“A musical journey of emotions from melancholy to merriment”
The story of Death taking human form and having a weekend away from his Grim Reaper duties may not appear to be the most promising, nor cheery, storyline for a musical. Had Thom Southerland, director of Death Takes a Holiday and the well regarded artistic director of Charing Cross Theatre, made the right choice for opening the 2017 season?
Based on the 1924 play La Morte in Vacanza by Alberto Casella, ‘Death Take a Holiday’ has had a few incarnations since. It was first a Broadway play, then a film in the 1930s, a TV movie in the early 70s and reinvented as Meet Joe Black for another cinema airing in 1998. a musical version was conceived in 1997 and eventually had a short off Broadway run in 2011. It’s a version of the latter that we have now, with a book by Thomas Meenan and Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.
From the first note of the opening act, it feels that this is going to be a big production and that feeling does last throughout. Although the stage is small and the scenery (set design by Morgan Large) simple yet charming, this does feel like you’re watching something much bigger but it never feels as if its punching above its weight.
Maury Yeston’s score certainly has a variety of styles to it; heavily orchestral in places, jazzy in others. On the whole, the style of each song works to portray the mood of the scene perfectly, the audience taken on a musical journey of emotions from melancholy to merriment.
The first act does a lot of scene setting and had a lot of songs; indeed perhaps one too many songs, to the point that occasionally Death take a Holiday seemed to have delusions of being a sung through musical. Some of the back stories (such as how Major Fenton thought he knew Prince Sirki (Death’s alter ego)), felt slightly drawn out and didn’t add a lot to the action. But characters were mostly believable and well acted. Special mentions to James Gant as the slightly awkward butler, Fidele, Ashley Stillburn as the stroppy spurned Corrado and Scarlett Courtney as the delightful Daisy.
The second act came across as much punchier. The musical numbers, though fewer, were stronger and more meaningful. The storyline picked up a pace and although act one was fine, this was a much more enjoyable watch.
The production came with a highly accomplished cast, the two leads both formerly principals in two West End heavyweights – Zoë Doano as Grazia (Cosette in Les Miserables) and Chris Peluso as Death/Prince Sirki (Chris in Miss Saigon). As expected these two delivered; their voices both amazing, at times making the hairs on your neck stand up. Their duet, More and More, being the stand out vocal performance of the show.
Death Takes a Holiday deals with an immortal entity experiencing human feelings and emotions for the first time. These range from comic, such as when Prince Sirki’s maid brings him his towels and the reaction that gives him, to the extremely touching moments as he falls for Grazia. It may have made the plot more powerful if we could have seen a bit more of Death’s dark side along the way.
The emotional scenes aren’t limited to the leads, the song ‘December Time’ between the elderly Evangelina (Gay Soper) and Baron Albione (Anthony Cable) is both sweet and beautifully sung.
Although a little drawn out in places and needing a sprinkle more of malevolence, this is generally an enjoyable show with some strong performances.
Photography Scott Rylander
Death Takes a Holiday is at the Charing Cross Theatre
until 4th March
Chris Peluso is appearing until 11th February
World première of a major new musical inspired by the story of Louis Braille
Monday 10 April to Saturday 24 June
Charing Cross Theatre
Acclaimed director Thom Southerland (”Ragtime”, “Titanic”, “Grey Gardens”) is to direct the world première of a major new musical, “The Braille Legacy”.
“The Braille Legacy” tells the thrilling, true, inspirational and epic story of Louis Braille, a young blind boy who wanted the same chance in life as those who see and ended up improving the lives of millions of blind people around the world. It will run at Charing Cross Theatre from Monday 10 April to Saturday 24 June.
The world première production is being announced on Wednesday January 4, World Braille Day, which is celebrated annually on the birthday of Braille inventor, Louis Braille. It recognises the contributions he made in helping blind and visually impaired people to read and write. The word Braille is famous around the world and is the same in all languages. “The Braille Legacy” is supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Olivier Award nominated Jérôme Pradon, whose West End credits include the UK premiere of the musical “Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown”, Guillaume in “Martin Guerre”, The Man in “Whistle Down the Wind”, Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings” musical, Chris in “Miss Saigon” and Javert in “Les Misérables” in London and Marius in Paris, as well as Judas in the Emmy-winning video of Jesus Christ Superstar, will head the cast.
