/1982musicals

1982

15

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES London run: Prince of Wales, March 4th (15 months) Music & Lyrics: Various Book: Patrick Garland & Brian Glanville with Roy Hudd & Chesney Allen Director: Roger Redfarn Choreographer: Tudor Davies Musical Director: Clive Chaplin Producer: Bernard Delfont & Richard M. Mills

Cast: 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) Songs: Just For Laughs, Umbrella Man, Flanagan. The Old Bull and Bush, Hey Neighbour, Hometown, Siegfried Line, Maybe it’s Because I’m a Londoner, Strolling

Photo by Reg Wilson

Story: The story of the lives and career of Flanagan and Allen and their long association with the Crazy Gang, this was an opportunity to re-create some of their more famous sketches – “Well Done Gordon”, “Broken Blossoms” etc – and to re-introduce most of the songs associated with the Flanagan and Allen double act. At some performances the elderly and somewhat frail Chesney Allen would make an appearance and join in the singing.

Notes: The production originated at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Joe Black, Tommy Godfrey, Christopher Timothy, Billy Gray, Roy Hudd, Don Smoothey & Peter Glaze

GUYS AND DOLLS (1st Revival) London run: Olivier Theatre, March 9th (Repertoire) Music and lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows Director: Richard Eyre Choreographer: David Toguri Musical Director: Tony Britten

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

Cast: 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 has become one of the legendary successes of the 1980s. It was scheduled for a limited number of performances, and was later brought back into the repertoire, followed by a tour. It then was re-created for the West End in 1985.

Notes: See original London run: Coliseum, May 1953 Julia McKenzie as Miss Adelaide

1982

16

BOOGIE WOOGIE BUBBLE ‘N’ SQUEAK London run: Mayfair Theatre, March 25th (Very short run) Music & Lyrics: Various Director: Stuart Hopps Cast: Leonie Hofmeyer, Sarah McNair, Michele Maxwell Notes: Three singers, collectively presenting themselves as the Skirted Issue, sing the past and present repertoire 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 illusion of real-life harmony among the girls, the fraudulence of stage allure – and in some unspecified way which doesn’t quite come off – makes a statement connected with Feminism. It did not receive good notices and was quickly withdrawn.

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER London run: Greenwich Theatre, April 22nd (Season) Music & Lyrics: Stephen Foster Book: Roy Hudd Director: Roger Haines Choreographer: Kenn Oldfield Cast: Simon Green (Stephen Foster), Christina Matthews, Dorothy Vernon, Ian Burford, Paul Bentley, Harry Dickman Story: The life-story of Stephen Foster, incorporating much of his musical output.

Notes: This originated at the Haymarket, Leicester.

SONG AND DANCE London run: Palace Theatre, April 8th (781 performances) Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black Director: John Caird Choreographer: Anthony Van Laast Musical Director: Kenny Clayton Producer: Cameron Mackintosh

Cast: Marti Webb & Wayne Sleep with Linda-Mae Brewer, Jane Darling, Andrea Durant, Linda Gibbs, Claude-Paul Henry, Andy Norman, Sandy Strallen, Paul Tomkinson

Notes: This was a show in two parts. The “song” half was a song-cycle called “Tell Me on a Sunday” – a simple tale of a young English woman in New York and the trials and tribulations she experiences through a series of unhappy love affairs. This was performed by Marti Webb. The second half was called “Variations”, a suite of variations on a theme by Paganini, and was interpreted in dance by Wayne Sleep and a team of eight dancers. (During the long run the Marti Webb role was taken over by Gemma Craven, Lulu and Liz Robertson. Wayne Sleep’s role was later danced by Stephen Jeffries, Graham Fletcher, John Meehan and Paul Tomkinson)

Photo by Donald Cooper

Songs: Tell Me on a Sunday, Take That Look Off Your Face, Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad, Come Back with the Same Look in Your Eyes

1982

17

PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Revival) London run: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane May 26th (17 months) Music: Arthur Sullivan Lyrics: W.S.Gilbert Director: Wilford Leach Choreographer: Graciela Daniele Producer: Michael White

Cast: Tim Curry (Pirate King), Pamela Stephenson (Mabel), George Cole (Major General), Michael Praed (Frederic), Annie Ross (Ruth), Bonnie Langford, Louise Gold

Photo by Zoe Dominic

Notes: This was based on Joseph Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival Production.

