Waiting in the wings
There are so many things that I’ve missed this year. The most obvious being family visits and hugs, but a very close second - live music.
I love being entertained. Whether it’s sitting down to watch a movie or TV series, or going to a stadium, arena or theatre, or just listening to my brother making daft jokes.
Yet, as I’m concerned by far the best form of entertainment is live music and theatre.
Music has been a passion since I was about 12 years old when I started taping the Top 40 on a hand-held tape recorder. In a post earlier this year reflecting on life during lockdown, I highlighted how much I miss live music and going to gigs. I had tickets for three this year: Sam Fender (March), Queen (June) and Green Day (July). Thankfully, two of them are rescheduled for 2021 and I can’t wait.
Imagine Dragons at The O2 February 2018
Bruno Mars at the BST Festival Hyde Park July 2018
Musical Theatre
It’s not just concerts that I’ve missed though. Musical theatre is another great source of joy for me.
My first visit to a London theatre was in 1987/88, when I was 22. We were visiting my Nan who lived in Battersea (a lovely area, but nowhere near as posh as it is now), and Mum said she’d treat me to a West End show. My only experience of live musicals had been excruciatingly bad school productions, so I was dubious. I had a preconception that ‘going to the theatre’ was boring - a dreary place that the upper class frequented. I only hoped that it might be a little bit like the marvelous film musicals I loved watching like Oklahoma, Scrooge, Grease and my absolute favourite, Carousel.
Then Mum told me the title of the musical - ‘Chess’.
Holy Moly! Three hours of people singing about the most boring game in the world - shoot me now!
Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. With music penned by Benny and Bjorn from ABBA, lyrics by Tim Rice, and sung by Murray Head and Barbara Dixon (Elaine Paige had left by the time I saw it), I was hooked.
Since then, I’ve seen many productions from Wicked and Miss Saigon to Blood Brothers, 42nd Street and Kinky Boots. It’s become ‘my thing’, that whenever I’m in London I book a show, and it’s been fabulous introducing my daughters to the West End too, as I’ve ended up seeing several again, years later.
Tina The Musical, The Aldwych Theatre March 2018
The huge variety of subject matter and style, makes every production unique. There are:
- Fun ones like Mama Mia, The Wizard of Oz and Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat
- Powerful ones like Les Miserables and Come From Away (see below)
- Biographies such as Tina, The Tina Turner Musical (phenomenal) and Jersey Boys
- and the ones that disappointed like We Will Rock You and, controversially, The Phantom of the Opera.
My Recommendation
One of the most recent productions I saw was in Toronto 18 months ago.
'Come From Away' is the true story about a small Canadian town called Gander, during the week following the 9/11 attacks. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the story, it wasn't something I would ever have considered seeing. However, my friend had heard rave reviews and, knowing how much I enjoy the theatre, booked tickets.
Wow! Wow! Wow! It’s one of the most powerful shows I've seen and an absolute must see.
The extraordinary situation that this little town and seven thousand travellers found themselves in, led to amazing stories, a few of which are represented in the show. I had no idea it was a musical, which completely threw me at first, but as the story unfolds, it works so well to convey the emotions, fears and prejudice of that awful period in time. The very simple stage setting is superbly moved by the actors to fit the scenes.
I'm a pretty emotional person at the best of times, so it's no surprise that I cried, but I was never expecting to laugh. It initially felt wrong to be laughing when such a delicate subject was being portrayed, but if anyone understands how people laugh when faced with adversity, it’s me. Laughter is my go to medicine. There’s no denying it's sad and upsetting, but it's also up-lifting and displays kindness at it's best.
I'm not surprised it won Olivier Awards for the best new musical, best theatre choreographer, best sound design and outstanding achievement in music.
It's superb and in summer 2019 opened at the Phoenix Theatre in London. I planned to see it in London this year which clearly couldn’t happen, so next year it is.
So What’s Next?
The devastating impact Covid has had on this huge industry, and all those employed by it, has been dire. Actors take the limelight, but there are stage hands, set designers, costume and makeup artists, and I can’t wait to show my support and cheer on all those who work so hard to entertain us each night.
So, I’ll continue waiting in the wings in the hope that they’re able to get the shows on the road again and invite back theatre-lovers like me, next year. On my ‘To See’ list are Dear Evan Hansen; Hamilton; Everybody’s Talking about Jamie; and Pretty Woman.
In the meantime, I might just put my feet up and watch Carousel for the fortieth time.