A little bit of (opinionated) backstory to the development of Whistle Down the Wind: * It was a project ALW had wanted to do for a while. (At one point, he almost thought he got scooped, but it turned out Hollywood was just developing a similar movie where the convict hides in the kids' cupboard and pretends to be Father Christmas -- 'twas the kick he needed to start development.) It began life as a film musical to have been directed by Steven Spielberg. (When you look at the book as it eventually turned out, it's rather like ticking boxes on the common Spielberg themes checklist: ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, a childlike sense of wonder and faith, the importance of childhood, loss of innocence, and the need for parental figures, flawed or irresponsible father figure...) That's part of why screenwriter Patricia Knop was involved with the book; it started life as her screenplay. Honestly, part of me thinks it would've been better off being a fondly remembered Nineties family-friendly movie musical, like Newsies before it hit the stage. * Moving the setting from Yorkshire to the States was always on the cards, but initially, ALW wanted more of a 1:1 comparison, suggesting a coal mining town in West Virginia. It was Steinman's idea to move things to Louisiana, both for the treasure trove of possible musical sources and the Bible Belt setting making the central premise slightly more plausible. (Slightly. ...very slightly.) * The book was always unfocused, even when it finally settled. In Washington, it suffered from not having been adapted enough from its screen roots (and here I mean Knop's screenplay, not the '61 movie); the West End version was stronger, but it was trimmed during its run, and that trimmed licensed version -- which I believe is now playing at the Watermill, barring any minor changes to suit the production -- might've had too much cut; Kenwright's touring version swung the book's pendulum much closer to the '61 movie to play to the provinces, and it worked, but it was a dud when he tried the same tack in America. I think a strong dramaturge could come in, look at the various versions, select what works about each, and construct a solid show. Would it ever make sense or be a hit? Probably not. But the best version of a lost cause is better than nothing.
I loved this show so much. I took part in an amateur production of this show (although I was 14 at the time when I played The Man so the age gap wasn't an issue to me) and The Man's soliloquy 'unsettled scores' is such a beautiful and passionate song, which was so amazing to sing. Hoping for a revival sometime soon.
If anyone is interested, here is a full-show video of the original production performing in Washington DC as part of its 1996 pre-Broadway run (the show closed prior to arriving on Broadway): ruclips.net/video/oUi8wU5a77E/видео.html The show was reworked and opened in the West End in 1998.
I saw the show in Seattle twice with my daughter (17) in 2007. I don’t know what changes were made but this version was terrific. I was very surprised and disappointed when it didn’t end up on Broadway but there was a severe financial crisis at the time and that might have been a factor. There are a phenomenal number of spectacular songs. To name a few- unsettled scores, nature of the beast, and Charlie Christmas. The original cast album is available in the UK but not the US.
I saw this show years ago. I've always loved the songs tyre tracks and broken hearts, as well as a kiss is a terrible thing to waste, but think that's because they sound like pure Jim Stineman songs and I love his work. Really interesting version of the show from the sounds of your review
I remember that advert! It was on my grandma's copy of Joseph as well and I remember Michael Ball singing at the end and Glenn Close having a super operatic voice
The Andrew Lloyd Webber concert advert was a big nostalgia hit for me. I spent way too much time watching Cats and Joseph on VHS. (Also owned by my Grandma)
I'm American, but I was lucky enough to see the original London cast production at the Alwych theatre. I'm not sure about the staging in your production. But tge biggest set piece was the freeway overpass that would lower at an angle when needed. Other than the freeway, most other sets were simple like a trailer that comes in. Also, during the song COLD, it has some more set dressing with chairs tables and wooden backdrop. And then I believe the barn was just a simple fly-in. Unfortunately, ALW hasn't had huge success ever since 2000 when it comes to the U.S. Whistle Down the Wind had a few performances on the east coast but was heavily criticized and never made to Broadway. They thought The Woman in White sounded horrible since ot sounded like the actress was like yelling or whimpering too much. Love Never Dies 2017 -18 U.S Tour, which I saw, recieved mixed reviews. The only show of ALWS that has had some success on the 2000s is the School of Rock. And The Beautiful Game/ Boys in The Photograpg has NEVER to my knowledge been performed in the United States, while Canadian actors have performed it in Canada. That's why it's IMPERATIVE for ALW to fix Cinderella before it gets here to the states. It HAS to do good or else young Americans 50 years from now will nit know who he was. As a Xenial, I was born in time of the Megamusicals Claude Michele Schoonbergs Les Miz/ Miss Saigon l, ALWS Phantom of The Opera and Cats and Starlight Express.