It was a completely “new” look at the show – a kind of Broadway version of G&S – and received excellent notices for its exuberance and sheer fun (without straying too far from the original!)

It ran for 17 months, finishing on October 29th, 1983

Tim Curry

BEGGAR’S OPERA (3rd Revival) London run: Cottesloe Theatre, July 1st Music arranged by Dominic Muldowney Director: Richard Eyre Choreographer: David Toguri Producer: A National Theatre Production

This revival was set in a Victorian Workhouse and was well received by the critics. It was always planned for a limited run.

Notes: See Aldwych Theatre, July 16th, 1963 First revival: Apollo, September 12th 1968 Second revival: Lyric Hammersmith, August 1980 Paul Jones as Macheath

Photo by Donald Cooper

Cast: 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)

1982

18

WINDY CITY

Photo by Donald Cooper

London run: Victoria Palace, July 20th (250 Performances) Music: Tony Macaulay Book & Lyrics: Dick Vosburgh Director: Peter Wood Musical Director: Anthony Bowles Producer: Louis Benjamin & Toby Rowlands

Dennis Waterman & Amanda Redman

Cast: 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 Sinclair

Songs: Hey Hallelujah, Wait Till I Get You On Your Own, Waltz for Mollie, Long Night Again Tonight, No one Walks Out on Me, Perfect Casting, Bensinger’s Poem, Water Under the Bridge Story: Hildy Johnson, a crime reporter for 15 years, is saying goodbye to his fellow workers – he is getting married to Esther Stone and moving to New York. They pay scant attention, eagerly awaiting the hanging of Earl Williams, the “Bolshevick” (an event which will help re-elect the unscrupulous Mayor.) News breaks: Williams has escaped! Everyone rushes off, leaving Hildy alone, then, to his surprise, Williams climbs in through a window. Hildy hides the escapee in a roll-top desk, postpones his wedding, and calls Mr Burns, his editor – this could be the scoop of a lifetime. What follows is a comedy of the misogyny of the newspaper world, problems with Mollie Malloy (the tart with a heart), the corruption of the mayoral office, and the ruthlessness of newspaper editors.

Notes: Based on the play “The Front Page” by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN London run: Donmar Warehouse, September 30th (40 Performances) Music: Harold Rome Book: Leonard Gershe Director: Robert Walker Choreographer: Stuart Hobbs Cast: Alfred Molina (Destry), Jill Gascoigne (Frenchy), Nicola Blackman (Clara), Julian Littman Songs: Ballad of the Gun, I Know Your Kind, Anyone Would Love You, Once Knew a Fella, That Ring on the Finger

Photo by Donald Cooper

Story: Set in the brawling frontier town of Bottleneck in the 1890s, with a violence hating sheriff, Thomas Jefferson Destry, and a toughcookie saloon entertainer, Frenchy, this is a story of the good guys versus the bad guys.

With scenes in the Last Chance Saloon and the Paradise Alley bordello run by Rose Lovejoy, this is billed as a “whoopin’, shootin’, hollerin’ “ show Notes Based on the story by Max Brand, this began life as a Hollywood film (in fact filmed three times) most notably with Marlene Dietrich as Frenchy.

Jill Gascoigne & Alfred Molina

1982

19

WILD WILD WOMEN London run: Astoria Theatre, June 15th (29 Performances) Music: Nola York Book & Lyrics: Michael Richmond Director: Michael Richmond Choreographer: Marcia King Musical Director: Stuart Pedlar Producer: Ray Cooney & Laurie Marsh

Cast: 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 Carter Nola York outside the Astoria Theatre

Story: The McLairds and the Clantons have been tearing the Wild West town of Aggroville apart for many years in a long-lasting feud. But they are forced to re-think when a nun arrives in town, swinging a guitar and rosary with equal enthusiasm. She persuades the womenfolk to withhold their “marital favours” until all guns are firmly back in their holsters. This creates a golden business opportunity for Madam Lola and the “soiled doves” of The Red Candle Saloon. Mixed in with this Lysistrata tale is a Romeo and Juliet tale adding to what was 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 students at 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 served prior to the start of the show.

