Musical (2008)


Musique: Shuki Levy
Paroles: David Goldsmith
Livret: Glenn Berenbeim
Production à la création:

Version 1

Imagine this (2008-11-New London-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Gillian Lynne Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)

Durée : 1 mois
Nombre : 37 représentations
Première Preview : mardi 04 novembre 2008
Première : mercredi 19 novembre 2008
Dernière : samedi 20 décembre 2008
Mise en scène : Timothy Sheader
Chorégraphie : Liam Steel
Producteur :
Avec : Peter Polycarpou (Daniel Warshowsky), Leila Benn-Harris (Rebecca), Simon Gleeson (Adam), Bernard Lloyd (Adolph) , Richard Cotton (Blick), Michael Matus (Izzy), Gary Milner (Otto), Steven Serlin (Jan), Sevan Stephan (Max), Sarah Ingram (Sarah), Cameron Leigh (Lola), Rachael Archer, Marc Antolin, Stuart Boother, Emily Jane Boyle, Oliver Brenin, Michael Camp, Joel Elferink, Bob Harms, Paul Iveson, Roy Litvin, Aoife Nally, Grant Neal, Darragh O'Leary, Vincent Pirillo, Philippa Stefani, Rebecca Sutherland, Carrie Sutton, Gemma Sutton, Lucy Thatcher, Michael Watson
Commentaires : The Israeli composer Shuki Levy’s original idea was a show about the siege at Masada in 73AD. His collaborator, TV writer Glenn Berenbeim, suggested instead a play-within-a-play set inside the Warsaw Ghetto. The end result proved very controversial. The Warsaw Ghetto where 360,000 Jews were sealed off and subjected to starvation, disease and ultimate death was itself not an ideal setting for a musical. For some, telling a Holocaust story by means of “offensively banal, soft-pop music that limps in train with . . .trivial lyrics” (Evening Standard) seemed in the worst possible taste. The show was accused of “bumming a ride on the Holocaust”, endowing second-rate art with an air of moral significance. But for others, it was a brave and sincere attempt at “serious” musical theatre, with a magnificent central performance from Peter Polycarpou, some impressive songs and a highly effective and moving way of keeping alive the message of the Holocaust. The show tried out in Plymouth in July 2007, and finally opened in the West End on November 19 th , following 15 previews from November 4 th . As a result of some very damning reviews, it closed on December 20th, after just one month.
Presse : MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "They said it couldn't be done: a musical about the Warsaw ghetto. And, now that I've seen it, I know that they were right...I don't doubt the good intentions of all concerned, but the talent is simply not up to the task."
BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Last night Glenn Berenbeim’s book began by making me feel my imagination might take fire, only to douse it with the sort of formulaic nonsense it has resisted a zillion times before." The lyricist, David Goldsmith, may have the chutzpah to rhyme nature with nomenclature, but he can be pretty slushy too. Similarly, Shuki Levy’s score can handle the sad or upbeat...But it never has the minor-key harshness the situation demands."
DAVID BENEDICT for VARIETY says, "For all the good intentions, tension barely surfaces all night. The problem is not just that almost everyone knows the ultimate ending but that the schematic and predictable writing barely elicits a single surprise...Writing problems extend to the score. Even though one character sings ironically of 'a penchant for schmaltz,' David Goldsmith's lyrics are largely free of it. But, like the music by Israeli composer Shuki Levy, they lack the spark of individuality."
NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Offensively banal, soft-pop music that limps in train with the fatuities and ineptitude of David Goldsmith’s trivial lyrics...the music and songs of Imagine This never do justice to its terrifying theme."
CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "The production values, though far from extravagant, are effective enough, and though there are no star names, the performances are impressive...Imagine This must finally be judged a manipulative and morally dubious show."

Set in Poland during 1942, a group of actors in the Warsaw Ghetto stage plays to inspire hope and optimism within their community. However, with rumours of the Final Solution in the air, their play merges with the reality they are trying to escape and a dramatic love story unfolds.

