London Musicals 2005-2009.pub - Over The Footlights

2005 

MEETING MARY 

London run: Jermyn Street, January 7 th – 22nd 

Music & Lyrics: Tim Marriott 

Additional songs: Richard Sonnex 

Book: Tim Marriott 

Director: Kevin Pallister 

Cast: Hugh Skinner (Guy), Martha Dancy (Mary), 

Tim Marriott (Mike), Katy Odey (Abi), 

Lucy May (Sophie) 

Story: Mary, a prissy 18 year old English miss from 

Oxford visits New York to meet the father she hasn’t 

seen since she was a child. She is expecting a 

Hugh Skinner & Tim Marriott 

sophisticated singer-songwriter with Broadway at his 

feet and a martini cocktail in his hand. What she finds is a bitter inadequate who composes advertising jingles 

with his gay friend, Mike, and who insists that Abi, the attractive woman who shares his apartment, is nothing 

more than lodger. He also neglects to tell her that he has a daughter by a previous relationship hidden away in 

the flat upstairs whilst Mary is visiting. Following a lot of insults, and more skeletons in the closet, there is a 

final reconciliation, understanding and a happy ending. 

Notes: Criticised for dragging in all manner of serious issues – the 9/11 attack, terminal illness, etc –in order to 

give the show some unearned gravitas, most critics dismissed this as a ridiculous, horribly sentimental and 

badly performed waste of time. 

1 

HAVE A NICE LIFE (1 st Revival) 

London run : Union, January 14 th – 29th 

Music & Lyrics: Conor Mitchell 

Director: Conor Mitchell 

Cast: Jamie Anderson (Neville), Carl Patrick (Frank), Stefanie Moore (Barbara), Kira Lauren (Amy), 

Sioned Jones (Sheila), Caroline Hartley (Jean), Mark Dugdale (Chris) 

Second time round, this fringe production received a much better press. With a three-piece band led by the 

composer from the keyboard, the score was described as brilliant with witty lyrics. 

Original London run: Pleasance, May 2003 

ACORN 

ANTIQUES 

London run: 

Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 

February 10 th – 21st May 

Julie Walters as 

Mrs Overall 

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

ACORN ANTIQUES 

London run: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, February 10 th – 21st May 

Music & Lyrics: Victoria Wood 

Book: Victoria Wood 

Director: Trevor Nunn 

Choreographer: Stephen Mear 

Musical Director: Nick Finlow 

Cast: Julie Walters/Victoria Wood (Mrs Overall), Celia Imrie (Babs), 

Duncan Preston (Mr Clifford), Sally Ann Triplett (Miss Berta), Josie Lawrence, 

Neil Morrissey, Jill Martin, Hilary O’Neill 

Songs: Manchesterford, Macaroons, Hey Hey We’re On Our Way, Have you Met Miss 

Babs, Tip Top Tap, Love from Mrs O, Shagarama, Once in a Lifetime 


Story: The actors in a TV soap called “Acorn Antiques” are out of work because the series has been axed, so the 

cast reunite with the object of turning the show into a stage musical. Act One sees them rehearse and bitch about the 

script, about each other and the director; Act Two sees the opening performance at the Enoch Powell Arts Centre in 

Sutton Coldfield with its consequent mishaps, rivalries and cock-ups. 

Notes: A ten minute sketch inside a 30 minute TV comedy series had been expanded into a three hour musical. As a 

result, the first half and second halves were virtually two different shows. The whole thing was a muddle, but with 

its hugely talented cast, and its satire ranging from “Crossroads” to “Les Mis” and Starbucks to Sondheim, and with 

Victoria Wood and Julie Walters alternating in the lead role, it attracted an audience of fanatical supporters who 

roared with delight at every familiar gag and malfunctioning prop. In 2006 the show was completely re-written for a 

major UK tour, so that the entire show was now the “straight” musical performance of “Acorn Antiques”. Mrs 

Overall was played by Ria Jones and the tour received excellent notices and was felt to be much better for the 

changes. It is this revised version which is now regarded as the “real” show. 

2 

Photo by Alastair Muir 

THE BIG LIFE 

London run: Theatre Royal , Stratford East, 

February 23 rd – March 12 th 

Transfer: Apollo Theatre, May 23 rd – Oct 1st 

Music: Paul Joseph 

Book & Lyrics: Paul Sirett 

Director: Clint Dyer 

Choreographer: Jason Pennycooke 

Musical Director: Robert Hyman 

(Paul Joseph for the transfer) 

Cast: Tameka Empson (Mrs Aphrodite), 

Victor Romero Evans (Ferdy), Neil Reidman (Bernie), 

Chris Tummings (Lennie), Marcus Powell (Dennis), 

Jason Pennycooke (Admiral/Eros), Claudia Cadette, 

Amanda Horlock, Antonia Kemi Coker, Yaa 

Songs: Me Can’t Wait to Get to Inglan, Getting Hot, Whatever Happened, You Do It, The Price We Pay, Woman, 

Better Than You 

Story: In 1948 on the Windrush, sailing from the Caribbean to England, a pact is made by a group of men: there will 

be no sex, and no involvement with women for three years while they work to better themselves in their new world. 

But the four men (Ferdy, Bernie, Lennie, Dennis) are sitting on the steps beneath the Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus 

when suddenly Eros springs to life, jumps down from his plinth and starts tap dancing, leading the cast into a rousing 

ska number. By the end of this dream sequence the four men have been joined by a quartet of extremely spunky 

women and the battle of the sexes begin. The show roams through a whole series of emotions – starting with the 

boarding-house signs which say “No blacks, No Irish, No dogs” - as the fun-loving Caribbean migrants strive for a 

better life in London. During scene changes, a Mrs Aphrodite, a prim Caribbean matron, sits in a box and comments 

on the action – superficially respectable but hilariously bawdy. 

Notes: Originally staged as a try-out at Stratford East in April 2004, this was Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labours Lost” 

rewritten as a feel-good ska/reggae musical. A completely re-written version was staged at Stratford East for three 

weeks in February 2005 and, thanks to impresario Bill Kenwright, it transferred and was acclaimed as the first 

British black musical.


