» Stage: Love Story
Andrew Kay finds the saddest musical ever now has a happy ending as Chichester’s Love Story is confirmed for the West End
There’s great news for anyone who didn’t manage to catch Love Story this summer at Chichester Festival Theatre. Doubters said it could not be done, but with a score by Howard Goodall, Chichester not only pulled it off, they created a gem – one that is now set to grace the West End.
Erich Segal’s book was always relentlessly romantic, the film was equally tear jerking and, for many, those cherished memories were too precious to risk spoiling with this new version, especially one set to music.
The fact is, this was a piece of great and original musical theatre, unlike so much of what is being produced right now to satisfy a need for an audience weaned on pop and pop alone.
The story worked well and the staging was brilliant in its simplicity. But the whole was made by two important factors: a great cast and great material. Actors who can both sing and act at this level were essential if it was to work, and it did. They also needed to be great ensemble performers to deal with Howard Goodall’s choral orchestrations, and they were.
As for material, most of the great stage musicals work because the songs are integral to the plot; they are not merely musical decoration but a means of progressing the narrative. Goodall, along with Stephen Clark, did a first class job. So good in fact, it comes as no surprise to learn that musical theatre performer Michael Ball will make his producing debut with this West End transfer alongside producers Adam Spiegel and Stephen Waley-Cohen.
With Yes, Prime Minister already in the West End, this makes it a double whammy for Chichester’s 2010 season.
Love Story, The Musical is currently booking from 27 November 2010–26 February 2011, Duchess Theatre, Catherine Street, London WC2B 5LA, 0844 412 4659
