“Oliver’s lyrics have shades of light and dark, but do occasionally feel contrived and exacting”
The concept is fascinating: a series of photographs have inspired songs. Whilst each photograph is deliberately abstract and enigmatic, composer and lyricist Scott Oliver has managed to tease out a narrative from each image, dressing them in human form and creating a varied gallery of vignettes.
The accent is clearly on the music rather than the photographs. Projected onto the back wall during the accompanying songs, they were sometimes lost, sometimes irrelevant and sometimes confusing. But the songs hold the show together, and trying to discover a through line quickly becomes unnecessary as the audience relaxes and enjoys the performances.
The musical arrangements sweep a broad spectrum, encompassing rock, gospel, country, pop, musical comedy amongst other genres. But there is a danger that it becomes too much of a mixed bag. It is at its best when kept simple, giving space to the gorgeous harmonies of the singers. Each of the five cast members are allowed to shine at various points, but nobody attempts to steal the show, always sensitive to the belief that the landscape is more important than the snapshot.
Oliver’s lyrics have shades of light and dark, but do occasionally feel contrived and exacting, and although the melodies too are sometimes overly intricate, the performers rise to the challenge. Stand out moments are Gregor Duncan’s and Samuel Thomas’s duet: “The Seraph”, “Leave Luanne” with its staccato cello arrangement reminiscent of The Beatle’s Sergeant Pepper, and “Mama, Let Me In” whose sparse piano yields to a cross wave of gospel harmonies.
The evening does, however, steer close to indulgence. Like a seventies concept album there is insufficient awareness of the audience and as such one can feel disengaged. I did ask myself ‘who is this for?’ in the same way I would at an installation. This isn’t musical theatre, but then again it probably never set out to be. But it does need something more; visually it remained weak, and budgetary restrictions gave scant justice to the back projections of the photographs. But Adam Lenson’s uncluttered direction uses these restrictions to his advantage, adapting well to the intimacy of the studio space, placing the accomplished six-piece band alongside the audience.
Although the concept is fascinating, it still feels it’s at the conception stage. In parts underdeveloped, but you can make allowances for this, and the accomplished performances make it quite thrilling. For music fans of any genre this is highly recommended.
by Richy Hughes, Joseph Finlay and Michael Conley.
Based on an original idea by Richy Hughes.
Michael Rouse stars in the world premiere of this one-man musical, which is the first musical to play in Southwark Playhouse’s Little space.
The Superhero, written by Richy Hughes, Joseph Finlay and Michael Conley and directed by Adam Lenson plays from 28 June – 22 July 2017.
Production includes Stiles and Drew Prize-winning song Don’t Look Down.
‘Good afternoon, your honour. I’m Colin Bradley. I’m here today to ask you, your honour, not to let Christine Davis, my ex-wife, move out of the country with Emily Bradley, my daughter.’
Colin and Christine split up five years ago. Now Christine is taking their daughter to Los Angeles with her new job, and there’s nothing Colin can do about it. Or is there?
Including ‘Don’t Look Down’, the Stiles and Drew Prize-winning song, The Superhero is a new one man musical by Richy Hughes (Mr Popper’s Penguins), Michael Conley (The Sorrows of Satan) and Joseph Finlay (This Is Also England), and directed by Adam Lenson (Songs for a New World) that asks, how far would you go to see your child?
Michael Rouse plays Colin Bradley. His theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet, The Winter’s Tale, Harlequinade (Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the Garrick), Three Men in a Boat (UK Tour), Carousel (Barbican), Matilda (RSC), Oklahoma (Chichester Festival Theatre), The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Dona Rosita: The Spinster (Orange Tree Theatre), The Boy Friend (Regent’s Park Open Air) and Saturday Night Fever (London Palladium). Michael has sung live on BBC Radio 2 and as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, and the London Philharmonic Orchestras. Film and television credits include Murder on the Orient Express (20th Century Fox) 24: Live Another Day (Fox), Alien Autopsy (Qwerty Films), Mary Queen of Scots (BBC) and The Man Who Knew too Little (Luna Productions).
Info
THE SUPERHERO
Wednesday 28 June – Saturday 22 July 2017
Monday to Saturday at 8pm Tuesday matinees at 3.30pm Saturday matinees at 3.30pm