Synopsis complet

1 Imagine this peut-être considéré comme un Flop musical

2 Imagine this s'intéresse à un événement historique important: Siège du Ghetto de Varsovie.


Israeli composer Levy had long nurtured an interest in writing a show about the siege at Masada around 70 CE. He took the music that he had written for the subject to television writer Berenbeim, who resisted the idea, particularly the mass suicide ending of the historical story. But then he decided that the story could work as a play-within-a-play about actors in the Warsaw Ghetto. He told The Times, "I was suddenly interested in the story for its metaphorical value, not its robes and sandals."
Goldsmith joined the team, relishing the chance to write for the serious story.

After a tryout at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in July 2007, the musical opened in the West End at the New London Theatre on 19 November 2008, following previews from 4 November 2008. It closed on 20 December 2008. Directed by Timothy Sheader, with choreography by Liam Steel, the cast featured Peter Polycarpou and Leila Benn Harris.

An Original London Cast Recording was released through Dress Circle in the UK. A DVD of the London production was also released.

The filmed version of the West End production aired throughout 2010 on PBS stations in over 40 markets in the United States, as part of their pledge drives and regular programming. It was broadcast with a panel discussion moderated by Neal Gabler, which included director Timothy Sheader, cast members Peter Polycarpou, Sarah Ingram and Roy Litvin, and Holocaust scholar Thane Rosenbaum.


Prologue - Warsaw 1939-1942The Last Day of Summer — Rebecca, Daniel and Company

Act I
Warsaw 1942
Imagine This — Daniel and Company

Jerusalem/Masada 70CE
Masada Prologue — Rebels
Rufus's Letter to Caesar — Rufus
Free (Jerusalem Sequence) — Rebels
When he looked in my eyes — Tamar

Rome, Imperial Palace
Salome's Lament — Salome, Slave girls, Roman soldiers
When I looked in her eyes — Silva
No More — Pompey

Masada - Several Months Later
Free (Reprise) — Rebels
Rebels' Prayer — Tamar, Naomi and Rebels
Masada — Eleazar, Tamar, Rebels
Hail — Silva, Tamar, Roman Soldiers
I am the dove — Naomi and Tamar
Hail (Reprise) — Silva
Far from here, Far from now — Silva, Tamar

Act II
Warsaw
To touch a cloud — Daniel and Company
The Last Laugh — Daniel
MasadaDon't mind me — Pompey and Aaron
Writing on the wall — Rufus and Roman Soldiers
I Surrender — Tamar, Silva, Eleazar
Far from here, Far from now (Reprise) — Tamar
Passover Prayer — Jeremiah and Rebels
The Choice — Eleazar, Tamar, Naomi and Rebels
WarsawTo touch a cloud (Reprise) — Company
Imagine This (Finale) — Company

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Imagine this

In spite of several four-star reviews, including the Sunday Telegraph ("A Triumph" "I adore this show" "4-stars"), the London Paper ("A mesmerising journey"), London Lite ("Bursting with drama" - 4 stars), Spoonfed.co.uk ("It must be rated a triumph"), The West End Whingers ("We were humming the tunes the next day. Extraordinary") and others, the musical closed after two weeks of previews and a month of regular performances upon receiving generally poor reviews from the mainstream British critics, with "many papers attacking it for trivializing the Holocaust".[3] The press questioned whether, during the current economic woes, audiences want to see such a dark story. Echoing a number of the reviews, a writer in The Guardian criticized the "cavalier" treatment of the subject and contended that critics were right to question whether "the Holocaust was being co-opted to legitimise and lend cachet to deficient art."

However, some of those critics, namely Norman Lebrecht, reviewed the musical without ever having seen it, getting on the radio and boasting as much in a radio interview with producer Beth Trachtenberg. Its proximity in opening a mere six weeks after the global economic crisis of 2008 no doubt played its role as well in posting its early notice.

