I’d love to report that The Young Vic has turned a Broadway flop into a hit in Southwark, particularly as it’s an ambitious and worthy community project, but I’m afraid I can’t – but it’s not for the want of trying. This British premiere of a 25+ year-old ‘folk opera’ by the composer of Hair is timely, as there are parallels between its second world war story of soldiers dying a long way from home with current events. The trouble is, the story is little more than a sketch, the lyrics are weak (and with no dialogue they are crucial), the music is rather bland and it’s all too sentimental. The suggestion of Greek tragedy (it’s set in Ithaca and Homer and Ulysses are characters) is a bit half-baked and pointless and the show’s contrasting halves produce a lack of cohesion – it often seems like a song cycle rather than a show. However, one cannot question the talent of the cast and creative team. There’s an excellent set from Jon Bausor which positively fills the Young Vic. There’s a fine band under MD Phil Bateman, some also doubling up as characters, and a great chorus of 80+ local people. The singing is outstanding, with superb vocal performances from Brenda Edwards, Jos Slovick, Helen Hobson, Tom Robertson, Terel Nugent and Jo Servi. Director John Fulljames is very good at marshalling lots of people as he does again here. You do get caught up in the energy and enthusiasm of the performers, but a dud show is a dud show whatever you do. Composer Galt MacDermott’s third Broadway show, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, was also a dud so like Tony Kushner yesterday, he too seems to be a one-hit-wonder. - Gareth James
15 Sep 10
I’d love to report that The Young Vic has turned a Broadway flop into a hit in Southwark, particularly as it’s an ambitious and worthy community project, but I’m afraid I can’t – but it’s not for the want of trying. This British premiere of a 25+ year-old ‘folk opera’ by the composer of Hair is timely, as there are parallels between its second world war story of soldiers dying a long way from home with current events. The trouble is, the story is little more than a sketch, the lyrics are weak (and with no dialogue they are crucial), the music is rather bland and it’s all too sentimental. The suggestion of Greek tragedy (it’s set in Ithaca and Homer and Ulysses are characters) is a bit half-baked and pointless and the show’s contrasting halves produce a lack of cohesion – it often seems like a song cycle rather than a show. However, one cannot question the talent of the cast and creative team. There’s an excellent set from Jon Bausor which positively fills the Young Vic. There’s a fine band under MD Phil Bateman, some also doubling up as characters, and a great chorus of 80+ local people. The singing is outstanding, with superb vocal performances from Brenda Edwards, Jos Slovick, Helen Hobson, Tom Robertson, Terel Nugent and Jo Servi. Director John Fulljames is very good at marshalling lots of people as he does again here. You do get caught up in the energy and enthusiasm of the performers, but a dud show is a dud show whatever you do. Composer Galt MacDermott’s third Broadway show, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, was also a dud so like Tony Kushner yesterday, he too seems to be a one-hit-wonder. - Gareth James
