Le monde des musicals

Version 1

A Swell Party (1991-10-Vaudeville Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Vaudeville Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 5 mois 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 03 October 1991
Dernière : Saturday 28 March 1992
Mise en scène : David Gilmore •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Nickolas Grace, Maria Friedman, Angela Richards, David Keman, Martin Smith
Commentaires : A review of Cole Porter’s life and songs to mark the centenary of his birth. It achieved a six month run.

Version 2

Baker's wife (1989-11-Phoenix Theatre-London)

Type de série:
Théâtre: Phoenix Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 56 représentations
Première Preview : Monday 27 November 1989
Première : Monday 27 November 1989
Dernière : Saturday 06 January 1990
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Alun Armstrong (Aimable Castagnet), Sharon Lee Hill (Genevieve), Drue Williams (Dominic), James Villiers (Le Marquis), Jill Martin (Denise), George Raistrick (Claude)
Commentaires : The show was heavily re-written for London, but closed fairly quickly even
though many critics thought it the very best of Stephen Schwartz’s work.
Commentaires longs: After hearing the song "Meadowlark" countless times in auditions, director Trevor Nunn persuaded the authors to mount a London production. The Baker's Wife, starring Alun Armstrong and Sharon Lee-Hill, opened in the West End at the Phoenix Theatre on November 27, 1989 and closed on January 6, 1990, after 56 performances. This production, too, was ill-fated: though reviews were strong and audience reaction positive, the production was steadily losing money. According to Carol De Giere, "While reviewers offered praise, audiences were small and the show closed after only 56 performances. Schwartz explains,'The major thing that was wrong was that it was just too long'...Nunn comments 'Every performance there had a standing ovation, which is not at all normal in the English provinces."
Bowing to financial reality, the show closed prematurely, but received the Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Musical of the Year.

Version 3

Beggar's Opera (1982-06-National Theatre - Cottesloe Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Dorfman Theatre
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Thursday 24 June 1982
Première : Thursday 01 July 1982
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Richard Eyre •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : 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)
Commentaires : This revival was set in a Victorian Workhouse and was well received by the critics. It was always planned for a limited run.

Version 4

Blue Angel (The) (1991-08-The Other Place-Stratford upon Avon)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: The Other Place Theatre (Stratford-Upon-Avon - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 29 August 1991
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :

Version 5

Blue Angel (The) (1992-05-Globe Theatre-London)

Type de série: West End Transfer
Théâtre: Gielgud Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 45 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Wednesday 20 May 1992
Dernière : Saturday 27 June 1992
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Kelly Hunter (Lola), Philip Madoc (Professor Raat), Judith Bruce, Sidney Livingstone, Peter-Hugo Daly, Cheryl Ferguson, Sarah Flind,
Commentaires : Based on Josef von Sternberg’s famous film with Marlene Dietrich, this began at the RSC’s studio at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1991 and was then brought to London. By coincidence Marlene Dietrich herself had died just prior to the opening night. Despite some excellent central performances, it was generally felt that this “studio” show did not really work now that it had transferred to a full-size theatre.

Version 6

Cole (1974-07-Mermaid theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Mermaid Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Tuesday 02 July 1974
Première : Tuesday 02 July 1974
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : David Toguri • Alan Strachan •
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Avec : Ray Cornell, Lucy Fenwick, Peter Gale, Bill Kerr, Julia McKenzie, Rod McLennan, Kenneth Nelson, Elizabeth Power, Angela Richards, Una Stubbs

