“A heart-warming musical featuring a talented and enthusiastic cast”
Any musical with lyrics from the award winning Sir Tim Rice is bound to attract attention. Not more so then when there is a huge interest in the recent announcement that Rice and Lloyd Webber’s Evita is shortly to return to the West End.
Blondel, currently playing at the Union Theatre, is a feel good rock opera with music by Stephen Oliver and words by Sir Tim Rice. Originally conceived by Sir Tim, the show was written at a time of mega musicals and was seen as a modest one. It did enjoy a West End run in 1983 with the part of Blondel being played by Paul Nicholas.
The musical follows the journey of Blondel, an ambitious monarchist and unappreciated musician working hard for his big break as a minstrel in King Richard The Lionheart’s court.
Whilst the history of Richard I makes for interesting reading, would a story set in 1189 about the Third Crusade make the basis for a great musical? The answer is a positive yes – it is a heart-warming and funny story with great music. Over 30 songs are well sung and supported by a band that never failed to please the ear.
There are powerful performances from a talented and enthusiastic cast. Connor Arnold plays the part of Blondel well. He has stage presence and apart from the odd occasion, has power in his voice to fill the room. Jesse May as Fiona, a feminist ahead of her time, has a lovely voice. However both may have benefitted from being miked.
Neil Moors is a brilliant King Richard and James Thackeray brings Prince John to life. The four monks hold the story together and add humour throughout. Special mention must go to Michael Burgen – his performance of the Assassin is worth the cost of admission alone.
A press night often adds pressure to cast members and even extra pressure was added as Sir Tim was there to observe the production. However the terrific cast were word perfect and appeared to enjoy the whole evening as much as those watching.
It was clear from the laughter, cheering and enthusiastic applause from the audience that this was a well received show that deserves a sold out run.
Reviewed by Steve Sparrow
Production Photography by Scott Rylander
Blondel
is running at The Union Theatre until 15th July
A brand new version of the Tim Rice musical comedy Blondel, which follows the trials and triumphs of an ambitious minstrel in King Richard the Lionheart’s court, will get its London premiere at the Union Theatre from Wednesday 21 June – Saturday 15 July.
Blondel has lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Stephen Oliver. The book is by Tim Rice and Tom Williams, and additional music by Mathew Pritchard.
Tim Rice said:
“I’m delighted Blondel is returning to the stage. It was one of the most enjoyable projects of my career, and I’ve always felt Stephen Oliver’s wonderful music deserved a larger audience than it reached back in 1983 when the show first ran. I hope this new production at the terrific Union Theatre will please old fans and find some new ones.”
When King Richard announces that he’s off on a Middle East Crusade to give Saladin a piece of his mind (and sword), the struggling court musician Blondel is forced to stay behind to write songs in praise of the King’s evil – and ambitious – brother, Prince John. Worse still, Blondel is separated from his sweetheart Fiona, who has been press-ganged into the King’s official crusade dry cleaning dept. However when Richard is captured by the murky – and rather cunning – Duke of Austria (just before the interval), Blondel decides to embark upon a pan-European adventure to save his King, Fiona, and England. An irritable assassin, a proto-Robin-Hood and a quartet of monks all aid and/or hinder Blondel’s efforts to write himself both a place in history and love song to dedicate to Fiona.
Blondel premiered in the West End starring Paul Nicholas in 1983. It was the first musical Tim Rice wrote with a composer other than Andrew Lloyd Webber, following hits with Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Tim first had the idea for a show about the Crusades in the early days of his partnership with Andrew. They initially worked on it together, with the project titled Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You. That work was performed as an oratorio at the City of London School in 1969, and a single of the title song was recorded with Tim as lead vocalist. However their idea for a musical about the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ took precedence. Then the idea for a musical about the Crusades sank into obscurity. Tim met Stephen Oliver, the distinguished classical and operatic composer, when they both served on a panel at the Sydney Arts Festival in 1977. In 1982 they began collaborating to bring the idea of a musical about King Richard into a reality. Now titled Blondel, the show centred around Richard’s minstrel, Blondel, who embarks on a quest to find his missing King.
Cast to be announced
Creative team: Director Sasha Regan. Choreographer Chris Whittaker. Musical Director Simon Holt. Designer Ryan Dawson Laight. Lighting Designer Iain Dennis. Music Co-ordinator Pete Hobbs. Assistant MD Oliver George Rew. Casting Adam Braham Casting.
Producers Aaron Rogers & Sasha Regan for Union Theatre, Donald Rice for Heartaches Limited
Tuesday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2.30pm
£25/£22.50 | £20 previews
book and lyrics by Tim Rice music by Stephen Oliver additional book by Tom Williams additional music Mathew Pritchard
Directed by: Sasha Regan
Union Theatre Old Union Arches, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR
