham MurrayChoreographer: Sue LeftonMusical Director: Michael DixonProducer: Ray Cooney198220Cast: Tom Courtenay (Andy Capp),Val McLane (Florence Capp),John Bardon (Chalkie)Story: A musical story of Andy Capp,portraying the spongeing, boozing pigeonfancierwho hasn’t worked for 32 years, andsurrounding him with a group of cronies –Tom Courtenay & Val McLanehard-drinking, tart-chasing, sports-madhusbands avoiding or trying to outsmart theirhen-pecking, hard-working, huge-busted, clannish wives. At the end his long-suffering wife, Flo, actuallywalks out on Andy, leaving him to puzzle over the mystery of how toast gets itself cooked in the morning.Notes: Based on the Reg Smythe cartoon characters as featured in the “Daily Mirror”, the show had a grittyreality which didn’t sit too comfortably with its musical format, and an underlying bleakness with its portrait ofpoverty, unemployment, disillusion, and an irreconcilability between the male and female points of view. Formost of the critics the verdict was - it didn’t work. However, “Plays and Players” gave it their Best NewMusical of the Year Award!Photo by Donald CooperPOPPYLondon run: Barbican, September 25 th (in Repertoire – fixed season)Music: Monty NormanBook & Lyrics: Peter NichollsDirector: Terry HandsChoreographer: David ToguriCast: Roger Allam (Lin Tse-Tsi), Jane Carr (Queen Victoria), Tony Church (Tao-Kuan),Stephen Moore (Jack Idle), Julia Hills (Sally Forth), Geoffrey Hutchings (Lady Dodo),Bernard Lloyd (Obadiah Upward), Michael Gyngell, Susan Jane Tanner, David Whitaker,Christopher Hurst, Andrew Thomas-JamesStory: This was an indictment of the Opium Wars and the Britain’s treatment of the Chinese during the reignof Queen Victoria, and described the rape and pillage done by British forces in Peking. However, it was alltold in the style of aBritish pantomime: aprincipal boy playedby a girl, the Dameplayed by a man, apantomime horse, anda song-sheet.Photo by Donald CooperNotes: A revised andre-written versionopened at the Adelphiin November 1983.Julia Hills,Geraldine Garner, &Geoffrey Hutchings

MATA HARILondon run: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith (Studio), October 19th(Limited season)Music & Lyrics: Chris Smith & Les ChappellBook: Lene Lovich & Les ChappellDirector: Hilary WestlakeCast: Lene Lovich (Mata Hari), Rory Edwards, Jeremy Gittins,Peter Leabourne with Stephen Dixon & Simon Hall (Puppeteers)198221Story: The story of Mata Hari, the exotic dancer who claimed tobe a Brahmin temple dancer from Southern India and achievedgreat success as a performer and notoriety for her numerous andwealthy lovers. One of her lovers was arrested by the Frenchsecurity service and Mata Hari’s love of fantasy and theglamorous world of espionage led to her being (unfairly?) accusedof spying for the Germans, and being executed by firing squad in1917.Notes: Lene Lovich was not felt to have anything like thecharisma which must have marked the real Mata Hari and, eventhough a lot of money had been invested in staging and costumeswith a view to a transfer, the show quietly came to the end of itsseason and disappeared.Lene LovichPhoto by Ray AbbottYAKETY YAKLondon run: Half Moon Theatre, November 15 thTransferred to Astoria Theatre, January 18 th 1983 (3 months)Music & Lyrics: Leiber & StollerBook: Robert WalkerDirector: Robert WalkerChoreographer: Lynne HockneyMusical Director: Tony de MeurCast: Paul McGann (Danny), Steve McGann (Bo), Joe McGann (Joe), Griff Fender, Pikey Butler, Rita Ray,Duncan Kerr, Natalie Ogle, Nosmo King, Jimmy Compton. (Astoria only: Mark McGann, Kenny Andrews)Songs: 24 Leiber & Stoller songs including: Yakety Yak, Kansas City, On Broadway, Stand By Me, ThreeCool Cats, I Can’t Say No, Searchin’.Story: 1950s New York, and Danny comes out of jail to find his kid brother dating his girl, and the middlebrother training to be a priest. In the middleof all this the boys and girls of the age facethe big questions: to go to College or not?To hit the road and see life? to get marriedand have babies? to get married to the girlwho is expecting your baby?Photo by John HaynesKenny Andrews & Paul McGannNotes: With hardly any plot to worryabout, but excellent performances and thesuccessful band known as “The Darts”, thiswas a great night’s entertainment for loversof early rock’n’roll. The three brotherswere played by three genuine brothers. Theshow underwent some re-writing and someminor re-casting for the transfer to theAstoria. Remarkably the cast was increasedwith yet another McGann brother – MarkMcGann – and all four brothers were muchpraised for their acting and singing.

198223MR CINDERS (Revival)London run: King’s Head Theatre, December 31 st (60 Performances)Transfer to Fortune Theatre April 27 th (527 Performances)Music : Vivian Ellis & Richard MyersLyrics: Leo Robin, Clifford Grey & Greatorex NormanBook: Clifford Grey & Greatorex NormanDirector: Tony CravenChoreographer: Kenn OldfieldMusical Director: Mike DixonProducer: Dan CrawfordCast: Denis Lawson (Jim Lancaster), Christina Matthews (Jill Kemp),Philip Bird (Guy Lancaster), Graham Hoadley (Lumley Lancaster),Oliver Pierre (Henry Kemp), Angela Vale (Lady Lancaster), Derek Smee ( Sir George Lancaster)Songs: Tennis, Blue Blood, True to Two, On With the Dance, Spread a Little Happiness, 18 th Century Drag,Honeymoon for FourStory: Jim Lancaster is an adopted son forced to work as a menial for his snobbish stepmother, Lady Agatha,and her two foppish sons, Lumley and Guy. Jill, an American heiress, is giving a costume ball in the mansionof her father Henry Kemp and Lady Agatha sees this as an opportunity to catch a wealthy bride for one of hersons, but refuses to allow Jim to attend. Meanwhile Jill has disguised herself as a servant girl, “Sarah” andpersuaded Minerva, her poor relation, to pretend to be Jill, while Jim manages to get to the ball in a disguise ofhis own. The plot then involves a stolen necklace, mistaken identity, and the discovery of a hat belonging tothe mystery person who capturedthe thief. A search for the ownerof the hat shows that it fits onlyJim. He wins the £1,000 rewardand learns that the maid "Sarah" isactually Jill, and she and Jimagree to get married. Lumley andGuy, meanwhile, announce theirown engagements so all endshappily.Photo bySteven Pacey, Diana Martin, Andrea Kealy & Graham HoadleyNotes: The original Londonproduction was at the Adelphi inFebruary 1929, and played 529performances (including a transferto the Hippodrome). This was itsfirst revival. Later in the run theleading role was taken over byskiffle singer Lonnie Donegan.