They're Playing our Song

Synopsis

A semi autobiographical story based on the relationship between composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager. The story of Vernon Gersch, a neurotic and successful composer with a host of awards. He is paired up with the lovably eccentric Sonia Walsk ­ a young lyricist who is a hopeless time-keeper and dresses in cast off theatre costumes. The unlikely pairing seems destined to falter before it begins; can Vernon’s egotistical bachelor lifestyle cope with Sonia’s ex-boyfriend and her multiple personalities? As their working relationship grows, however, so do their feelings for each other, and romance blossoms.

Our Review:

5 August 2008

They’re playing our song, and they’re wearing our wigs! Fiona Laird’s slick and cheesy revival of the 1979 musical about the once real-life working relationship of composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager is the best ever bad hair day for musical theatre buffs.

Alistair McGowan as the wise-cracking Vernon Gersch is obviously mindful that Tom Conti played the role in the London premiere (opposite Gemma Craven) at the Shaftesbury and has secured a lush mop of Conti coiffure. Connie Fisher as neurotic, hyper-active Sonia Walsk looks first like Maureen Lipman after losing a serious argument with a hairdryer and second and thirdly as though she’s developed an idolatrous crush on Shirley MacLaine (cutely cropped page boy) and Angie Dickinson (Charlie’s Angels flyaway style).

The point is that this edgy couple each has three alter-egos – a clever way of writing both chorus numbers and ensemble scene changes – and these same- sex trios hav...

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Latest User Review

peter woodcock - 7 September 2008:

highly entertaining show with lovely performances by the leads....

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