THE MIKADO (Revival) London run: Cambridge Theatre, September 28th.(4 months) Music: Arthur Sullivan Lyrics: W.S.Gilbert Director: Chris Hayes Choreographer: Michele Hardy Musical Director: Ed Coleman 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 Katisha

Photo by Sven Arnstein

Producer: Bill Kenwright & Paul Gregg.

1982

20

ANDY CAPP

Cast: Tom Courtenay (Andy Capp), Val McLane (Florence Capp), John Bardon (Chalkie) Story: A musical story of Andy Capp, portraying the spongeing, boozing pigeonfancier who hasn’t worked for 32 years, and surrounding him with a group of cronies – Tom Courtenay & Val McLane hard-drinking, tart-chasing, sports-mad husbands avoiding or trying to outsmart their hen-pecking, hard-working, huge-busted, clannish wives. At the end his long-suffering wife, Flo, actually walks 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 gritty reality which didn’t sit too comfortably with its musical format, and an underlying bleakness with its portrait of poverty, unemployment, disillusion, and an irreconcilability between the male and female points of view. For most of the critics the verdict was - it didn’t work. However, “Plays and Players” gave it their Best New Musical of the Year Award!

POPPY London run: Barbican, September 25th (in Repertoire – fixed season) Music: Monty Norman Book & Lyrics: Peter Nicholls Director: Terry Hands Choreographer: David Toguri Cast: 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-James

Photo by Donald Cooper

Story: This was an indictment of the Opium Wars and the Britain’s treatment of the Chinese during the reign of Queen Victoria, and described the rape and pillage done by British forces in Peking. However, it was all told in the style of a British pantomime: a principal boy played by a girl, the Dame played by a man, a pantomime horse, and a song-sheet.

Notes: A revised and re-written version opened at the Adelphi in November 1983.

Julia Hills, Geraldine Garner, & Geoffrey Hutchings

Photo by Donald Cooper

London run: Aldwych Theatre, September 29th (99 Performances) Music: Alan Price Lyrics: Alan Price & Trevor Peacock Director: Braham Murray Choreographer: Sue Lefton Musical Director: Michael Dixon Producer: Ray Cooney

1982

21

MATA HARI London run: Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith (Studio), October 19th (Limited season) Music & Lyrics: Chris Smith & Les Chappell Book: Lene Lovich & Les Chappell Director: Hilary Westlake Cast: Lene Lovich (Mata Hari), Rory Edwards, Jeremy Gittins, Peter Leabourne with Stephen Dixon & Simon Hall (Puppeteers)

Photo by Ray Abbott

Story: The story of Mata Hari, the exotic dancer who claimed to be a Brahmin temple dancer from Southern India and achieved great success as a performer and notoriety for her numerous and wealthy lovers. One of her lovers was arrested by the French security service and Mata Hari’s love of fantasy and the glamorous world of espionage led to her being (unfairly?) accused of spying for the Germans, and being executed by firing squad in 1917.

Notes: Lene Lovich was not felt to have anything like the charisma which must have marked the real Mata Hari and, even though a lot of money had been invested in staging and costumes with a view to a transfer, the show quietly came to the end of its season and disappeared.

Lene Lovich

YAKETY YAK London run: Half Moon Theatre, November 15th Transferred to Astoria Theatre, January 18th 1983 (3 months) Music & Lyrics: Leiber & Stoller Book: Robert Walker Director: Robert Walker Choreographer: Lynne Hockney Musical Director: Tony de Meur Cast: 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, Three Cool Cats, I Can’t Say No, Searchin’.

Photo by John Haynes

Story: 1950s New York, and Danny comes out of jail to find his kid brother dating his girl, and the middle brother training to be a priest. In the middle of all this the boys and girls of the age face the big questions: to go to College or not?

To hit the road and see life? to get married and have babies? to get married to the girl who is expecting your baby?

Kenny Andrews & Paul McGann

Notes: With hardly any plot to worry about, but excellent performances and the successful band known as “The Darts”, this was a great night’s entertainment for lovers of early rock’n’roll. The three brothers were played by three genuine brothers. The show underwent some re-writing and some minor re-casting for the transfer to the Astoria. Remarkably the cast was increased with yet another McGann brother – Mark McGann – and all four brothers were much praised for their acting and singing.