I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! (1 st Revival) 

London run: Jermyn Street, March 1 st – 26th 

Music: Jimmy Roberts 

Book & Lyrics: Joe Dipietro 

Director: Phil Willmott 

Musical Director: Anthony England 

Cast: John Payton, Lucy Hunter-Jaynes, Mark Hilton, Jo Cook 

Notes: The original London production had flopped in 1999 after just 69 performances, and yet the original 

New York production of 1996 was still running off-Broadway. Nearly ten years on Broadway and not even ten 

weeks in London! This revival had undergone several changes and had been Anglicised to make it more UK 

friendly. However, “despite references to Charles and Camilla and shopping at Bluewater, the show still seems 

like a series of US sitcom snapshots” (The Times). 

(Original London production: Comedy Theatre, July 1999) 

FANNY (1st Revival) 

London run: Lilian Baylis Theatre, March 6 th (4 Sunday performances) 

Music & Lyrics: Harold Rome 

Book: S.N. Behrman & Joshua Logan 

Director: Ian Marshall Fisher 

Musical Director: Mark Warman 

Producer: Lost Musicals season 

Cast: James Smillie (César), Frank Lazarus (Panisse), Liza Pulman (Fanny), 

Arvid Larsen (Marius), Barbara Young (Honorine), Benedict Smith (Césario 

This was part of a series of Sunday afternoon semi-staged performances in Ian 

Marshall Fisher’s season of lost musicals. The intention was to re-create musicals 

which had (unfairly) disappeared from the general repertoire. “Fanny” had not 

been seen in London for almost 50 years. These Sunday revivals were much 

appreciated and proved to be extremely popular with the public and critics alike. 

(Original London run: Drury Lane, November 1956) 

3 

ON THE TOWN (1 st Revival) 

London run: Coliseum, March 10 th – May 24 th (17 performances in repertoire) 

Photo by Tristram Kenton

ON THE TOWN (1 st Revival) 

London run: Coliseum, March 10 th – May 24 th (17 performances in repertoire) 

Music: Leonard Bernstein 

Lyrics & Book: Betty Comden & Adolph Green 

Director: Jude Kelly 

Choreographer: Stephen Mear 

Musical Director: Simon Lee 

Producer: English National Opera 

Cast: Willard W. White (Workman), Helen Anker (Ivy Smith), Caroline O’Connor (Hildegarde Esterhazy), 

Lucy Schauffer (Clair DeLoon), Timothy Howar (Ozzie), Aaron Lazar (Gabey), Adam Garcia (Chip Offenbloch), 

Andrew Shore (Judge), Janine Duvitski (Lucy), Sylvia Syms, Alison Jiear, Rodney Clarke, Greg Winter, 

Tom Dwyer 

Notes: With the exception of the veteran Willard W. White in a very small role, the cast for this show did not 

contain any of the ENO’s regular company, and, primarily, was a dance show rather than a singing show. This 

raised a lot of questions as to why the country’s National “opera” should be presenting a show performed by 

imported West End singers and dancers, and should have installed a £100,000 sound system for just 17 

performances. However, everyone agreed it was a worthwhile revival after more than 40 years, and it proved 

highly popular, selling out the enormous Coliseum with no difficulty. 

(Original London production: Prince of Wales. May 1963) 


4 

Anthony Ofoegbu, Peter Straker & Ashley Campbell 

HIGH HEEL PARROTFISH 

London run: Theatre Royal, Stratford East, 

April 13th – May 7 th 

Music & Lyrics: Christopher Rodriguez 

Book: Christopher Rodriguez 

Director: Paulette Randall 

Choreographer: Omar Okai 

Musical Director: Felix Cross 

Cast: Peter Straker (Kitty Caress), 

Brian Green (Suzy), 

Anthony Ofgoebu (Juana), 

Ashley Campbell (Betty Boo), 

Raj Ghatak (Vashti), 

Nicholai La Barrie (Lucy), 

Sandra Bee (Leandra) 

Songs: We Are So Lucky, I Will Survive 

Story: Miss Miller’s bar stages an 

undercover drag show to mark the Carnival – this is in macho Trinidad, where a man wearing a frock is likely to be 

arrested for public indecency. Backstage in the shabby dressing room the disparity 

between the glamour of feathers and sequins and the reality of the bitchy rivalry of drag 

queens is apparent. The “girls” are Kitty Caress, a fading diva; Suzy, a hostess with the 

mostest; Juana, the Spanish firecracker; Betty Boo, the would be queen-bee; beautiful 

Vashti and newcomer Lucy. The only “real” girl is Sandra, the outraged ex-wife of Suzy 

(whose real name is Harold!), and she has turned up to cause trouble. Will they make it 

through to the finale or will the riot police get there first 

Notes: With an impressive half -dozen original calypsos plus some standards like “I Will 

Survive”, and a cast of characters including two ageing veterans, a rural Hindu, an on-therun 

gangster, and an illegal immigrant – there was plenty of scope for a lively show, 

especially when laced with bitchy slanging matches and catfights. However, the general 

verdict was none of it really hung together – it was too long, too unfocused, too contrived 

and it lurched from farce to drama and back again, not really knowing what direction it 

really wanted to take.

THE FAR PAVILIONS 

London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, April 14 th – September 17th 

Music: Philip Henderson 

Book & Lyrics: Stephen Clark 

Indian music & lyrics: Kuljit Bhamra 

Director: Gale Edwards 

Choreographer: Karen Bruce 

Indian Dances: Pilai Ray 

Musical Director: David Braun-White 

Cast: Hadley Fraser (Ashton Pelham-Martyn), Marina Abdeen (Sita), 

David Burt (Lt. Harkness), Kabir Bedi (Koda Dad Khan Sahib), 

Stewart Scudamore ( Maharajah), David Savile (Sir Louis), 

Sophiya Haque (Janoo Rani), Kulvinder Ghir (Maharana), 

Simon Gleeson (Lt. Hamilton), Dean Hussain (Awal Shah), 

Dianne Pilkington (Belinda), Gayatri Iyer (Princess Anjuli) 

Fiona Wade, Marina Abdeen, Hannah Chick, Meryl Fernandes, Graham Vick 


Songs: Two Worlds Collide, Hawa Mahal, Torn in Two, The Pindi Club Ball, Look in the Mirror, Gabbru Put 

