Laughter in the Rain

Synopsis

With a career spanning six decades and including nine smash hit singles (three which became Number One), Neil Sedaka has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, had a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. From the innocent Fifties to the cynical Seventies and beyond, he has written and performed some of the world's most beloved pop songs including 'Oh, Carol', 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do', 'Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen', 'Hey Little Devil', 'Stupid Cupid', 'Amarillo', 'Laughter in the Rain' and many more. Born in Brooklyn, the son of a taxi-driver, Sedaka started songwriting at Broadway's legendary Brill Building, penning his first hit, Oh Carol, for his then girlfriend, Carole King. He went on to become a teenage idol to rival Elvis but in 1964 his career collapsed as America embraced the Beatles and other bands of the so-called 'British Invasion'. For almost a decade, he struggled to support his wife, Leba, and their two children but found salvation in moving to Britain, where he signed to Elton John's Rocket Records label, and remarkably returned to the top of the US charts in 1974 with 'Laughter In The Rain' - remaining a national treasure there as well as in the UK ever since. Laughter in The Rain - a remarkable story of triumph against the odds.

Our Review:

8 June 2010

You might think, on the face of it, that there’s not a great deal of meaty material to be had from the Neil Sedaka story. The writer and producers of Laughter in the Rain appear to have come to the same conclusion.

In fact, the redoubtable singer-songwriter has had his fair share of trials – from growing up with an extended family in two rooms in Brooklyn, via his mother’s extra-marital affair, to his run-in with the US government over a decade of unpaid tax – so it seems doubly odd that this Sedaka-lite narrative chooses to treat them all as a mild irritation on one man’s journey to the stars.

The fact that Sedaka himself is described as a “consultant” to this show probably explains a lot, together with the programme note that the writer, Philip Norman, is a “close friend”. Whatever the reason, it leaves a fundamental emotional hole where the drama should be.

Having said all that, and taking the lack of storytelling content into account, there’s a huge amount to en...

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Latest User Review

Elayne Fielding - 28 June 2010:

Neil's life story had to keep moving swiftly along due to timescale of the show, and to fit in his many hit songs. Wonderful performances by all cast, especially Wayne who was strong in character and voice thru'out. Together with a terrific band, an excellent show, worthy of the West End!!Should imagine Neil was pleased with the production! ...

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