Version 7

Fields of Ambrosia (The) (1996-01-Aldwych Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Aldwych Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Terrible flop
Durée : 1 semaine
Nombre : 13 représentations
Première Preview : Monday 22 January 1996
Première : Wednesday 31 January 1996
Dernière : Sunday 11 February 1996
Mise en scène : Gregory S. Hurst •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Joel Higgins (Jonas Candide), Christine Andreas (Gretchen Herzallerliebst), Mark Joseph (Jimmy Crawford), Mark Heenehan (Malcolm), Michael Fenton Stevens, Roger Leach,
Commentaires : This show has gone down in musical annals as one of the most gloriously awful shows of all time, making “Springtime for Hitler” look like a triumph of good taste.
In a sub-plot we are introduced to Jimmy Crawford, a wimpish young mortician who is gang-raped by two prisoners (and proceeds to sing a song “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another. . . I was just ten when I lost my mother”. As compensation, Jonas takes Jimmy for an orgiastic session at the local brothel. The prison warden, Malcolm, attempts to rape Christine, but then settles for one of the male prisoners. Jonas manages to get the prostitutes into the prison as part of his plan to recue Christine - and so it goes on! This most preposterous story includes two shooting fatalities, a public execution, and a dramatic fire explosion at the end as the lovers float heaven-wards in a cloud of dry-ice and fairy lights. An all-time stinker that closed almost as soon as it opened, it had been enthusiastically received in its 1993 premiere in New Jersey, USA., but lost its entire £1.3 million investment in London.
Presse : I'm writing this review one hour after seeing this musical. Why so quick? Because I don't think it will be on very long, in fact, it might not last the week at this rate. I estimate that the theatre was only about a quarter full, maybe even less and this it's first Saturday of opening. I can't see how they can afford to keep it on very long with such small audiences particularly when it has a cast of over twenty .
This is not your ordinary musical. The story tells of a executioner who falls in love with his first woman victim, and how he tries to help her. There are some bizarre scenes and I question the taste of the show at times.
The music and singing isn't that bad, with the best singing performance by Marc Joseph who plays Jimmy Crawford, he sang "Alone" quite wonderfully.
(Darren Dalglish)

Version 8

Guys and dolls (1982-03-Olivier Theatre-NT-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Olivier Theatre
Top
Durée : 2 ans 6 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 289 représentations
Première Preview : Friday 26 February 1982
Première : Tuesday 09 March 1982
Dernière : Saturday 15 September 1984
Mise en scène : Richard Eyre •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Ian Charleson (Sky Masterton), Julia McKenzie (Miss Adelaide), Bob Hoskins (Nathan Detroit), Julie Covington (Sarah Browne), David Healy (Nicely-Nicely)
Commentaires : 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.

Version 9

Guys and dolls (1984-04-Olivier Theatre-NT London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Olivier Theatre
Durée : 5 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 12 April 1984
Dernière : Saturday 15 September 1984
Mise en scène : Richard Eyre •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Andrew C. Wadsworth (Sky Masterton), Lulu (Miss Adelaide), Norman Rossington (Nathan Detroit), Janet Dibley (Sarah Browne), Thick Wilson (Nicely-Nicely), Kevin Walsh (Benny), Gareth Snook, Andrew Robertson, Lucy Fenwick
Commentaires : Transferd to Prince of Wales

Version 10

Guys and dolls (1985-06-Prince of Wales Theatre-London)

Type de série: West End Transfer
Théâtre: Prince of Wales Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 10 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Wednesday 19 June 1985
Dernière : Saturday 26 April 1986
Mise en scène : Richard Eyre •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Andrew C. Wadsworth (Sky Masterton), Lulu (Miss Adelaide), Norman Rossington (Nathan Detroit), Janet Dibley (Sarah Browne), Thick Wilson (Nicely-Nicely), Kevin Walsh (Benny), Gareth Snook, Andrew Robertson, Lucy Fenwick
Commentaires : Transfer from NT Olivier Theatre 12 April 1984 to 15 September 1984

Version 11

Guys and dolls (1996-12-Olivier Theatre-NT-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Olivier Theatre
Durée : 11 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 244 représentations
Première Preview : Monday 09 December 1996
Première : Tuesday 17 December 1996
Dernière : Saturday 22 November 1997
Mise en scène : Richard Eyre •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Clarke Peters (Sky Masterton), Imelda Straunton (Miss Adelaide), Henry Goodman (Nathan Detroit), Joanna Riding (Sarah Browne), Clive Rowe (Nicely-Nicely), Wayne Cater (Benny), Kieran Creggan, Sharon D. Clarke
Commentaires : This revival of the hugely successful 1982 production proved that lightning can strike twice. It was hugely enjoyable, and every bit as good as its earlier, definitive incarnation.