Punjab de Memsahibs, Who Could Have Known, The Fathers of India, Blood Red Bride, We Have to Be 

Gods, Born to the Battle, Freedom and Honour, Hourney of Our Hearts 

Story: Set in 19 th Century India, the story revolves around an orphaned boy, Ashok, initially raised by an 

Indian woman before learning that he is actually of English parentage. He is sent to the mother country, 

receives a British education, and as Lieutenant Ashton Pelham-Martyn, returns to India as a British army 

officer. Now his loyalties and emotions are torn in different directions. As a boy he lost his heart to Princess 

Anjuli, the Maharajah’s daughter, and witnessed a vile murder committed by the girl’s wicked stepmother, 

Janoo Rani. As a man he has to struggle with his sense of identity and his conflicting emotions - still in love 

with Anjuli, but engaged to the very English Belinda – until she rejects him because of his “Indian” upbringing 

– and then suffering further rejection by some of his regiment when they learn of his background. However, in 

all the machinations, warmongering and politicking of the British Raj, his adoring best friend, Lieutenant 

Walter Hamilton, in the siege of Kabul, sacrifices his own life to save Ashton and finally enables Ash and 

Anjuli to depart into the sunset, clearly on their way to their own Shangri-La. 

Notes: Margaret Mary Kaye’s 1978 novel “The Far Pavilions” became a world-wide best-seller, and was 

described as “a ‘Gone with the Wind’ of the North West Frontier”. In 1984 the novel was adapted into an epic 

three-part TV mini series starring Ben Cross as Ashton, Amy Irving as Anjuli, and featuring Omar Sharif, 

Christopher Lee, John Gielgud, Robert Hardy, Saeed Jaffrey and Rupert Everett . It was another huge success 

with world-wide sales. When her permission was sought to turn the work into a musical, M.M. Kaye publicly 

wondered if this would not be a step too far. She died, aged 95, just as rehearsals began for its musical 

premiere. Several critics did, indeed, claim this was an adaptation too far. However, it was so splendidly 

vulgar, with lavish costumes, a sung-through score, an endlessly revolving stage-set, a touch of the Bollywoods 

and some gloriously over-the-top performances, that the overall reaction was one of pleasure. 

5 

Photos by Alastair Muir 

Hadley Fraser & Gayatri Iyer 

Kulvinder Ghir, Sophiya Haque & company

BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSICAL 

London run: Victoria Palace, May 11 th 

Music: Elton John 

Book & Lyrics: Lee Hall 

Director: Stephen Daldry 

Choreographer: Peter Darling 

Musical Director: Philip Bateman 

Cast: James Lomas/George Maguire/Liam Mower (Billy), 

Haydn Gwynne (Mrs Wilkinson), Tim Healy (Dad), 

Joe Caffrey (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), 

Trevor Fox (George), Steve Elias (Mr Braithwaite), 

Stephanie Putson (Dead Mum), Isaac James (Older Billy) 

Brad Kavanagh/Ashley Long/Ryan Longbottom (Michael), 

Brook Havana Bailey/Emma Hudson/Lucy Stephenson 

(Debbie), 


Songs: The Stars Look Down, Shine, Grandma’s Song, Solidarity, Expressing Yourself, Born to Boogie, Merry 

Christmas Mrs Thatcher, He Could Be a Star, Electricity, Swan Lake. 

Story: In County Durham, during the 1984-86 coal miners’ strike, motherless 11 year-old Billy secretly leaves his 

boxing practice and becomes the only boy in Mrs Wilkinson’s ballet class. When his furious Dad finds out, Billy is 

forbidden to attend the dancing lessons, but encouraged by Mrs Wilkinson and her daughter, Debbie, Billy secretly 

gets free lessons. Billy’s Dad and brother Tony are engaged in daily battles with the riot police, and struggling to 

support the family with very little strike pay. When they learn that Billy has been entered for an audition with the 

Royal Ballet School in London, they embarrass and mock him in front of everyone. A humiliated Billy decides to 

give up the audition and stop dancing. 

During a maudlin Christmas Party at the Community Centre, Billy’s young friend, Michael confesses that he is gay 

and has feelings for him, but Billy explains that although he likes ballet, he is not gay. Nonetheless, he lets Michael 

give him a kiss on the cheek. Michael leaves, and Billy suddenly feels like dancing for the first time since the day of 

the aborted audition. His spontaneous dance is secretly observed by his father who, overcome with emotion, 

decides he must support Billy’s talent. To raise the necessary money he breaks his union principals, crosses the 

picket line and becomes a strike-breaker. This infuriates Tony and leads to a serious fight, but some of the striking 

miners support Billy, and another strike-breaker gives him hundreds of pounds. Billy eventually succeeds in his 

audition, and is accepted at the Royal Ballet School. Billy leaves Durham, says goodbye to the miners, to Mrs. 

Wilkinson and to Debbie, and when Michael arrives to say goodbye, Billy gives him a friendly kiss on the cheek. 

Billy leaves the past behind him and looks to a bright future. The miners know their industry is dying, but the 

community spirit lives on in their support for Billy. 

Notes: The musical was based on the 2000 film of the same name. The original film was partly inspired by A.J. 

Cronin’s 1935 novel “The Stars Look Down”. The musical earned excellent notices - "the greatest British musical 

I have ever seen" (Daily Telegraph), "a theatrical masterpiece" (Daily Mail) and won four Olivier Awards, including 

Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical awarded jointly to all three boys who played Billy. The Broadway 

production opened in November 2008, earning totally rave reviews, winning ten Tony Awards, and recovering its 

entire $18 million investment in 14 months. (The New York production closed on January 8 th , 2012 following 40 

previews and 1,304 performances.) 