I love WDTW and enjoyed this show (I also love going to the WaterMill). However, I really did not like the mother’s ghost in it. I just thought it confused things. I saw the original in the West End, the touring version and now this. Each had their own merits. In the West End the stage split in two at the end of the first act and had the adults on top singing and the children on the stage below, one of my favourite theatre moments.
I saw Glenn Carter and Laura Michelle Kelly about 2 weeks after cast changed. (1999) They were fantastic. Amos was played by Dean Collinson and Cat Simmons played Candy. Both went on to great careers in theatre afterwards. I loved it I have to say but I didn't know about the live snakes till I went into the theatre and saw it in the programme. Had I not been sitting in the circle far enough away, I think I might have left, but I'm glad I didn't because I love the show and love the music. Probably one of my favorite shows musically. I think it's the only time they used real snakes and that's not a bad thing. Don't think there's any need for them.
Thank you so much for this video. I've never seen WDTW but always been keen to see a lot of Lloyd Webber's work post Phantom as I feel that is often overlooked (some of it with good reason and some of it undeservedly so) I have been keen to see WDTW. It also came at a good time as I have been a tad stressed as I'm about to start my teacher training so its a nice break from all of the work I have got to do and get ready for.
I personally love the show having seen it in the West End also slightly biased as I did work at the Watermill for 10 years, such a special place producing excellent work.
Did they record this production? I have never seen a stage version of this musical. I have loved most of the music from this show. It never made it to this side of the pond.
Thanks, It was a very good video. I saw this show when I was 11 or 12 and I really liked it cause I really love the source Material the movie with Alan Bates and Hayley Mills.... I do not remember finding it problematic, maybe cause I was child, ,but I do remember just being a little more than a little sad cause the movie was changed.... I still love the movie, and I suppose I have to listen again to the cd.
Not sure if you mentioned this but there is actually ANOTHER Whistle Down the Wind Musical, which is based directly on the movie. This version by Labey and Taylor keeps the original innocence of WDtW without adding any drama/romance subplots. I LOVE the songs from the ALW version, but it does NOT showcase the innocence and faith of the children, which was the entire theme of the movie. Anyway, I love the Labey and Taylor version, and I wish more people knew about it.
Great show! Very underrated! The original production was excellent! Some of the music in my opinion is actually written by Jim Steinman! The only real criticism is that I am a big fan of the original film which is excellent! If u haven't seen it I highly recommend it! It is on 'RUclips'x
I used to think that about Steinman but I'm not so sure. Of course it doesn't help that on the concept album Bonnie Tyler and Meat Loaf sing Tire Tracks and A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste, produced by Steinman so they really sound like it. But then we have to remember that Tire Tracks, at least, is ALW reusing a tune he's already used, in Tell me on a Sunday/Song and Dance, Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad ruclips.net/video/L-7YYV0NaGU/видео.html
I saw the original production with Jerome Pradon in the lead when I was visiting London. I love this show because ALW did it with Jim Steinman. I love the Boyzone song too. I hope it's successful enough to make it over to the States. I don't think it ever crossed the pond that I know of. I also own the Original Cast and Songs From albums.
@@solitarychele Right, a very different version (no racial element, more dialogue...) directed by Hal Prince, which didn't get good enough press to continue, as planned, to Broadway.
