Days of Hope

Synopsis

The Spanish Civil War is drawing to a bloody close and the future looks bleak for those who have opposed Franco's fascist forces. In a small fishing village, Sophia and her family prepare a wedding meal. It will be their last night in Spain before embarking on a daring escape to England. The meal brings several visitors and as the evening progresses, the big question comes back - is it right to flee or should they stay and fight?

Our Review:

22 March 2007

Howard Goodall’s 1990 Brechtian musical about a family forced to flee their home during the Spanish Civil War is given a pleasing production at the intimate King’s Head Theatre in Islington, with the cast of West End regulars playing the story touchingly but without desperately tugging at heart strings under Russell Labey’s direction.

The musical has elements of Les Mis about it. David Burt as patriarch Carlos – who incidentally originated the role of Enjolras in the Boublil and Schonberg epic - gives a performance large enough to fill the Queen’s Theatre (this man certainly doesn’t need a microphone) while keeping the character sincere enough to come across well in the cosy fringe venue. His turn as a defeated soldier who is trying to protect his family while keeping the revolutionary spirit alive is affecting, and many audience members were struggling to hold back tears at the end of the evening.

Siobhan McCarthy as matriarch Maria is a wonderful singer and...

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Latest User Review

Gareth James - 7 April 2007:

I've always thought this was an under-rated show by Britain's most under-rated composer (he wrote one of the two best British musicals ever - The Hired Man - which really should get a major revival in somewhere like the Cottesloe). This production betters the original, though the show hasn't been changed and the staging isn't fundamentally different. It's the performances that make it, and the lovely singing in particular (here I have to single out Simon Thomas who delivers his songs to perfection). Another mention for Matt Cross who storms the stage as Jose and gives the show the edge without which it could be too sentimental. Will someone now please revive Mr Goodall's similarly under-rated 'Girlfriends'?!...

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