6 

Photo by David Scheinmann

BARNUM (3 rd Revival) 

London run: Union, May 10 th – June 4th 

Music: Cy Coleman 

Lyrics: Michael Stewart 

Book: Mark Bramble 

Director: Paul Tate & Andrew Lynford 

Choreographer: Andrew Lynford 

Musical Director: Danny Whitby 

Producer: Paul Tate 

Cast: Chris Coughlin (PT Barnum), Sarah-Jane Bourne (Charity Barnum), 

James Thomas (Ringmaster), Daniel Whiteley (Tom Thumb), 

Angela Brereton (Jenny Lind), Natasha Cox, Guy Newman, 

Debbie Chapman. Philip Giorgi, Wendy Morgan, Hannah Lindo, 

Charlotte Milchard 

Attempting to stage this epic circus show in a tiny fringe theatre inevitably led 

to questions like where are the acrobats, the trapeze artists, the tightrope 

walkers The “human” story at the heart of the show was simply too weak to 

carry the show on its own. The general verdict was: nicely sung, but no more. 


Charlotte Milchard 

Notes: See Original Production: London Palladium June 1981; First Revival: Victoria Palace, March 1985 

Second revival: Dominion Theatre, December 1992 

7 

SILK STOCKINGS 

London run: Lilian Baylis , May 22 nd – June 12 th (4 Sunday performances) 

Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter 

Book: George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath & Abe Burrows 


Choreographer: Roland Brine 

Musical Director: Simon Beck 

Producer: Lost Musicals season 

Cast: Valerie Cutko (Ninotchka), Martin Turner (Steven Canfield), Jessica Martin (Janice Dayton), 

Frank Lazarus, David Phipps-Davis, Nigel Anthony, James Vaughan, Neil McCaul, Samantha Giffard, 

Andrew Beavis 

Songs: Paris Loves Lovers, It’s a Chemical Reaction, That’s All, All of You, Too Bad, Satin and Silk, Without 

Love, The Red Blues. 

Story: Based on the 1939 Greta Garbo film “Ninotchka”, this is the story of a humourless Russian woman 

official who is doubly seduced, by Paris itself, and by Steve, a fast-talking American talent scout involved in 

convincing a Soviet composer, famous for his “Ode to a 

Tractor”, to write the score for a Hollywood version of 

“War and Peace” starring the empty-headed starlet, 

Janice Dayton. It was a satire on Stalin’s Russia (with 

some anti-Hollywood jokes thrown in) and very much a 

product of Eisenhower’s Cold War era. 

Photo by Lucas Orme 

Notes: This was part of a series of Sunday afternoon 

semi-staged performances in Ian Marshall Fisher’s 

season of lost musicals. This show had never been 

presented in London. The original Broadway production 

opened in February 1955 and ran for 478 performances 

with Hildegarde Neff, Don Ameche and Gretchen Wyler. 

It was later filmed with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. 

Martin Turner, Jessica Martin & Valerie Cutkko

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (2 nd Revival) 

London run: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, May 28 th - July 3rd 

Music: Stephen Sondheim & others 

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim 

Director-Choreographer: Racky Plews 

Musical Director: Chris Lambert 

Cast: Nikki Gerrard, Susie Harriet, James Pearson, 

Andrew MacDonald (Narrator) 

Notes: This production avoided the 

standard “evening-dress” concert-type 

approach, and staged the numbers often in 

costume, with props, and with the male 

performer occasionally going into drag to 

join the girls. 

During the run there was a regular change 

of narrators. 

Original London run: 

Mermaid Theatre, May 1976; 

First revival: Greenwich Theatre, July 1997 


8 

THE MUSICAL MEDIUM 

London run: Landor, May 31 st – June 18 th 

Music & Lyrics: Stuart Wood 

Director: Robert McWhir 

Musical Director: Stuart Wood 

Cast: Carol Ball (Peggy Trivet), 

Leo Andrew (Schubert), 

Paul Spicer (George), 

Colleen Daley (Despina) 

Story: Frumpy piano teacher, Peggy Trivet, is also a practising medium, and is in frequent contact with dead 

composers: Beethoven working on his 10 th Symphony, Wagner on a sequel to his Ring Cycle. But her main 

contact is Franz Schubert, who has written another song, and would like her to release it to the world. Schubert 

is also impressed by her talented piano pupil, George, and wants Peggy help George escape the clutches of his 

mad Greek mother, Despina, and go off to study at the Juilliard School. (Thanks to a racing tip from Schubert’s 

long-dead sister, Clara, George is able to earn the financial means to carry out his studies.) 

Photo by Stagephoto 

Notes: This was considered to be 

a fun idea for a show, and 

containing a very promising score 

and lyrics. The book was in 

urgent need of development, and 

the whole venture was not helped 

by being performed to recorded 

music. However, Stuart Wood 

was reckoned to be a talent worth 

watching. 

Leo Andrew, Carol Ball, 

Paul Spicer & Colleen Daley

GUYS AND DOLLS (4th Revival) 

London run: Piccadilly Theatre, June 1 st (773 performances) 

Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser 

Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows 

Director: Michael Grandage 

Choreographer: Rob Ashford 

Musical Director: Jae Alexander 

Producer: Donmar Warehouse, Ambassador Theatre Group, David Ian, 

etc 

Cast: Ewan McGregor (Sky Masterton), 

Jane Krakowski (Miss Adelaide), Douglas Hodge (Nathan Detroit), 

Jenna Russell (Sarah Browne), Martyn Ellis (Nicely-Nicely), 

Cory English (Benny), Niall Buggy, Norman Bowman, 

Matthew Cole, Sévan Stephan 

This revival was very different in approach from the hugely 

successful National Theatre version, but it was generally regarded 

as equally as exciting and enjoyable. Ewan MacGregor came in 

for some mixed reviews, and most of the plaudits were for the 

American choreographer, Rob Ashford, for creating some of the 

most exciting dancing to be seen in the West End. Cast changes 

during the run saw Nigel Harman replace Ewan McGregor, and 

Nigel Lindsay and Neil Morrissey take over as Nathan Detroit. At 

the end of its first year further cast changes included Patrick 

Swayze as Nathan Detroit, Adam Cooper as Sky Masterton, Claire 

Sweeney as Miss Adelaide, and Kelly Price promoted from the 

chorus to take over as Sarah Brown. The production ran for almost 

two years, and closed on April 14th 2007. 