I work at the Watermill and loved this production. From everything I've heard, audiences have been incredibly positive about the talent and staging - more so than the ALW material - and come in as lovers of the film, so tend to 'get' the narrative and have some nostalgia for it already. Totally agree that the space does a lot of the work in making the show feel so intimate and stirring - the actor-muso element really lifts the score the fills the space - and in all honesty, I can't understand it working massively well anywhere else than there. I think this particular version might well be as good as it gets for the show (although I don't have any experience of it outside of the cast recording / the Watermill version) but, as you say, the material is flawed so it was never going to be a perfect 5 star show. I do really encourage people to see it though - even just for the experience of a show in this space, I think it'd be difficult to not get at least some enjoyment out of it.
That's because it is. Lloyd Webber obviously reused that melody. He does that a lot, whether he's aware about it, or not. Listen to Salome from Sunset Blvd. and the compare it with the Overture from Love Never Dies. Also, some of Sunset Bldv. score was already copied and reworked material from a film score he wrote. Our Kind Of Love from The Beautiful Game became Love Never Dies. I could go on. It's simply a given now that he "steals" from himself.
Interesting that ALW recycled the melody as the title "Tire tracks and broken hearts, that's all we're leaving behind" is a recycled lyric from Steinman. It was first used on the opening track "Peel out" from the I'll fated Meat Loaf album "Dead Ringer"
I've always loved the cast recording the songs are compelling to hear. I recently came across a copy of the show on RUclips and watched and could see the things that didn't work or seemed odd, it felt like certain things needed to be expanded on or tightened up. It made think it needed to be reworked. I kept feeling this would work better as a movie musical in the sense we need a little more detail like Swallows age granted the story takes place in the late 50's we assume Swallow could very well be a very naive 18 year old. Over all the music is what grabbed me. It just needs retooling and polishing. Love your reviews
I've got a T-shirt somewhere with A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste written on it. Merch from the original London production. I think Swallow is meant to be about 15? Lottie Mayor was in her early 20s, I think, when she played Swallow and Laura Michelle Kelly about 17 or 18 when she took over the role. Not sure how I feel about the ghost of Swallow's mother being a major part of it... I loved this musical. I'm hoping this production will transfer to somewhere easier to get to than the Watermill so I can get to see it.
I adored this show when it was in the west end. I think I was fascinated by the darkness of it all xx was so desperately trying to make it to see the water mill version but alas it wasn’t meant to be! Xx
I heard the original cast album back in the day, and I never noticed it, but Vaults of Heaven does sound like Jurassic Park. Also I believe there is also a version sung by Tom Jones that gives Elvis Presley vibes
Went to see the original production in London. When we got to the theatre saw an announcement about live snakes and as I have a phobia had to leave. So I’ve never seen WDTW
Same here. Having traveled a hundred miles to see it l decided l would try and face it. At the point the snakes appeared someone in front of me dropped something on my foot and went berserk !
Oh god I was the same. We were in the circle so we stayed, otherwise I'd have gone, but I was hiding behind my programme when they were on stage. Terrified.
I saw the pre-Broadway tour in (of all places) Sacramento, CA. - if was nicely staged and the production values were great - but the show was a mess. No wonder it never made it to NYC - they should have stuck with the original setting of the book/movie (BTW, fun fact: the book was written by Hayley Mills' mother!)
I saw the original 5 times ans since then, it has been my favourite. It has been on top 1 among my top 10 for the last 20 years and not another musical, not Phantom nor LesMis has reached it. Why? There are so many music styles in it, from ballads to gospel to rock. Furthermore, this musical has got no lengths. I only know two musical which do not have boring passages from time to time, Whistle is one (the other one is Oliver).
This was the first London show I took my new girlfriend . to see who later became my wife to be as I am watching this review. she's passed away to day after 22 and a bit years no shows perfect or relationships As its trying to find something that inspires us all . like the song a kiss is a terrible thing to waste . to when children rule the world its about being innocent and looking at life through child like eyes And asking jesus why did you allow that kitten to die ?or someone? or something to die ? Well jesus died for mankind and mankind's a bit messed up even to day ❤
I was actually looking forward to watching this, but I was really disappointed and thought it a total load of utter crap. Times have changed........there is no longer the childhood innocence as there was in such as East Lancashire in1961 when the film version starring Hayley Mills & Alan Bates was made. To be honest, in my opinion a musical based on this story however which way the script is written, will never work. Let's all stick to watching the 1961 film and give up with the musical version.
