My Top 5 Showtunes: David Langham
David Langham's theatre credits include Wendy & Peter Pan for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Light Princess at the National Theatre and the UK tours of Oliver! and Spamalot.
Next week he joins the cast of Les Miserables as Thénardier.
We caught up with David and asked him: "If you were stranded on a desert island which five showtunes could you not live without?"
1. "I’m Still Here" from Follies
Perhaps one of Sondheim’s most interpreted songs. Elaine Stritch’s minimalist turn at Avery Fisher Hall, NY in 2010 is surely definitive though – a five and a half minute masterclass.
2. "What Kind of Fool Am I?" from Stop the World – I Want to Get Off
This Newley and Bricusse song won an Ivor Novello Award and in 1963 they became the first British artists to win a Grammy. A gem of a number with a glorious melody and a heartfelt lyric, seen here performed by Newley in 1969.
3. "Maybe I Like it This Way" from The Wild Party
A powerful ballad from this production based on a 1928 narrative poem. Lippa’s song sung by original cast member Julia Murney is mesmerising.
4. "If Love Were All" from Bitter Sweet
A very intimate and bravely autobiographical song from 1929. This has also been hugely covered over the years and one of my favourite versions is by The Pet Shop Boys.
5. "The Darkest Hour" from The Light Princess
I’m hugely biased including this song in my list – hence why I didn’t give it the top slot, but being part of the original production at the National Theatre in 2013 is one of my proudest achievements. This act one curtain from the show performed with breathtaking truth and delicacy each night by Rosalie Craig had to make the final cut.