Jenna Russell, Ewan McGregor, 

Douglas Hodge & Jane Krakowski 

See original London run: Coliseum, May 1953; 1st revival: Olivier Theatre, March 1982; 

2nd revival: Prince of Wales, June 1985; 3 rd revival: Olivier Theatre, December 1996 

9 

Photo by Lorenzo Agius 

Photo by Alastair Muir 

TICK TICK. . . BOOM! 

London run: Chocolate Factory, June 9 th – September 3 rd 

Music & Lyrics: Jonathan Larson 

Book revised by: David Auburn 

Director: Scott Schwartz 

Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli 

Musical Director: Carolie Humphris 

Cast: Neil Patrick Harris (Jonathan), 

Cassidy Janson (Susan), Tee Jaye (Michael) 

Story: Jonathan is a struggling composer, working 

weekends as a waiter to subsidise his art. Hoping to get his 

work staged on Broadway, but about to hit his 30 th 

birthday, he is conscious that time is running out. His best 

friend, gay Michael, has already given up the fight to be 

Tee Jaye, Cassidy Janson & Neil Patrick Harris 

an actor – and has got a decent job and the flashy car and 

the new apartment that comes with a “proper” career. His dancer-girlfriend, Susan, is also tired of starving in a 

garret and longs for a proper home with a dishwasher. Will Jonathan, teetering in the brink of a nervous breakdown 

before the first public performance of his work “Superbia”, finally sell out Or will he follow his musical and 

artistic heart 

Notes: Originally work-shopped in 1990 as a one-person dramatic monologue, but never staged, this was an 

autobiographical piece by Jonathan Larsen, who would later gain overnight fame as the composer of the musical 

“Rent” and who died, suddenly at the age of 35, on the eve of the first preview of “Rent”. The work-shop 

production was revised by the playwright David Auburn into a show for three actors, and ran six months off- 

Broadway, followed by a US tour and several foreign country productions. This was its UK premiere. It had great 

interest value, but was ultimately not a particularly successful piece of theatre.

THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES 

London run: Theatre Royal, Haymarket, June 20 th (Limited 8 week run) 

Music: Various 

Created by: David King 

Director-Choreographer: Gary Lloyd 

Musical Director: Barry Robinson 

Singers: Ken Prymus, Maurey Richards, N’Kenge Simpson-Hoffman, 

Jonnie Fiori, Natalyia Roni, Ty Stephens, Chris Murrell, Vea Williams, 

David Jennings 


Notes: With a cast of 9 singers and 12 dancers, an onstage orchestra of 16 

musicians and a medley of 36 songs associated with Ray Charles, this was a 

tribute compilation staged just a year after his death. It was billed as “a new 

musical created by David King”. The critics hated it – claiming false pretences, 

since it was nothing more than a concert , and claimed the loudest sound of the evening was that of Ray Charles 

spinning in his grave. 

10 

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (1 st Revival) 

London run: Heaven, June 20 th – July 1st 

Music & Lyrics: Stephen Trask 

Book: John Cameron Mitchell 

Director: John Maher 

Choreographer: Simone de la Rue 

Musical Director: Stephen Trask 

Cast: David Bedella (Hedwig), K.T. Newman (Yitzak) 

Staged at the gay disco venue Heaven as part of the Pride Festival of 2005. 

Original London production: Playhouse, September 2000 

David Bedella 

SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS 

London run: Lyric Hammersmith, July 5 th – 23 rd 

Music & Lyrics: Morrissey and Marr 

Director: Andrew Wale 

Choreographer: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui 

Musical Director: Perrin Manzer Allen 

Cast: Katie Brayben, Krysten Cummings, Sigalit Feig, Garrie Harvey, 

Sean Kingsley, Katrine Lunde 

Songs: Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me, I Won’t Share 

You, The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, Asleep, Please Let Me Get what I 

Want, Barbarism Begins at Home 

Notes: There was no narrative structure to this show which, musically, 

was a compilation of songs recorded by The Smiths (Morrissey and 

Johnny Marr). Whilst the vocal and musical performance was agreed to 

be powerful and talented, the show itself mystified the audience. It 

consisted of a series of episodes against back projections of jerky Super 8 

films, interpreting the lyrics of the songs. These episodes included, amongst others, a man in a white rabbit 

suit simulating sex with a girl dressed as a leather-clad Alice in Wonderland, a man and a woman having 

occasional sex on a table, Helga the au-pair with red hair plaits, and a finale where the rabbit gets shot and has 

his throat slit. As one reviewer said: “The white rabbit wasn’t the only unhappy bunny by the end of 90 

minutes”. 

Photo by Tristram Kenton

EVENING PRIMROSE 

London run: Lilian Baylis, July 3 rd 

(4 Sunday performances) 

Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim 

Book: James Goldman 


Musical Director: Mark Warman 

Producer: Lost Musicals Season 


11 

Photo by Lucas Orme 

Jennifer Higham & Michael Matus 

Cast: Michael Matus (Charles Snell), 

Betsy Blair (Mrs Monday), Gary Raymond (Roscoe), 

Jennifer Higham (Ella), James Vaughan, David O’Brien, 

Sylvia Seymour, Myra Sands 

Songs: Take Me to the World, I Remember, If You Can 

Find Me I’m Here, When 

Story: Charles Snell, a disenchanted poet, hides in Stern’s Manhattan department store after closing time to escape 

from the realities of everyday life. He thinks he’s alone with just the store’s mannequins, but they turn out to be 

hermits who have secretly been there for years and have created their own society with its rules and social order. 

The store society is ruled over by Mrs Monday, a kind of queen bee, and her right-hand man, Roscoe. Charles falls 

in love with one of the mannequins, Ella, and their developing romance is the main part of the plot. Charles plans 

to escape back into the outside world with Ella, but Mrs. Monday calls in the “Dark Men”, and in a “Twilight 

Zone” ending, when the store opens the next morning two new handsome bride and groom mannequins appear, 

eerily resembling Ella and Charles. 

Notes: Originally a short story by John Collier, in 1966 this was commissioned by an American TV company as a 

45 minute television musical, containing four songs. The TV cast was headed by Anthony Perkins. As an early 

example of Sondheim’s work this was an eagerly awaited, British premiere, but it was, in reality, strictly for 

dedicated Sondheim fans. 