Version 12

Maddie (1997-09-Lyric Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Lyric Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 48 représentations
Première Preview : Monday 22 September 1997
Première : Monday 29 September 1997
Dernière : Saturday 08 November 1997
Mise en scène : Martin Connor •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri • Jenny Arnold •
Producteur :
Avec : Graham Bickley (Nick), Summer Rognlie (Jan/Maddie), Lynda Baron (Cordelia van Arc), Kevin Colson (AI), Beth Tuckey, Jon Rumney, Russell Wilcox, Michael A Elliott, Paddy Glynn, Louise Davidson, Nicola Filshie, Martin Parr.
Commentaires : Based on the novel “Marion’s Wall” by Jack Finney, and its film adaptation, “Maxie” with Glenn Close. The production was first staged at the Salisbury Playhouse, but it failed to find backing for a London transfer until the Daily Telegraph covered the story and more than a hundred of its readers became individual “angels”, raising some £150,000. It ran for six weeks and lost over half a million pounds.
Presse : NICHOLAS DE JONGH of the EVENING STANDARD echoes my thoughts, saying the show is " Balderdash, babble and baloney leading to a dead end" and goes on to say "It's a grim night."

PETER HEPPLE of THE STAGE thinks the same, describing the show as " lacking in wit" and "suffering an almost excruciatingly boring second half." Funnily enough I thought the second half was better than the first!! However, not all critics panned it.

JOHN PETER of THE SUNDAY TIMES says Maddie is " A real find"

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says "The piece still strikes me as a breath of fresh air in the West End."

Version 13

Noël and Gertie (1989-12-Comedy Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Harold Pinter Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 6 mois
Nombre : 220 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 14 December 1989
Dernière : Saturday 16 June 1990
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Simon Cadell {Noel Coward), Patricia Hodge (Gertrude Lawrence)
Commentaires : This was an anthology of Coward’s words, scenes and songs which had originally been created by Sheridan Morley at the King’s Head in 1983. The original production was a four-hander: Simnon Cadell and Joanna Lumley with the songs performed by Gillian Bevan and David McAlister. Following this, the show had various productions around the country including some international dates, and various combinations of performers. This revised version - for two performers - originally was to feature Michael York - but for some reason Simon Cadell replaced him. The post West-End tour, with Edward Petherbridge and Susan Hampshire was cancelled due to the illness of
the leading lady.

Version 14

Once on this Island (1994-09-Royalty Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original London
Théâtre: Peacock Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre : 145 représentations
Première Preview : Wednesday 28 September 1994
Première : Wednesday 28 September 1994
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : David Toguri • Gwenda Hughes •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Lorna Brown (Ti Moune), Anthony Corriette (Daniel), P.P. Arnold (Erzulie, goddess of Love), Sharon D. Clarke (Asaka, goddess of Earth), Clive Rowe (Papa Ge - Death) , Trevor Michael Georges (The Water God), Suzanne Packer, Shezwae Powell, Mark Vincent, Johnny Worthy
Commentaires : Based on the novel “My Love, My Love” by Rosa Guy, this is basically an all-black adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid” story. The musical originally opened on Broadway in October 1990 and ran for 469 performances. The British premiere opened at the Birmingham Rep in July 1994 and immediately transferred to the West End.