I love the show I just find the cast album largely unlistenable due to the attempted southern american accents by the cast, mostly the child cast unfortunately. Also, I’m pretty sure there was already a legal settlement over the Jurassic Park song similarities.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman - the collaboration nobody expected! I have a lot of fondness for the show, but the original production had a massively split personality. There's the "aww, the cute little kiddos singing and remember their lines!" and then there's the steaming, simmering coming-of-age story - it sounds like that angle has been massively toned down?! "A Kiss is a terrible thing to waste"? And all the complicated racism in the background... it's a shame to hear that Amos and Candy are such unimportant characters here. I think that's a downside of actor-muso shows, minor characters get less developed. I'm not a fan in general, it often feels cheap, to avoid paying a band. Allegedly only the lyrics from Jim Steinman - exactly! Although what ALW has always excelled at is writing pastiche - or at least writing strongly in a particular style - and you could say he out-Steinmans Jim Steinman! This is a show I'd love to see as a film - it's so cinematic! the opening sweeping shots... But it's also got a lot of important things to say, about religious indoctrination, blind faith, grief, love, childhood innocence, racism, mob violence... just so much in there, and an amazing score. It just has too much to know where its audience is.
Why not go see it? This version is better than the original west end version (and the Bill Kenwright tour). Nothing has been toned down, Amos and Candy are still very prominent characters - if anything, Candy is much more empowered in this version. The coming of age theme, racism etc is still prevalent, and the children are less sickly sweet and far grittier in this version. Go see it.
Disagree. It toured in the USA and was supposed to go to NYC. I saw it in Detroit. I was with thweve other people and we all hated it. Not for one minute could we believe these children believed that they had met Jesus. If you cannot believe that, the whole show falls apart. I give it a D-
I’ve always hated it because there was already a musical version of Whistle Down The Wind which was so much better en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_Down_the_Wind_(1989_musical)
A little bit of (opinionated) backstory to the development of Whistle Down the Wind:
* It was a project ALW had wanted to do for a while. (At one point, he almost thought he got scooped, but it turned out Hollywood was just developing a similar movie where the convict hides in the kids' cupboard and pretends to be Father Christmas -- 'twas the kick he needed to start development.) It began life as a film musical to have been directed by Steven Spielberg. (When you look at the book as it eventually turned out, it's rather like ticking boxes on the common Spielberg themes checklist: ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, a childlike sense of wonder and faith, the importance of childhood, loss of innocence, and the need for parental figures, flawed or irresponsible father figure...) That's part of why screenwriter Patricia Knop was involved with the book; it started life as her screenplay. Honestly, part of me thinks it would've been better off being a fondly remembered Nineties family-friendly movie musical, like Newsies before it hit the stage.
* Moving the setting from Yorkshire to the States was always on the cards, but initially, ALW wanted more of a 1:1 comparison, suggesting a coal mining town in West Virginia. It was Steinman's idea to move things to Louisiana, both for the treasure trove of possible musical sources and the Bible Belt setting making the central premise slightly more plausible. (Slightly. ...very slightly.)
* The book was always unfocused, even when it finally settled. In Washington, it suffered from not having been adapted enough from its screen roots (and here I mean Knop's screenplay, not the '61 movie); the West End version was stronger, but it was trimmed during its run, and that trimmed licensed version -- which I believe is now playing at the Watermill, barring any minor changes to suit the production -- might've had too much cut; Kenwright's touring version swung the book's pendulum much closer to the '61 movie to play to the provinces, and it worked, but it was a dud when he tried the same tack in America. I think a strong dramaturge could come in, look at the various versions, select what works about each, and construct a solid show. Would it ever make sense or be a hit? Probably not. But the best version of a lost cause is better than nothing.
I fell absolutely in love with this production and ended up seeing it 13 times!
i’ve been lucky enough to work on this show and it’s been the most wonderful experience - i’ve always loved the watermill :) only one week left!xx
You've all done a brilliant job - thank you! See y'all Saturday evening!