DANCING IN THE STREETS 

London run: Cambridge Theatre, July 19 th (319 performances) 

Music: Various 

Director & Compiler: Keith Strachan 

Choreographer: Carole Todd 

Musical Director: Iain Vince-Gatt 

Notes: This was yet another compilation show, this time based on the back catalogue of Tamla Motown. In a kind 

of “Stars in their Eyes” programme, a cheerfully relentless MC (Ray Shell) introduced various members of the 13 

strong cast impersonating the likes of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, 

Martha Reeves, Marvin 

Gaye, the Supremes, 

Smokey Robinson et al, 

with a lot of high energy, 

and explosive dance. The 

show itself had an aura of 

camp irony, which together 

with its sheer exuberance 

made it marginally more 

welcome than the several 

other compilations shows 

that had broken out in the 

West End this season. It ran 

for 319 performances and 

12 previews, ending April 

22nd, 2006.

HMS PINAFORE (Revival) 

London run: Open Air, July 21 st – September 10th 

Music: Arthur Sullivan 

Lyrics: W.S. Gilbert 

New version: Herbert Appleman 

Director: Ian Talbot 

Choreographer: Bill Deamer 

Musical Director: Catherine Jayes 

Producer: New Shakespeare Company 

Cast: Desmond Barrit (Sir Joseph Porter), Lesley Nicol (Buttercup), 

Simon Thomas (Ralph Rackstraw), Scarlett Strallen (Josephine), 

Hal Fowler (Captain Corcoran), Gary Wilmot (Dick Deadeye) 

Notes: The new libretto enlarged the role of Dick Deadeye, making him a kind of 

commentator on the action, and providing him with a series of asides to 

“modernise” the proceedings. This was not especially welcomed by the majority of 

the critics, but the overwhelming high-spirits of the show, and especially the 

glorious over-the-top performance by Desmond Barritt, made this an evening that 

was almost universally praised. 

See earlier London Production: Her Majesty’s, February 1962 

Also Old Vic revival April, 1986 


Desmond Barrit 

12 

Photo by Tristram Kenton 

Photo by Marilyn Kingwill 

BEHIND THE IRON MASK 

London run: Duchess Theatre, August 2 nd (23 performances) 

Music & Lyrics: John Robinson 

Book: Colin Scott & Melinda Walker 

Director: Tony Craven 

Choreographer: Conchita Del Campo 

Musical Director: Alasdair MacNeill 

Cast: Sheila Ferguson (Gypsy), Robert Fardell (Prisoner), Mark McKerracher (Jailer) 

Songs: There is Sweet Music, Do You Look for Love, Touch Me, You’ll Never Leave 

Here, Who’s the Prisoner Here, Take Me as I Am, I’m a Lady, If All This Means Love 

Story: With just three characters, this is the story of a jailer who meets a gypsy temptress 

and smuggles her back into the jail where a man in an iron mask is incarcerated, and thus 

begins a love-triangle story. However, if her presence in the jail is ever discovered, it will mean certain death for 

them all, so they have to decide whether to kill or to hide her. 

Notes: This show was greeted with unanimous hoots of derision and disappeared within three weeks. Some of the 

critical comments were: “Absolutely all expense has been spared on the skimpy set”; the leading man spends the 

whole show “in headgear that makes him 

look like a mix of Darth Varder, Hannibal 

Lecter and a charred parrot”; “in a 

supposedly erotic dance, Feguson wafts her 

skirt as if she is measuring up for curtains 

and talks of love and passion as though 

checking off a shopping list”; “to suggest 

it is plain terrible does not do justice to its 

sheer, gothic relentless awfulness”; “The 

prisoner’s big number is called ‘Touch 

Me’. Given this show, the phrase that 

comes to mind is ‘not with a bargepole’”. 

This show joined the legendary group of 

the most awful West End shows ever. 

Sheila Ferguson & Robert Fardell

INTO THIN AIR 

London run: New Players, September 1st - 24 th 

Music & Lyrics: Robert Gray 

Director-Choreographer: Stewart Nicholls 

Musical Director: Karl Pendlebury 


13 

Cast: Wayne Sleep (Adjutant), 

Cate Debenham-Taylor (Pilot Officer Ripley), 

William Ludwig (Grebleips), James Bisp, James Head, 

Rachel Izen, Sorelle Marsh. 

Story: It’s 1957 in a secret and remote RAF station where the duties are 

almost non-existent, so the station adjutant decides to put on a musical 

revue to while away the time. However, he only has four other men and 

women on the site – so the casting is limited. Then suddenly Ripley, a 

beautiful new Pilot Officer arrives, so things are looking up. However, 

she brings chilling news: it is actually the year 2005, and the RAF 

station and its occupants mysteriously vanished into thin air back in 

Wayne Sleep 

1957. Then Grebleips, an extra-terrestrial, suddenly arrives and declares 

his avid interest in earthling mating rituals, and demands that the boys and girls in air-force blue perform for 

him. 

Notes: With more than a nod to “Brigadoon”, “Dr Who” and “The Rocky Horror Show” this was an 

entertaining, light-hearted piece of nonsense, with a pastiche score ranging from Cole Porter, to G&S and 

1950s rock-n-roll performed by a cast of 7 and a 3-piece band. The book enabled a series of time-warp gags 

with mobile phones, Viagra, etc., and offered plenty of opportunity for Wayne Sleep to perform a series of 

dances. 