1982

22

CAMELOT (1st Revival) London run: Apollo Victoria, November 23rd (180 Performances) Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics & Book: Alan Jay Lerner Director: Michael Rudman Choreographer: Ronald Hynd Musical Director: Gerry Allison Photo by John Haynes

Producer: Paul Gregg & Lionel Becker

Richard Harris & Fiona Fullerton

Cast: Richard Harris (King Arthur), Fiona Fullerton (Guinevere), William Squire (Merlin), Robert Meadmore (Sir Lancelot) Michael Howe (Mordred), Robin Bailey (Pellinore)

This was described as a disastrous revival, and one of the worst productions seen in the West End for a long time. Much of the blame was laid at the feet of Richard Harris who was accused of “walking through” the part without any effort. The Plays & Players critic said: “There is no denying the potency of Richard Harris’s personality. It is merely sad to remember that many years ago he was an actor.”

Notes: See original London run: Drury Lane, August 1964

ANNIE (Revival) London run: Adelphi, December 20th (8 week season) Director: Peter Walker Cast: Ursula Smith (Miss Hannigan), Charles West (Oliver Warbucks), Peter Honri, Lorrain Grey, Neil Fitzwilliam, Petra Siniawski.

This production has been on a UK tour and had played Bristol Hippodrome instead of a pantomime in 1981/2 Notes: See original London production: Victoria Palace, May 1978

NIGHTINGALE

Cast: Andrew Shore (Narrator) Sarah Brightman (The Nightingale), Gordon Sandison (Emperor) , Susannah Fellows (Palace Maid), Carole Brooke (Mechanical Nightingale), Jill Pert & Dinah Harris (The Peacocks) Michael Heath, Roy Skelton Songs: Perfect Harmony, Never Speak Directly to an Emperor, The Emperor is a Man, A Singer Must be Free, Rivers Cannot Flow Upwards Story: The Emperor of China owns a nightingale with whom he becomes good friends, although the nightingale is unhappy at her captivity. One day the Emperor receives a mechanical singing bird, covered in beautiful jewels, and this new toy becomes his favourite. The neglected nightingale flies away, and no one notices. But the mechanical bird breaks down, and the Emperor realizes his mistake: you cannot possess what you love. The Emperor is dying, so the nightingale returns and her song saves his life. The Emperor asks the nightingale to teach him the song of life, the greatest gift in the world. The bird tells him that there is a maiden in the palace who has already given him the greatest gift: her innocent love. The nightingale then teaches them the song, and the Emperor, the maid and the nightingale all live happily ever after. This “children’s opera”, based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, premiered at the Buxton festival then played the Lyric Hammersmith for the Christmas season.

Photo by Ray Abbott

London run: Lyric Hammersmith, December 22nd – January 29th (Christmas season) Music & Lyrics: Charles Strouse Director: Peter James Musical Director: David Firman

1982

23

MR CINDERS (Revival) London run: King’s Head Theatre, December 31st (60 Performances) Transfer to Fortune Theatre April 27th (527 Performances) Music : Vivian Ellis & Richard Myers Lyrics: Leo Robin, Clifford Grey & Greatorex Norman Book: Clifford Grey & Greatorex Norman Director: Tony Craven Choreographer: Kenn Oldfield Musical Director: Mike Dixon Producer: Dan Crawford

Cast: 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, 18th Century Drag, Honeymoon for Four Story: 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 mansion of her father Henry Kemp and Lady Agatha sees this as an opportunity to catch a wealthy bride for one of her sons, but refuses to allow Jim to attend. Meanwhile Jill has disguised herself as a servant girl, “Sarah” and persuaded Minerva, her poor relation, to pretend to be Jill, while Jim manages to get to the ball in a disguise of his own. The plot then involves a stolen necklace, mistaken identity, and the discovery of a hat belonging to the mystery person who captured the thief. A search for the owner of the hat shows that it fits only Jim. He wins the £1,000 reward and learns that the maid "Sarah" is actually Jill, and she and Jim agree to get married. Lumley and Guy, meanwhile, announce their own engagements so all ends happily.

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Notes: The original London production was at the Adelphi in February 1929, and played 529 performances (including a transfer to the Hippodrome). This was its first revival. Later in the run the leading role was taken over by skiffle singer Lonnie Donegan.

Steven Pacey, Diana Martin, Andrea Kealy & Graham Hoadley