Ultimately some redemption did arrive for the show with the announcement of the season's What's On Stage Theatregoer's Awards, for which Imagine This received four nominations, those for Best Scenic Design (Eugene Lee), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Matus), Best Actress (Leila Benn Harris) and Best Musical (Glenn Berenbeim, Shuki Levy, and David Goldsmith).


Version 1

Imagine this (2008-11-New London-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Gillian Lynne Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)

Durée : 1 mois
Nombre : 37 représentations
Première Preview : mardi 04 novembre 2008
Première : mercredi 19 novembre 2008
Dernière : samedi 20 décembre 2008
Mise en scène : Timothy Sheader
Chorégraphie : Liam Steel
Producteur :
Avec : Peter Polycarpou (Daniel Warshowsky), Leila Benn-Harris (Rebecca), Simon Gleeson (Adam), Bernard Lloyd (Adolph) , Richard Cotton (Blick), Michael Matus (Izzy), Gary Milner (Otto), Steven Serlin (Jan), Sevan Stephan (Max), Sarah Ingram (Sarah), Cameron Leigh (Lola), Rachael Archer, Marc Antolin, Stuart Boother, Emily Jane Boyle, Oliver Brenin, Michael Camp, Joel Elferink, Bob Harms, Paul Iveson, Roy Litvin, Aoife Nally, Grant Neal, Darragh O'Leary, Vincent Pirillo, Philippa Stefani, Rebecca Sutherland, Carrie Sutton, Gemma Sutton, Lucy Thatcher, Michael Watson
Commentaires : The Israeli composer Shuki Levy’s original idea was a show about the siege at Masada in 73AD. His collaborator, TV writer Glenn Berenbeim, suggested instead a play-within-a-play set inside the Warsaw Ghetto. The end result proved very controversial. The Warsaw Ghetto where 360,000 Jews were sealed off and subjected to starvation, disease and ultimate death was itself not an ideal setting for a musical. For some, telling a Holocaust story by means of “offensively banal, soft-pop music that limps in train with . . .trivial lyrics” (Evening Standard) seemed in the worst possible taste. The show was accused of “bumming a ride on the Holocaust”, endowing second-rate art with an air of moral significance. But for others, it was a brave and sincere attempt at “serious” musical theatre, with a magnificent central performance from Peter Polycarpou, some impressive songs and a highly effective and moving way of keeping alive the message of the Holocaust. The show tried out in Plymouth in July 2007, and finally opened in the West End on November 19 th , following 15 previews from November 4 th . As a result of some very damning reviews, it closed on December 20th, after just one month.
Presse : MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "They said it couldn't be done: a musical about the Warsaw ghetto. And, now that I've seen it, I know that they were right...I don't doubt the good intentions of all concerned, but the talent is simply not up to the task."
BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Last night Glenn Berenbeim’s book began by making me feel my imagination might take fire, only to douse it with the sort of formulaic nonsense it has resisted a zillion times before." The lyricist, David Goldsmith, may have the chutzpah to rhyme nature with nomenclature, but he can be pretty slushy too. Similarly, Shuki Levy’s score can handle the sad or upbeat...But it never has the minor-key harshness the situation demands."
DAVID BENEDICT for VARIETY says, "For all the good intentions, tension barely surfaces all night. The problem is not just that almost everyone knows the ultimate ending but that the schematic and predictable writing barely elicits a single surprise...Writing problems extend to the score. Even though one character sings ironically of 'a penchant for schmaltz,' David Goldsmith's lyrics are largely free of it. But, like the music by Israeli composer Shuki Levy, they lack the spark of individuality."
NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Offensively banal, soft-pop music that limps in train with the fatuities and ineptitude of David Goldsmith’s trivial lyrics...the music and songs of Imagine This never do justice to its terrifying theme."
CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "The production values, though far from extravagant, are effective enough, and though there are no star names, the performances are impressive...Imagine This must finally be judged a manipulative and morally dubious show."

Version 2

Imagine this (2017-10-Union Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Union Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : mercredi 25 octobre 2017
Première : mercredi 25 octobre 2017
Dernière : samedi 18 novembre 2017
Mise en scène : Harry Blumenau
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :

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