Theatre News

Doris Day Gets Sentimental at Wilton’s Music Hall

Hollywood legend Doris Day provides the inspiration for A Sentimental Journey. The bio-musical, which takes its title from the singer’s first No 1 chart hit, transfers for a four-week run, from 11 March to 4 April 2010 (previews from 9 March) at Wilton’s Music Hall, following dates last spring at Oxfordshire’s Mill at Sonning.

Doris Day was one of the most prolific and bankable screen actresses of the 1950s and 1960s: a vivacious blonde with a wholesome image, who was able to sing, dance and alternate between comedy and drama. But behind the screen was a story that rivalled any film script. At 13, a car accident threatened to end her dancing career. By 17, she was married to a psychopathic bully. And when her third husband died, she discovered he had left her with a debt of half a million dollars.

A Sentimental Journey tells Day’s story, with the help of many of the songs she helped make famous during her career, including “Move Over Darling”, “The Deadwood Stage”, “Secret Love”, “Little Girl Blue”, “Day By Day”, “Que Sera Sera”, “Young at Heart” and the 1945 title song.

Mill at Sonning artistic director Sally Hughes stars as Doris Day. Also in the cast are: Glyn Kerslake, Ian McLarnon, Elizabeth Elvin and Mark Halliday. A Sentimental Journey is directed by Alvin Rakoff, with choreography by Joseph Pitcher, musical direction by Stewart, design by Eileen Diss, costumes by Jane Kidd, and lighting by Filippo Capitani.