I loved this show so much. I took part in an amateur production of this show (although I was 14 at the time when I played The Man so the age gap wasn't an issue to me) and The Man's soliloquy 'unsettled scores' is such a beautiful and passionate song, which was so amazing to sing. Hoping for a revival sometime soon.
If anyone is interested, here is a full-show video of the original production performing in Washington DC as part of its 1996 pre-Broadway run (the show closed prior to arriving on Broadway): ruclips.net/video/oUi8wU5a77E/видео.html
The show was reworked and opened in the West End in 1998.
Open up the vaults, open up the vaults - and set the raptors free...
That intro gave me such nostalgia, my mum always used to play that in the car!
I saw the show in Seattle twice with my daughter (17) in 2007. I don’t know what changes were made but this version was terrific. I was very surprised and disappointed when it didn’t end up on Broadway but there was a severe financial crisis at the time and that might have been a factor. There are a phenomenal number of spectacular songs. To name a few- unsettled scores, nature of the beast, and Charlie Christmas. The original cast album is available in the UK but not the US.
I saw Glenn Carter and Tim Rodgers in the role as The Man,both outstanding ,I love this show
Oh my God. Flashback to me putting in the CD for the first time and thinking “That’s Jurassic Park!”
You describing seeing the Royal Albert Hall trailer on the VHS tapes..... MY CHILDHOOD!
I love the score from this musical, but have never seen a production of it, but would love to see it. I enjoyed your review.
I saw this show years ago. I've always loved the songs tyre tracks and broken hearts, as well as a kiss is a terrible thing to waste, but think that's because they sound like pure Jim Stineman songs and I love his work. Really interesting version of the show from the sounds of your review
Hey Mickey! I just saw the show today and it states that it is a Really Useful production (along with Watermill). So ALW does have a hand in it.
the exact same core memory of the concert advert on the cats VHS, i thought i was going crazy!
I remember that advert! It was on my grandma's copy of Joseph as well and I remember Michael Ball singing at the end and Glenn Close having a super operatic voice
I have not heard of this shows. Thanks for introducing it to me.
This is one show I’ve always wanted to see xxx
The Andrew Lloyd Webber concert advert was a big nostalgia hit for me. I spent way too much time watching Cats and Joseph on VHS. (Also owned by my Grandma)
I'm American, but I was lucky enough to see the original London cast production at the Alwych theatre.
I'm not sure about the staging in your production. But tge biggest set piece was the freeway overpass that would lower at an angle when needed. Other than the freeway, most other sets were simple like a trailer that comes in. Also, during the song COLD, it has some more set dressing with chairs tables and wooden backdrop.
And then I believe the barn was just a simple fly-in.
Unfortunately, ALW hasn't had huge success ever since 2000 when it comes to the U.S. Whistle Down the Wind had a few performances on the east coast but was heavily criticized and never made to Broadway. They thought The Woman in White sounded horrible since ot sounded like the actress was like yelling or whimpering too much. Love Never Dies 2017 -18 U.S Tour, which I saw, recieved mixed reviews.
The only show of ALWS that has had some success on the 2000s is the School of Rock.
And The Beautiful Game/ Boys in The Photograpg has NEVER to my knowledge been performed in the United States, while Canadian actors have performed it in Canada.
That's why it's IMPERATIVE for ALW to fix Cinderella before it gets here to the states. It HAS to do good or else young Americans 50 years from now will nit know who he was. As a Xenial, I was born in time of the Megamusicals Claude Michele Schoonbergs Les Miz/ Miss Saigon l, ALWS Phantom of The Opera and Cats and Starlight Express.
I love WDTW and enjoyed this show (I also love going to the WaterMill). However, I really did not like the mother’s ghost in it. I just thought it confused things. I saw the original in the West End, the touring version and now this. Each had their own merits. In the West End the stage split in two at the end of the first act and had the adults on top singing and the children on the stage below, one of my favourite theatre moments.
