Gone With the Wind January 18, 2008
Posted by admin in : Gone With the Wind, Musicals, New London Theatre, news, theatre break , add a commentFor a damn fine theatre break this Spring you could do no better than join Miss Scarlett and Rhett Butler on their tempestuous journey in Gone With the Wind!
“Gone With the Wind will open in at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane on April the 22nd (pre-views from April 5th). Music and lyrics are by Margaret Martin. The show will be directed by the legendary Trevor Nunn. Nun will be working again with John Napier (of Cats and Les Miserables fame).
** Book Gone with the Wind theatre break tickets **
The Cast
US star Jill Paice will be playing Scarlett. It’s her first chance to play a full on leading lady, as until now, she’s always undertaken ingenue roles. Best known here for the role of Laura in the Woman in White in 2006 .She played the adult Cosette in the US national tour of “Les Miserables” and the role of Sophie in the Las Vegas production of “Mamma Mia!” There is some irony for fans of the film, in the fact that her most recent role has been in, Curtains… 
Edward Baker-Duly will play the dull but good Ashley Wilkes and Madeleine Worrall will be Melanie Wilkes, Scarlett’s rival for Ashley’s affections in Gone with the Wind
But never mind that, who will play Rhett?
That devilish cad who frankly didn’t give a damn, but who we all knew secretly truly loved Scarlett and was a far greater hero than the ‘milksop’ Ashley. Hugh Jackman’s name has been mentioned but no official announcement has been made yet despite rehearsals starting in mid February. Jackman played Curly in the Royal National Theatre’s production of Nunn’s Oklahoma! in 1998 . However he’s about to play the title role in the new Wolverine film which is supposed to be filming from early 2008 and following that playing Billy in a re-make of Carousel, so it seems rather unlikely he’ll be able to fit it in. I’ll update this post as soon as I can find out. You can be sure it will have to be someone really dashing as he’ll be competing with Clarke Gable at his caddish best.
Gone With the Wind - The Plot
“Gone With the Wind” is based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel and the later film of the same name. Let’s hope this one is more successful than “Scarlett,” which was made in 1970 and sank without trace. The story is set in Atlanta in the 1860s. This is the Deep South and soon the Civil War is raging. It will be interesting to see how they handle some of the more unacceptable aspects of the plot. The story starts with the seventeen-year-old Scarlett O’Hara, and here three sisters living a life of luxury on their father’s plantation until the death of their father and the onset of the Civil War turn their world upside down. Scarlett’s journey through the war and the humiliations of poverty lead her to become involved with the exciting but unpredictable Rhett Butler. The book tells their story over ten years as the life they all once believed so solid crumbles in front of their eyes.
The part of Scarlett will be incredibly demanding as she will be centre stage (both literally and metaphorically) for much of the time. The audience must take her to their hearts, as they see her transform on her journey from being a spoilt, demanding princess to finally being left with almost nothing.
There have already been some workshop productions of the new musical. Paice has been involved from the start and has had a chance to make her mark on the role of Scarlett. The production may be more like Nun’s triumphant hit ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ than a recreation of the film. Characters are likely to narrate much of the story as they did in Nickleby.
I can’t wait to see Atlanta burn! I do hope we don’t just get told it happened 
Producer Scrofani says:
“Our task in presenting the musical stage version of this epic combines our obligation to remain true to Margaret Mitchell’s original story and characters while also revealing its relevance to our lives today. Our hope is that this theatrical adaptation will cause our audiences to rediscover this timeless and rich story, while also providing each of them a meaningful and memorable experience.”
(source)
Yes, but will Atlanta burn???
Gone with the Wind opens on April 22nd
** Book Gone with the Wind theatre break tickets **
Rent - last chance to see! January 17, 2008
Posted by admin in : Musicals, news , add a commentSadly Rent- the Musical closes Feb 2nd but there are still just a few tickets available. You can even get a free hotel included in your ticket price if you can get away for mid-week theatre breaks in London.
It’s a shame the show is closing in London. It’s been a big hit on Broadway. However it closes in the States as well on July 8th. Here’s a gem from the Broadway production to tempt you:
Hairspray - Cast Changes - Ian Talbot to play Wilbur January 15, 2008
Posted by admin in : Musicals, news , add a commentIan Talbot, who last year gave up his position as artistic director of the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, is to take on the role of Wilbur Turnblad in the hit musical Hairspray.
From Jan. 28 Mel Smith will step down and Ian Talbot will take over. He will join current stars Michael Ball (Edna Turnblad) Leanne Jones (Tracy Turnblad) and Ben James-Ellis (Link Larkin.) Ball, Jones and James-Ellis are all contracted to star in the show until Oct. 25 2008.
Theatre Breaks in London - ‘Joseph’ November 17, 2007
Posted by admin in : Musicals, joseph, theatre breaks in London , add a commentIf you are planning a theatre break in London, then “Joseph” is currently one of the ten most popular shows to see. The great thing about booking it as part of a package is that you are sure to get tickets for one of the best shows without paying over the odds. Knowing you have a comfy hotel room to wander back to after the show really adds to the sense of occasion as well. It’s just so much more relaxing than having to battle with trains, or even worse, driving through the London traffic.
Theatre breaks package
I was amazed by how reasonable the cost of tickets, hotel and train can be, with prices starting from around £118.
Rice and Webber
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was originally a 1970s musical by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The pair conceived it as a 15 minute school production in 1968, and then brought it to the West End after their success with Jesus Christ Superstar. Based on the Biblical story, “Joseph” tells a tale of sibling rivalry followed by punishment, forgiveness and redemption. It has some super songs and set pieces. My favourite is “Close Every Door” but there are lots of others. It’s just classic Lloyd Webber genius really!
Any Dream Will Do
The BBC TV show Any Dream Will Do which made a reality game show out of searching for the main cast members for a London production has now made Joseph really popular all over again. I think most people who watched the BBC series feel like they’ve had a part in producing this show. Who could forget the wonderful (awful!) faces Lloyd Webber pulled? Now is the perfect time to go and see what it was all about. The TV was great but you cannot compare it to the experience of watching a live performance. Lee Mead has had good reviews for his portrayal of the star role but it’s by no means a one man show and the rest of the cast have all been highly praised as well.
London Theatre - the Adelphi
The show is on at the Adelphi Theatre, a lovely 1930’s Art Deco Grade 2 listed building on the Strand in the heart of the West End. Although it has a fairly plain exterior, it is richly decorated inside. The whole theatre was re-furbished in the 1990s and it has up to date facilities. There has been a theatre on this site since the early 1800s and in 1930 updated to accommodate larger audiences The main walls and the entrance at the back of the theatre are all that remains of the original building.
Theatre break extras
Travelling to the heart of London Theatre Land by train, staying in a nearby hotel, maybe adding an extra night or even two, to allow for a little gentle shopping Sounds just about perfect to me. Some of the deals even let you add on ‘afternoon tea’ at Fortnum and Masons. I’ve only ever done that once but it was just so English, so civilised and so delicious! A lovely addition to a short London hotel break with theatre included.
