London Musicals 1970-1974.pub - Over The Footlights

JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE,RINGO. . . AND BERTLondon run: Lyric Theatre, August 15 th(418 Performances)Music, Book & Lyrics: Willy RussellDirector: Alan DosserProducer: Robert Stigwood & Michael CodronCast: George Costigan (Bert McGhee),Bernard Hill (John Lennon),Trevor Eve (Paul McCartney),Phillip Joseph (George Harrison),Anthony Sher (Ringo Starr),Robin Hooper (Brian Epstein), Barbara Dickson.1974Story: The show opens with Bert McGhee, the ever-faithful Beatles fan, coming to watch the Great Reunion –the Beatles are getting together for a last concert. Bert begins a nostalgic review of their story – a powerfulstatement of innocence and corruption as the four most loved, courted, wealthy people in the world stumbletowards their downfall. From Penny Lane to a world where they cannot walk out of doors without bodyguards –this is a funny and sad story of personal and artistic relationships and the vulture-like hangers-on and moneygrabbers.Notes: The show contained some original pastiche songs by Willy Russell interspersedwith many of the Beatles own songs – all sung by just one girl’s voice with discreetbacking. The Beatles songs are often used against themselves. “With a Little Help FromMy Friends” is not the jolly all-together-now song from Ringo, it’s a slowed down,despairingly sad accompaniment as Pete Best, the just-sacked Beatles drummer packs upto leave. Originally produced at the Liverpool Everyman on May 15 th with a partiallydifferent cast, this was a surprisingly good piece of theatre. It won the Evening Standardand London Critics’ Best Musical of the Year Award, but George Harrison greatlydisliked it and walked out on opening night. He withdrew his permission to use his song“Here Comes the Sun” and it was replaced with “Good Day Sunshine”. Theimpersonations of the Fab Four were much praised as was Barbara Dickson’s singing. Ithad a brief run in America in 1985, but the sale of the Beatles song catalogue to MichaelJackson created great copyright problems, and the show has not been revived.32Photo by John HaynesLET MY PEOPLE COMELondon run: Regent Theatre, August 19th (c.880 Performances)Music & Lyrics: Earl Wilson Jr.Director: Phil OestermanChoreographer: Ian NaylorMusical Director: Roger WardProducer: Larry ParnesCast: Gill Beresford, Helen Chappell, Christine Ellerbeck, Susanna Hunt, Janet Shaw,Tommie Thompson, Michael Blaise, Michael Cowie, Bill van Dijk, David Mellor,Miguel Oliver, Johnny Worthy, Adam Russell-OwenSongs: Whatever Turns You On, Give it to Me, First Year Fellatio, I’m Gay, LindaGeorgina Marilyn and Me, Dirty Words, Come in My Mouth, The CunnilingusChampion of Company C.Notes: First performed off-Broadway in January 1974, this show went on to several world-wide productions andran several years in London. Its sexual frankness shocked some, but it was described as a “rollicking and joyousmusical revue which uses the body, often nude, as an affirmative statement on life”. Its score was praised and itwas said to be flashy, fleshy, poignant, and most importantly, entertaining. The song “Cunnilingus Champion ofCompany C” was subject to a court case and had to be taken out of the show following a copyright claim by thewriters of the Andrew Sisters wartime hit “The Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B”. It ran until June 1977