Photo by Lisa Bowerman 

DO I HEAR A WALTZ (1 st Revival) 

London run: Landor, September 7 th – October 1 st 

Music: Richard Rodgers 


Book: Arthur Laurents 

Director: Myles Stinton 

Musical Director: Danny Whitby 

Cast: Anna Stolli (Leona Samish), Daniel Gillingwater (Renato di Rossi), Susan Raasay (Signora Floria), 

Zoe Ann Brown (Mrs McIlhenny), Ian Dring (Mr McIlhenny), Alexander Evans, Conall McCoy, Julia Riley, 

Paul Russell, Gabriella Santinelli 

Original London production: Landor, June 1999 

Photo by Stagephoto


HAIR (3 rd 

Revival) 

London run: Gate, September 22 nd – October 29th 

Music: Galt MacDermot 

Lyrics & Book: Gerome Ragni and James Rado 

Director: Daniel Kramer 

Choreographer: Ann Yee 

Musical Director: Steve Hill 


Cast: Charles Aitken (Claude), Kevin Wathen (Berger), Gary Amers (Woof), Golda Rosheuvel (Hud), 

Joanna Ampil (Sheila), Robyn Isaac (Jeannie), Nancy Wei-George (Crissy) 

Notes: This was an updated production, moving the setting from Vietnam in the 1960s to the current Iraq War, 

and updating LBJ to George Bush, etc. A second nude scene reproduced the notorious human pyramid photos of 

Abu Ghraib. However, this updating made no real sense: a musical about the lost “love and peace” generation 

became one about brash layabouts refusing to grow up; Claude was no longer the hapless victim of a policy 

forcing young men into the killing fields, rather he now volunteers for the army. It was generally felt that “Hair” 

was truly a period piece 

which belonged in the 

1960s, and this attempt at 

updating it did not really 

work. However, it was 

agreed the show still has one 

of the best musical scores to 

come out of that decade, 

well worth hearing again. 

14 

Original London production, 

Shaftesbury Theatre, 

September 1968. 

First revival: 

Queen’s Theatre. June 1974; 

Second Revival: 

Old Vic, September 1993 

HIGH SOCIETY (2 nd 

Revival) 

London run: Shaftesbury Theatre, October 10 th (120 performances) 

Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter 

Book: Arthur Kopit 

Additional lyrics: Susan Birkenhead 

Director: Ian Talbot 

Choreographer: Gillian Gregory 

Musical Director: James Dunsmore 

Producer: New Shakespeare Company/Churchill Bromley, etc. 

Cast: Graham Bickley (Dexter), Paul Robinson (Mike), Ria Jones (Liz), 

Katherine Kinglsey (Tracy), Royston Kean (Uncle Willie), 

Jerry Hall (Mother Lord), Claire Redcliffe, Bryan Torfeh, David Alder 

Notes: This was a revival of the 2003 Open-Air Theatre production. 

According to the Independent: “In Regent’s Park this was just the 

summertime ticket. . .inside the Shaftesbury, badly microphoned, 

desperately choreographed and tinnily accompanied by a band of just six Jerry Hall as Mother Lord 

musicians, it looks a bit cheap. . .”. Top billing was given to Jerry Hall, 

in the small and somewhat insignificant role of the mother of the bride. However, just eleven days after the Press 

Night Jerry Hall withdrew from the show, suffering from glandular fever. (Exactly one year earlier Jerry Hall 

had left the cast of “My Darlin’ Janey” at the King’s Head, again suffering from glandular fever.) Her role was 

taken over by her understudy, Ali McInnes. Originally announced for a six-month run, the show closed on 

January 21st 2006 after just 15 weeks. 

Original London production: Victoria Palace, February 1987 

First revival: Open Air Theatre, July 2003 

Photo by PhotographersDirect.com

Photo by Elliot Franks 

DR FOSTER 

London run: Menier Chocolate Factory, October 20 th – November 5 th 

Music: Malcolm Newton 

Book & Lyrics: Adrian Schiler 

Director: Adrian Schiler 

Choreographer: Lynne Page 

Musical Director: Malcolm Newton 

Cast: Rachel Pickup (Dr Foster), 

Zubin Varla (Mephistopheles), 

Sergio Covino (Archangel Gabriel), 

Emily Watcher (Yummy), 

Anna Lowe (Lovely) 

Story: An aspiring geeky 

academic summons up 

Mephistopheles, prepared 

to sell her soul in return 

f o r a c a d e m i c 

Rachel Pickup & Zubin Varla 

achievement and “all the 

pies in the world”, but – shock! – Mephisto turns the offer down. Her soul isn’t worth buying – 

she’s too good, and, anyway, Hell is overcrowded. The Archangel Gabriel celebrates with some 

mambo dancing. 


15 

Notes: A very thin plot, but there was some praise for the composing debut of Malcolm Newton. 

THE NEXT BIG THING 

London run: New Players Theatre, November 2 nd – December 3 rd 

Music & Lyrics: Mark Burton & Pete Sinclair 

Additional songs: Willie Dowling 

Director: Clive Paget 

Choreographer: Jenny Arnold 

Musical Director: John Maher 

Cast: Jon-Paul Hevey (Mike West), Melissa Lloyd (Fenda, etc.), Jon Boydon (Zak Love), 

Glenn Chapman (Malcolm, etc.), Lisa Baird, Anna Carmichael, Kieron Crook, 

Hugo Degenhardt, Guy James, Robin Johnson, James Parkes. 

Story: Mike West is a wannabe rock star, and is inspired in this quest by the sexy spirit of 

his red Fender Guitar. Despite the efforts of Malcolm, the punk group manager, it becomes 

clear that Mike’s 

talent can’t hold a 

candle to his 

bandmate, Zak 

Love, who is destined to be the real success. 

Notes: The plot was just an excuse for a 

series of original songs sending up every 

pop music trend from 60s pop to punk, new 

romanticism and glam rock. With a cast of 

11 in a series of quick-changes, outrageous 

costumes, and great energy, this was a 

likeable, fun show. 

Jon Boydon as Zak Love 

Photo by Colin White

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL (1 st Revival) 

London run: London Palladium, 

November 8th – January 14 th 2006 (Limited season) 

Music, Lyrics & Book: Leslie Bricusse 

Director: Bob Tomson 

Choreographer: Lisa Kent 

Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar 

Producer: Bill Kenwright 

Cast: Tommy Steele (Scrooge), Tom Solomon (Young Scrooge), 

Glyn Kerslake (Bob Cratchit), Barry Howard (Jacob Marley), 

Gemma Page (Christmas Past), James Head (Christmas Present), 

Ian Sanders (Christmas Yet to Come) 

Notes: According to a plaque in the Dress Circle Bar, Tommy 

Steele has headlined more performances at the London Palladium 

than any other artist (his last show being “Singing in the Rain” in Tommy Steele & Barry Howard 

1989). Although this cheery cockney persona doesn’t immediately 

suggest Scrooge, he was welcomed back like a conquering hero. It was very enjoyable Christmas fayre. 

