Closer Than Ever
From: Tuesday, 14th September 2010
To: Saturday, 9 October 2010
Our Review: 
Your Reviews:
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Synopsis
Mixing broad comedy with intense drama, Closer than Ever is satirical and poignant, haunting and catchy. Friends, lovers, husbands, splitting up, splitting hairs - the chaos and eccentricity of urban existence is brought to life in this eclectic collection of songs by the Oscar and Tony award winning writers.
Our Review:
16 September 2010
The Landor Theatre triumphs once again with an exceptional piece of musical theatre. The production values are splendid as usual – Jason Denvir's simple construction of steps and platforms with long fringe curtains to add a glamour. Add to this the appearance of the performers who are all of first class West End calibre and are costumed with style and elegance by Jean Gray.
The first number is about opening doors to life and this is what the show is all about, blending the stimulating poetry of Richard Maltby, Jr with the music of David Shire. Totally opposite to the Landor’s last production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, these are not songs to make you tap your feet or want to join in. But here you are seduced into listening intently, paying close attention and recognising the psychological content.
The lives we are exposed to are those of middle class, middle aged Americans. They sing of love the second time around, the problems of combining work w...
Latest User Review
Gareth James - 4 October 2010:
Lyricist Richard Maltby & composer David Shire aren’t well-known here. They’re songwriters rather than writers of musicals – apart from this compilation of their songs, I think the only show we’ve seen here is Take Flight at the Menier Chocolate Factory a few years back. They may be best known for lyrical contributions to Miss Saigon and Song & Dance (Maltby) and songs for Saturday Night Fever (Shire)….but they write clever, witty and smart songs. This ‘revue’ contains 24 of them, each of which is a little story – mostly middle-aged middle class angst – and the Landor Theatre is very lucky to have bagged four experienced performers at the top of their game who can do justice to these difficult pieces. Clare Burt, Ria Jones, Michael Cahill and Glyn Kerslake inhabit the characters and situations and bring these stories to sparkling life. Director Robert McWhir, choreographer Matthew Gould and designers Jason Denvir & Jean Gray have created a stylish setting and elegant staging. There were some terrific moments, amongst them Ria Jones’ comic magic in You Wanna Be My Friend and Miss Byrd and Clare Burt’s deeply moving It’s Never Been That Easy. I’m not a huge fan of these compilations; I often think they’re a lazy alternative to a proper show, but this one certainly isn’t – it was almost like 24 mini-musicals in a row. Not to be missed!...
Creative
Richard Maltby Jr (Lyrics)
David Shire (Music)
Landor Theatre (for Matthew Gould (Producer)
Robert McWhir (Director)
Matthew Gould (Choreographer)
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