I fear that I am becoming sentimental in my old age. Not only did I recently go and see Cats (and had no idea what the plot was supposed to be about, another sign of senility), and enjoyed A Chorus Line up at Eastwood Park Theatre, I am excited about A double bill of new Musical Theatre.
Some Small Love Story and Beulah are two musicals that began life at The Edinburgh Fringe. They have a list of high star ratings as long as Lloyd Weber's ex-wives, and promise a change from the star-studded vehicle that the mainstream musical has increasingly degenerated into (even Chicago has a habit of emphasising the presence of someone out of Hollyoaks than its hard-hitting, cynical subtext). There are puppets. There is folk music. Both were written by Alexander Wright and their origins in the Fringe suggest a more grassroots ethos than the scenographic spectacle of Cats and the like.
Oh, right. This double bill has got Samantha Siddall out of Shameless. Does that count as a celebrity vehicle?
But Beulah is inspired by Blake, and it would be hard to make a jukebox musical out of his poetry (although that one about the tiger could be slipped into Cats, I suppose). And it explores "how we understand time, space, dreams, reality and what happens after life." I can't see that being part of a Glee episode.
South Hill Park, Bracknell, 14 - 16 Feb
Slung Low’s The HUB, Leeds, 18 - 20 Feb
The Lowry Studio, Salford Quays, 21 - 23 Feb
The Fruit Space, Hull, 25 - 27 Feb
Summerhall, Edinburgh, 28 Feb - 2 March
York Theatre Royal, Cocktail Room, York, 5 - 7 March
Fauconberg Arms, Coxwolds, 9 March
The musicals will show independently at The Arts Theatre
Beulah only – The Arts Theatre, West End, 18 – 20 March
Some Small Love Story only - The Arts Theatre, West End, 21 – 23 March
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