I saw Glenn Carter and Laura Michelle Kelly about 2 weeks after cast changed. (1999) They were fantastic. Amos was played by Dean Collinson and Cat Simmons played Candy. Both went on to great careers in theatre afterwards. I loved it I have to say but I didn't know about the live snakes till I went into the theatre and saw it in the programme. Had I not been sitting in the circle far enough away, I think I might have left, but I'm glad I didn't because I love the show and love the music. Probably one of my favorite shows musically. I think it's the only time they used real snakes and that's not a bad thing. Don't think there's any need for them.
I saw the same cast on my first London trip in August 1999--wasn't expecting much but really loved it.
Wow I had no idea No Matter What was an Andrew Lloyd Webber song! 😮
Thank you so much for this video. I've never seen WDTW but always been keen to see a lot of Lloyd Webber's work post Phantom as I feel that is often overlooked (some of it with good reason and some of it undeservedly so) I have been keen to see WDTW. It also came at a good time as I have been a tad stressed as I'm about to start my teacher training so its a nice break from all of the work I have got to do and get ready for.
Holy crap. Just listened to Jurassi…. I mean. The vaults of heaven!
"Open up the doors"... yikes.
I never noticed that but now I don't think I can unhear it.
I personally love the show having seen it in the West End also slightly biased as I did work at the Watermill for 10 years, such a special place producing excellent work.
I so enjoy your channel. By the by, is that Babar the Elephant behind you? Signed, a Babar the Elephant childhood fan.
I remember that concert!! I was so young I honestly thought that was a Boyzone song 😂 it was the first time I'd heard of them too
i’ve just come back from seeing this 😂 it’s not my thing but i surprisingly enjoyed it and the cast was incredible
Did they record this production? I have never seen a stage version of this musical. I have loved most of the music from this show. It never made it to this side of the pond.
I was today years old when I learnt that No Matter What is from Whistle Down the Wind. Although I supopse I should have realised before this.
Thanks, It was a very good video. I saw this show when I was 11 or 12 and I really liked it cause I really love the source Material the movie with Alan Bates and Hayley Mills.... I do not remember finding it problematic, maybe cause I was child, ,but I do remember just being a little more than a little sad cause the movie was changed.... I still love the movie, and I suppose I have to listen again to the cd.
Not sure if you mentioned this but there is actually ANOTHER Whistle Down the Wind Musical, which is based directly on the movie. This version by Labey and Taylor keeps the original innocence of WDtW without adding any drama/romance subplots. I LOVE the songs from the ALW version, but it does NOT showcase the innocence and faith of the children, which was the entire theme of the movie. Anyway, I love the Labey and Taylor version, and I wish more people knew about it.
It’s a phenomenal show, I saw it back in the day. I loved it! 😆 It added to the film with Haley Mills.
Great show! Very underrated! The original production was excellent! Some of the music in my opinion is actually written by Jim Steinman! The only real criticism is that I am a big fan of the original film which is excellent! If u haven't seen it I highly recommend it! It is on 'RUclips'x
I used to think that about Steinman but I'm not so sure. Of course it doesn't help that on the concept album Bonnie Tyler and Meat Loaf sing Tire Tracks and A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste, produced by Steinman so they really sound like it. But then we have to remember that Tire Tracks, at least, is ALW reusing a tune he's already used, in Tell me on a Sunday/Song and Dance, Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad ruclips.net/video/L-7YYV0NaGU/видео.html
Open up the vaults..
Open up the vaults..
A T-Rex is chasing me!!!
I saw the original production with Jerome Pradon in the lead when I was visiting London. I love this show because ALW did it with Jim Steinman. I love the Boyzone song too. I hope it's successful enough to make it over to the States. I don't think it ever crossed the pond that I know of. I also own the Original Cast and Songs From albums.
Marcus Lovett was the original lead and was superb.
I listened to the OCR after watching his review.
It did make it across the pond - the National Theatre in Washington, D.C in 1996.
I believe it started in Washington, DC in and around 1995 or 1996.
@@solitarychele Right, a very different version (no racial element, more dialogue...) directed by Hal Prince, which didn't get good enough press to continue, as planned, to Broadway.
