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Musicals |
Over recent years I've performed in a number of major musicals. Whilst I've not had time to put together huge amounts of information about each of the shows I've performed in, I've attempted to give you an overview of some of my favourites. Here goes:-
JOSEPH & HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT :- This has to be first as it was my first job - summer of 1985 in Aberystwyth, Wales. I knew a lot of the cast which made it easier, but the whole season was a magical time. I couldn't have wished for a nicer start to my career.
STARLIGHT EXPRESS:- My first West End musical. Everyone seemed to be able to skate better than I did. The guys were always the engines and the girls always the carriages. However, I was a carriage too! Dustin (the character I was playing) wasn't obliged to do Flick-flacks and other scary tricks, which I was greatly relieved about, but as the year went on I learned to do it all, as your confidence grows, you seem capable of anything. I still have dreams about the show.
ASPECTS OF LOVE:- To work on an original Lloyd Webber was always a goal of mine, and this show was not a disappointment. Watching something grow from the page to the stage, working with Roger Moore, so many different aspects of the show added up to a totally eye-opening year.
CANDIDE:- As the alternate, I spent a lot of time watching and not doing, but I did get my chance when Bernstein himself came to Glasgow to see the show and I was performing the role for the matinee. He watched the whole thing and was so incredibly kind (and critical, but nicely) and I stayed in contact until he died. It was a show I'd always wanted to do, and was so grateful I was given a chance.
CATS:- I have to make mention of this one. As anyone who's done it will know it not only changes your life (in that you are constantly aching!) but also your body shape! The first time you don your lycra you feel like crying! "No way can you go on stage looking like that!" you say to yourself, but somehow you do.
I've not had time yet to do fancy things with a photo scrapbook, but thought I'd throw in these. Clockwise from top left: Munkustrap in Cats, Billy Bigelow in Carousel, Dick Whittington, Me & My Girl, Joseph, and Backstage at Cats.
EYAM:- was a true story about a village in Derbyshire which suffered the ravages of the plague. It's a great piece that has some fantastic characters. This is the first review of the show to come out:-
"A musical about a village in Derbyshire that isolated itself in 1665 to stop the spread of the plague to its neighbours hardly sounds like a rollicking good night's entertainment. And for much of the first act it isn't. But I strongly advise you to hang around for the rest of the show, which is where the unrelenting doom and gloom lightens marginally, the characters are finally fleshed out and there are several moving moments that should reduce you to tears. Principal of these is the moment Matthew, the fresh faced village well-dresser breaks down to reveal the death of his wife and kids. In just a few short moments and with minimal dialogue Geoff Abbott brings home the full horror of the mystery illness that is cutting a swath through the community. Abbott's features crumple and his all-too obvious sense of devastation takes you with him - a lusty young man reduced to tears by the enormity of his loss. It is a standout performance and I am marking Mr Abbott as a face to watch in the future in a West End leading role." QX Magazine
THE RINK:- I always wanted to be in this show, so when I got the chance to play Lenny at Leicester Haymarket I took it! I also got to get my rollerskates on again, as one of the wrecking crew.
MARTIN GUERRE:- It was wonderful to be involved in this. The original production was not very successful, so the version I was in was substantially rewritten by the creators. The show was fantastic, and it was good to work with some old friends.
OKLAHOMA!:- This was a regional production, in Perth, Scotland. The cast were great - I had such a fun time playing Will Parker. Towards the end of the run we had a Karaoklahoma night - anyone who was there will know what that was like!
HIGH SPIRITS:- A musical version of Noel Coward's play Blithe Spirit. I was cast at the last minute, and so even though I played a very small part, I was mentioned separately on all the publicity.
INTO THE WOODS:- Stephen Sondheim's wonderful satire on fairy tales was the opening production at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, Scotland. I played Cinderella's Prince, who by the end of the show is lusting after Snow White, and also the Big Bad Wolf - that was a wonderful costume.
A gallery of more pictures and reviews - Click here (if you dare!!!)
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