“The Braille Legacy” has an original French Book and Lyrics by Sébastien Lancrenon, Music by Jean-Baptiste Saudray, with an English translation by Ranjit Bolt. Music Supervision and Orchestrations are by Simon Lee.
“The Braille Legacy” is the story of a revolution and an heroic fight for independence, with the themes of difference, freedom, hope and love and the triumph of human values over adversity.
In Paris in the 19th century, blind people were victims of profound discrimination. Louis Braille, a bright young mind with a mad dream, arrives at the Royal Institute of Blind Youth, searching for the same chance as everyone else: to be free and independent. But he soon discovers that people and things aren’t always what they first seem.
By sheer determination and courage he stumbles upon something revolutionary: a simple idea, a genius invention, a legacy. Two hundred years ago, Louis Braille changed the world by inventing the tactile system of communication, the Braille alphabet, liberating the “People of the Night” and introducing literacy, knowledge and culture to a people who were otherwise trapped. It was their journey into the light.
Sébastien Lancrenon (original idea, French Book & Lyrics) is a veteran in the world of classical music. He began his career as a professional solo singer at an early age. Until recently he was Director of Radio Classique (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy Group) in France. Sébastien left Radio Classique in order to focus on developing “The Braille Legacy” musical and now lives in London.
Jean-Baptiste Saudray (Music) studied piano from the age of five at the Schola Cantorum, where he won a number of awards. Jean-Baptiste has composed for and worked with various international artists, including Ray Charles, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Gypsy Kings and David Guetta.
Ranjit Bolt (English translation) is one of Britain’s leading adaptors and translators. His work includes adaptations of classics such as “Le Misanthrope” and “Tartuffe” by Molière and various other works and has been produced to great acclaim at the Old Vic, National Theatre and by the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2002 he was awarded an OBE for his services to literature as a translator.
Simon Lee (Music Supervision & Orchestrations ) has a wealth of experience in musical supervision and orchestrations in both the West End and Broadway as well as in film, spending his career working closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber on musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar and the film, The Phantom of the Opera.
Thom Southerland (Director) is Artistic Director at Charing Cross Theatre. His opening season of major musicals included the European première of Maury Yeston’s “Death Takes A Holiday”, the return of his acclaimed multi award-winning “Titanic” and “Ragtime” (nominated for a record 14 Off West End awards).
He was longlisted Best Newcomer in the 2011 Evening Standard Awards for “Parade”. He was named Best Director at the 2011 The Offies for “Me And Juliet” at the Finborough. He directed “Allegro”, “Grey Gardens”, “Grand Hotel”, “Titanic”, “Victor/Victoria”, “Mack & Mabel” and “Parade” (Southwark Playhouse); “The Smallest Show on Earth” (Mercury Theatre, Colchester & tour); Jerry Herman’s “The Grand Tour” (Finborough); “The Mikado” (Charing Cross Theatre); “Daisy Pulls It Off”, Irving Berlin’s “Call Me Madam!” (Upstairs At The Gatehouse); the European première of “I Sing!”, “Divorce Me, Darling!”, “Annie Get Your Gun”, “The Pajama Game” and sold-out all-male adaptations of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore” and “The Mikado” (Union); “Noël and Gertie” (Cockpit); the European première of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (Landor); the European première of “State Fair” (Finborough & transfer to Trafalgar Studios).
The Braille Legacy Ltd by arrangement with Colbert Entertainment Ltd present
The Braille Legacy
Based on an original idea by Sébastien Lancrenon
French book and lyrics by Sébastien Lancrenon
Music by Jean-Baptiste Saudray
Translation by Ranjit Bolt
Charing Cross Theatre The Arches Villiers Street London WC2N 6NL
Monday – Saturday at 7:30pm Matinees Wednesday at 2:30 pm and Saturday at 3:00pm
Stalls £32.50 Balcony £22.50 Slips £17.50 Premium seats £39.50 Premium seats are best stalls locations, and include a programme and a glass of sparkling wine
A booking fee applies to phone and internet orders; no booking fee to personal callers.
The box office is open from 2 hours before curtain time on performance days.