Version 15

Opéra de quat'sous (1986-03-Olivier Theatre-NT-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Olivier Theatre
Flop
Durée : 6 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 72 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 13 March 1986
Dernière : Saturday 27 September 1986
Mise en scène : Peter Wood •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Tim Curry (Macheath), Stephen Moore (Peachum), Sara Kestelman (Mrs Peachum), Sally Dexter (Polly- Prince of Wales), Joanna Foster (Lucy Brown), Eve Adam (Jenny), Neil Daglish, Barry James, Edna Dore, Basil Henson
Commentaires : Cette production a été vertement condamnée par la critique pour être «mignonne», sous-jouée, ne parvenant pas à capter l’esprit de l’original, et pour s’être perdue dans les vastes espaces de la scène de l'Olivier Theatre. Plusieurs des critiques ont avoué avoir quitté la représentation à l'entracte…

Version 16

Pacific Overtures (1987-09-Coliseum Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original London
Théâtre: Coliseum Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 2 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 27 représentations
Première Preview : Thursday 10 September 1987
Première : Thursday 10 September 1987
Dernière : Thursday 26 November 1987
Mise en scène : Keith Warner •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Richard Angas (Reciter), Malcolm Rivers (Kayama), Christopher Booth-Jones (Manjiro), John Kitchiner (Lord Abe), Graham Fletcher (Commodore Perry), Michael Sadler (Tamate), Simon Masterton-Smith (The Shogun’s Mother), Terry Jenkins (Madam)
Commentaires : This revolutionary work had a musical score which started with the haunting and mournful sounds of shamisen, shakuhachi and Japanese tonal ranges and gradually, as the country became more Westernised, so did the music - until the final scene is one of frantic heavy rock. It was a history of Japan written from the viewpoint of the Japanese and performed in the style of Kabuki Theatre, with “invisible” stage hands, all the women’s roles played by men, and a “reciter” who comments on the action, reciting the occasional haiku. The critics split exactly in half: it was the most astonishing, original, exciting, profound and brilliant musical; it was a pretty but incomprehensible bore.

Version 17

Poppy (1982-09-Barbican Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Barbican (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Theatre
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Saturday 25 September 1982
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Terry Hands •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : 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
Commentaires : A revised and re-written version opened at the Adelphi in November 1983.

Version 18

Secret Garden (The) (1987-01-King's Head Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: King's Head Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 15 January 1987
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Joan Kemp-Welch •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Lucinda Edmonds (Mary ), Gian Sammarco (Colin), Tony Bateman (Truscott), Madeleine Christie (Mrs Medlock,), Richard Gauntlett (Dickon), Michael G. Jones (Tregaron), Karen Lynne (Martha), Hugh Futcher (Ben), John Harwood (Macory)
Commentaires : Based on the 1911 children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Steven Markwick was the young winner of the 1986 Vivian Ellis prize, and Diana Morgan a successful and well-established playwright, but in spite of this, their joint effort was roundly condemned, with the music described as dreary and the lyrics as possessing a cloying tweeness. However, the book itself was felt to be an expert adaptation. A completely new version (Lucy Simon, music and Marsha Norman, lyrics and book) ran for 706 performances in New York in 1991)

Version 19

Spread a little happiness (1992-01-King's Head Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: King's Head Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre : 40 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Tuesday 14 January 1992
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Dan Crawford •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Thelma Ruby, Frank Thornton, Maurice Clarke, Ray C. Davis, Rachel Robertson, Fiona Sinnott, Sheridan Morley
Commentaires : For some it was a “delightful nostalgic evening recalling a time when romance was compatible with wit, irony and fun.” For others, it recalled the “reactionary, snobbish and sexually repressed and
juvenile theatre when censorship ensured our stage was as wholesome as a Monday wash and rather less interesting”.

Version 20

Wonderful Town (1986-08-Queen's Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Sondheim Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 7 mois 3 semaines
Nombre : 267 représentations
Première Preview : Thursday 07 August 1986
Première : Thursday 07 August 1986
Dernière : Saturday 28 March 1987
Mise en scène : Martin Connor •
Chorégraphie : David Toguri •
Producteur :
Avec : Maureen Lipman (Ruth Sherwood), Emily Morgan (Eileen Sherwood), Ray Lonnen (Robert Baker), Nicolas Colicos (Wreck) Lesley Joseph (Violet), Michael Fitzpatrick, Angela Moran, John Cassadt, Roy Durbin, Ted Merwood, Ben Stevens
Commentaires : This production originated at the Palace Theatre, Watford.