WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND. Tour to 12 June.
Tour
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND
Music Andrew Lloyd Webber: Lyrics Jim Steinman: Book Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Original novel Mary Hayley Bell: also based on the play by Richard Attenborough and Bryan Forbes screenplay by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall.
Birmingham Hippodrome (Tkts 0870 730 1234) till 21 February, then tour to 12 June 2004
Runs 2h 30m, one interval
Review: Birmingham Hippodrome, Rod Dungate, 12 February 2004
Gloriously direct and appealingThe real strength of this stage version of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND is its absolute simplicity: it parallels the purity and open innocence of the children in the story. But (just as with the children) the simplicity isn't wishy-washy it's tough, resilient. This is where the story itself gains its power and enduring quality: the creative team behind this show sensibly preserve this quality and the show is gloriously direct and appealing. Bill Kenwright has directed this new cast and it's as fresh as a daisy.
Three children find an escaped convict in their barn and assume he's Jesus . . . on the face of it, it seems an unlikely story and not terribly promising. This theatre version is set in the Southern States of America in the 50s: the tensions between blacks and whites create a dramatic springboard for the story. From our present day viewpoint we see more clearly the corrupt and ailing world the adults have built and its stark contrast with the generosity and faith of the children: it's the children who are our hope for a better future. The story may be full of anger, mistrust, hatred even but it has a feel-good ending.
Rosie Jenkins plays Swallow the eldest of three children. Jenkins offers us a character free from saccharine and touchingly vulnerable in her blind faith in the power of Jesus/ good. Her I ALWAYS PRAYED in the first half is very strong her warm voice giving the song passion without affectation.
Then as a terrific contrast comes the upbeat COLD from Sam and Edward (Leroy Ricardo Jones and Scott Murtagh.) A great moment in the first half.
Glenn Carter plays the mysterious intruder (The Man) and really comes into his own in the second half with a series of highly passionate, driven numbers. He drives the second half along as it builds dramatically the orchestration merciless in pushing us onwards to it's terrible conclusion. And its mysterious twist.
This is a strong cast over-all. I particularly liked Debbie Korley's Candy, the young black woman victim of most of the overt racism: she has a strong dramatic singing voice as the second half moves towards its conclusion.
Preacher: David Robbins
Sheriff: Aaron Shirley
Ensemble: Siobhan Morgan
Snake Preacher: Craig Armstrong
Ensemble Michelle McAvoy
Amos: Garrie Harvey
Ensemble: David Lyndon
Deputy/ Ensemble: Martin Neely
Ensemble: Oliver Marshall
Ensemble: Georgie Fellows
Earl: Paul Hutchinson
Ensemble: Polli Redston
Candy: Debbie Korley
Ensemble: Micaelia Baptiste
Edward: Scott Murtagh
Sam: Leroy Ricardo Jones
Swallow: Rosie Jenkins
Boone: Mark Inscoe
Brat: Carly Thoms
Poor Baby: Ashley Lloyd
The Man: Glenn Carter
Director: Bill Kenwright
Choreoghrapher: Henry Metcalfe
Production Musical Director/ Conductor: David Steadman
Designer: Paul Farnsworth
Lighting: Nick Richings
Sound: Ben Harrison
2004-02-13 11:23:27