I mean the London version ran 3 years which by later ALW standards is pretty good (even by most West End Standards is...pretty good.)
I work at the Watermill and loved this production. From everything I've heard, audiences have been incredibly positive about the talent and staging - more so than the ALW material - and come in as lovers of the film, so tend to 'get' the narrative and have some nostalgia for it already. Totally agree that the space does a lot of the work in making the show feel so intimate and stirring - the actor-muso element really lifts the score the fills the space - and in all honesty, I can't understand it working massively well anywhere else than there. I think this particular version might well be as good as it gets for the show (although I don't have any experience of it outside of the cast recording / the Watermill version) but, as you say, the material is flawed so it was never going to be a perfect 5 star show. I do really encourage people to see it though - even just for the experience of a show in this space, I think it'd be difficult to not get at least some enjoyment out of it.
Are people like you never exhausted at doing ALW down?
Sorry don’t think I understand the question? Should also say I’m not directly involved with the production of the shows - I’m in a hospitality role :)
Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts sounds like a Steinman song but it also sounds a lot like English Girls from Song & Dance.
That's because it is. Lloyd Webber obviously reused that melody. He does that a lot, whether he's aware about it, or not. Listen to Salome from Sunset Blvd. and the compare it with the Overture from Love Never Dies. Also, some of Sunset Bldv. score was already copied and reworked material from a film score he wrote. Our Kind Of Love from The Beautiful Game became Love Never Dies. I could go on. It's simply a given now that he "steals" from himself.
Interesting that ALW recycled the melody as the title "Tire tracks and broken hearts, that's all we're leaving behind" is a recycled lyric from Steinman. It was first used on the opening track "Peel out" from the I'll fated Meat Loaf album "Dead Ringer"
I've always loved the cast recording the songs are compelling to hear.
I recently came across a copy of the show on RUclips and watched and could see the things that didn't work or seemed odd, it felt like certain things needed to be expanded on or tightened up.
It made think it needed to be reworked. I kept feeling this would work better as a movie musical in the sense we need a little more detail like Swallows age granted the story takes place in the late 50's we assume Swallow could very well be a very naive 18 year old.
Over all the music is what grabbed me.
It just needs retooling and polishing.
Love your reviews
I've got a T-shirt somewhere with A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste written on it. Merch from the original London production.
I think Swallow is meant to be about 15? Lottie Mayor was in her early 20s, I think, when she played Swallow and Laura Michelle Kelly about 17 or 18 when she took over the role.
Not sure how I feel about the ghost of Swallow's mother being a major part of it...
I loved this musical. I'm hoping this production will transfer to somewhere easier to get to than the Watermill so I can get to see it.
MickeyJo, you have to review GREASE! Please....
I adored this show when it was in the west end. I think I was fascinated by the darkness of it all xx was so desperately trying to make it to see the water mill version but alas it wasn’t meant to be! Xx
WDTW was my first ever theatre experience on a school trip when i was about 14. I had literally no prioe knowledge of ALW so it was quite a shock 😂
I heard the original cast album back in the day, and I never noticed it, but Vaults of Heaven does sound like Jurassic Park. Also I believe there is also a version sung by Tom Jones that gives Elvis Presley vibes
Would love your opinion on The Woman in White x
I love the song whistle down the wind
5:08 is the Bible in a nut shell I think?? Don’t come for me I’m now in the Jesus fandom
Went to see the original production in London. When we got to the theatre saw an announcement about live snakes and as I have a phobia had to leave. So I’ve never seen WDTW
Same here. Having traveled a hundred miles to see it l decided l would try and face it. At the point the snakes appeared someone in front of me dropped something on my foot and went berserk !
Oh god I was the same. We were in the circle so we stayed, otherwise I'd have gone, but I was hiding behind my programme when they were on stage. Terrified.
Go see it at the Watermill - no snakes, just boxes. Just don't wander too far in the fields outside the theatre as you might find the odd adder...
