Original London Cast – 2016 /
Music by George Fenton & Simon Chamberlain and Lyrics by Don Black
Starring: Tracie Bennett, Ian Bartholomew, Emma
Williams, Jamie Foreman, Robert Hands, Matthew Malthouse, Samuel Holmes, Katie
Bernstein, Lizzy Connolly, Lauren Hood and Liz Ewing
Rate: 5 (from 1 to 10) / Photos by Paul Coltas
Review: When I saw the 2005 movie starring Judi Dench
and Bob Hoskins I fell in love with it instantly and I could easily imagine it
as a stage musical. So, when I heard that it had been adapted to the stage I
wasn’t surprise and, in my mind, I imagined a brand new exciting old fashion
score.
What I got is a lukewarm
score, pleasant to the ears but without great songs of the kind that lingers on
our heads (Jerry Herman would be perfect for this material). I believe it may
work better on stage, but in this recording I miss some excitement. But like I
said it’s pleasant, has melodious tunes, plus most of the songs have a sense of
the period the action takes place, the 30/40s. For me, the best tracks are the
beautiful “What a Waste of a Moon”, the romantic “Now is Not the Time”, the
funny “Women at War – Medley” and Tracie Bennett leading the company with the
true showtune “Anything But Young”. On the other hand, “Innocent Soldier” seems
musically out of place (it remind me of MISS SAIGON) and so does the emotional
“If Mountains Were Easy to Climb”, sung strongly by Emma Williams.
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