London Musicals 1980-1984.pub - Over The Footlights

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 It did not receive good notices and wasquickly withdrawn.16BEAUTIFUL DREAMERLondon run: Greenwich Theatre, April 22 ndMusic & Lyrics: Stephen FosterBook: Roy HuddDirector: Roger HainesChoreographer: Kenn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