@@ceebeeproducer ah I live in Ireland, no chance of me getting to see it. ☹️
Didn’t know no matter what was from this show
Was a boyzone fan as a kid lol 😆
I saw Jesus Christ superstar at the Barbican
Great show
I've never heard of it.
Whistle Down the Wind aka that show I always confuse with Anyone Can Whistle. To be fair I've never actually seen either of them.
I saw the pre-Broadway tour in (of all places) Sacramento, CA. - if was nicely staged and the production values were great - but the show was a mess. No wonder it never made it to NYC - they should have stuck with the original setting of the book/movie (BTW, fun fact: the book was written by Hayley Mills' mother!)
I saw the original 5 times ans since then, it has been my favourite. It has been on top 1 among my top 10 for the last 20 years and not another musical, not Phantom nor LesMis has reached it. Why? There are so many music styles in it, from ballads to gospel to rock. Furthermore, this musical has got no lengths. I only know two musical which do not have boring passages from time to time, Whistle is one (the other one is Oliver).
So confused about the romantic subplot?! I'm way more familiar with the original film where the main girl is like 5 😂
This was the first London show I took my new girlfriend .
to see
who later became my wife to be as I am watching this review.
she's passed away to day after 22 and a bit years
no shows perfect or relationships
As its trying to find something that inspires us all .
like the song a kiss is a terrible thing to waste .
to when children rule the world its about being innocent and looking at life through child like eyes
And asking jesus why did you allow that kitten to die ?or someone? or something to die ?
Well jesus died for mankind and mankind's a bit messed up even to day ❤
I was actually looking forward to watching this, but I was really disappointed and thought it a total load of utter crap. Times have changed........there is no longer the childhood innocence as there was in such as East Lancashire in1961 when the film version starring Hayley Mills & Alan Bates was made. To be honest, in my opinion a musical based on this story however which way the script is written, will never work. Let's all stick to watching the 1961 film and give up with the musical version.
I love the show I just find the cast album largely unlistenable due to the attempted southern american accents by the cast, mostly the child cast unfortunately.
Also, I’m pretty sure there was already a legal settlement over the Jurassic Park song similarities.
And rural Louisiana is a really unique accent to begin with -- I've almost never heard actors get it right.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman - the collaboration nobody expected! I have a lot of fondness for the show, but the original production had a massively split personality. There's the "aww, the cute little kiddos singing and remember their lines!" and then there's the steaming, simmering coming-of-age story - it sounds like that angle has been massively toned down?! "A Kiss is a terrible thing to waste"? And all the complicated racism in the background...
it's a shame to hear that Amos and Candy are such unimportant characters here. I think that's a downside of actor-muso shows, minor characters get less developed. I'm not a fan in general, it often feels cheap, to avoid paying a band.
Allegedly only the lyrics from Jim Steinman - exactly! Although what ALW has always excelled at is writing pastiche - or at least writing strongly in a particular style - and you could say he out-Steinmans Jim Steinman!
This is a show I'd love to see as a film - it's so cinematic! the opening sweeping shots... But it's also got a lot of important things to say, about religious indoctrination, blind faith, grief, love, childhood innocence, racism, mob violence... just so much in there, and an amazing score. It just has too much to know where its audience is.
Why not go see it? This version is better than the original west end version (and the Bill Kenwright tour). Nothing has been toned down, Amos and Candy are still very prominent characters - if anything, Candy is much more empowered in this version. The coming of age theme, racism etc is still prevalent, and the children are less sickly sweet and far grittier in this version. Go see it.
Hated that show. Another one of those - if we put a bunch of cute kids in it people can't criticize it, and, all their family will come.
Disagree. It toured in the USA and was supposed to go to NYC. I saw it in Detroit. I was with thweve other people and we all hated it. Not for one minute could we believe these children believed that they had met Jesus. If you cannot believe that, the whole show falls apart. I give it a D-
Sounds very confused and confusing- but Jesus is not a legend and he loves you- Just like I do. Always v un enjoyable
I’ve always hated it because there was already a musical version of Whistle Down The Wind which was so much better en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_Down_the_Wind_(1989_musical)
The NYMT version of this was very good, but I don't think it was better.