Original London Production: Dominion, November 1996 


16 

Photo by Keith Pattison 

Photo by Union Theatre 

SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (3 rd Revival) 

London run: Union, November 8 th - 26 th 

Music: Stephen Sondheim & others 


Director: Andrew Lynford 

Musical Director: Michael Cryne 

Cast: Alison Egan, Natalie Searles, Denise Silvey, 

Gavin James, Morgan James, Chris Gee (Narrator) 

Notes: This was the second production of this show in 2005, 

and returned to the standard “evening-dress” concert-type 

approach 

Original London run: Mermaid Theatre, May 1976 

First revival: Greenwich Theatre, July 1997 

Second revival: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, May 2005 

DANNY AND SYLVIA 

London run: Jermyn Street, November 10 th – 26 th 

Original Music: Bob Bain 

Book and Lyrics: Robert McElwaine 

Director-Choreographer: Kenn Oldfield 

Musical Director: Karl Pendlebury 

Cast: Richard Brightiff (Danny Kaye), Jessica Martin (Sylvia Fine) 

Songs: (Original songs): If I Knew Then, I’m a Star (and songs by various 

composers from Danny Kaye’s films and shows. ) 

Story: Robert McElwaine was a long-time friend and colleague of Danny 

Kaye, and has created a story of how Danny and Sylvia met, how they worked 

together, got married, separated, and then got together again, and how the savvy 

Sylvia provided the discipline that made the mercurial Danny Kaye an 

international star. Because Richard Brightiff had an uncanny resemblance to the 

young Danny Kaye, and captured his personality and act so well, and because 

Jessica Martin gave a very powerful performance, this show was much praised. 

Richard Brightiff 

Photo by Marilyn Kingwill


Daniel Evans 

17 


SUNDAY IN THE PARK 

WITH GEORGE (1 st Revival) 

London run: Menier Chocolate Factory, 

Nov 29 th – March 12 th , 2006 

Transfer: Wyndhams , 

May 23 rd 2006 – Sept 2 nd 

Music & Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim 

Book: James Lapine 

Director: Sam Buntrock 

Choreographer: Christopher Gattelli 

Musical Director: Caroline Humphris 

Cast: Daniel Evans (George), 

Anna Jane Casey (Dot), Gay Soper, 

Joanne Redman, Simon Green, Liza Sadovy, 

Alasdair Harvey, Christopher Colley, Sarah French 

Ellis, Kaisa Hammarlund, Mark McKerracher 

Notes: Fifteen years after its coolly received National Theatre premiere, this fringe production had almost all the 

critics reaching for their superlatives. With a small cast, a five-piece band and its ambitious production techniques 

and computer graphics, this show was visually and technically breathtaking. And with the brilliant central 

performances from Daniel Evans, Anna Jane Casey and Gay Soper it was hailed as unforgettable, with several 

critics deciding it was a Sondheim masterpiece. 

Its major achievement seems to be welding the two separate acts together – earlier 

critics had claimed this was two separate shows, with no real link between the 1880s 

Paris of Seurat and the 1980s USA of his (fictional) grandson. The production 

transferred to Wyndhams Theatre in May 2006 and ran until September 2nd . It had 

the same principal cast, except Jenna Russell replaced Anna Jane Casey who was 

unavailable. It won five Olivier Awards, including Outstanding Musical Production, 

Best Actor in a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. The production was re-created 

for a limited engagement on Broadway between January and June 2008, again with 

Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell. 

Original London Production: 

Lyttleton Theatre, March 1990 

JACK THE RIPPER (1 st Revival) 

London run: Jermyn Street, December 1 st – 22nd 

Music: Ron Pember 

Lyrics & Book: Ron Pember & Denis Demarne 

Director-Chorerographer: Tim McArthur 

Musical Director: Stephen Hose 

Cast: Alex Browne (Chairman), 

Leanne Masterton (Marie Kelly), 

Janine Hales (Annie), 

William Ludwig (Montague Druitt), 

Cathy McManamon (Lizzie Stride), 

Mark Lambourne (Daniel Mendoza), 

Kris Abrahams, Peter Huntley, Philip Lee, 

Hannah Lindo, Clare Thomas. Maggie Robson 

Notes: With 12 actors and one pianist, this was a 

scaled down revival of the show first seen in London 

30 years earlier. 

Original London production: 

Ambassadors/Cambridge September 1974


SAUCY JACK AND THE SPACE VIXENS (1 st Revival) 

London run: The Venue, December 6 th – February 4 th 2006 

Music & Lyrics: Robin Forrest & Jonathan Croose 

Book & Additional lyrics: Charlotte Mann & Michael Fidler 

Director: Michael Fidler 

Choreographer: Bruno Fanioli 

Musical Director: 

18 

Cast: Scott Baker (Saucy Jack), Faye Tozer (Jubilee), Gemma Zirfas (Anna), 

Melita Nicola (Bunny), Carl Mullaney (Booby), Mark Carroll (Dr Whackoff), 

Carmen Cusack (Chesty), Joel Karie (Sammy), Paul Christopher (Mitch) 

Original London Production: Queen’s Theatre, March 1998 

THE WIZ (1 st Revival) 

London run: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, December 17 th – January 29 th 2006 

Music & Lyrics: Charlie Smalls 

Book: Frank Baum & William Brown 

Director: John Plews 

Choreographer: Racky Plews 

Musical Director: Christopher Whitehead 

Cast: Sarah Boulton (Dorothy), 

Sasha Hermann (Aunt Em), 

Stuart Hickey (Uncle Henry/The Wiz), 

Spencer James (Scarecrow), 

Emma Lindars (Evillene), 

Louisa Copperwaite (Addaperle), 

Andrew Fitzpatrick (Lion), 

Jonathan Eio (Tinman), 

Georgina Wyatt, Caroline Fox 

Photo by London Evening Standard 

Performed by an all-white cast and in the tiny fringe venue, this was praised for its youthful energy and little 

else. Original London Production: Lyric Hammersmith, December 1984

London Musicals 2005-2009.pub - Over The Footlights

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