For the fifth in their series of online concerts with UK composers of Musical Theatre, The Barn Theatre in Cirencester turned their attention to unknown and unheard of by me, lyricist, writer, director and also accomplished singer, Annabel Mutale Reed. Known for her collaborations with Leo Munby and Jack Trzcinski, she has composed the musicals, 'Elizabeth', 'Alice' and 'Stop'. Again confession time, but never heard of threse shows nor know any of the music. Fear not however, as my musical theatre journey and education has been excellently nourished and ameliorated.
In a lovely surprise and very frank and outspoken inteview half-way through with Claude-Michel Schoenberg, speaking from his home in France, we learnt that these three composer / lyricists were together at Oxford under his mentorship, and he has been in contact ever since, pushing them forward and being behind them. He spoke openly of their talent, as a huge ambassador for and supporter of new writing, he saw something in this team which, in his words, was contemporary, sophisticated and theatrical. I would be an absolute fool to disagree with this after listening to their music today.
In an online concert with stunning backing tracks and great vocals from current West End Musical Theatre performers I was taken on a whistle-stop tour of the above-mentioned three msuical shows, and I seriously cannot wait to be able to see them in full production someday soon.
From the sublime and softly lyrical 'Falling' (sung by Jack Remmington) through the dramatic, thoughtful and oblique beauty of 'Blood' (sung by Ali Ewoldt), to the close-harmony quartet of 'How Do We Get On?' (sung by Kathy Peacock, Annabel Mutale Reed, Connor Going and Anton Stephans), to the full-on upbeat Lin Manuel Miranda-esque song (quasi-rap) of 'Survivor' (sung by Annabel Mutale Reed), each song was unique, surprising, and expertly crafted. That's not to say that I enjoyed every song, but I did most, and I think these songs will work much better in context. My favourite in the concert though simply has to be the toe-tappingly brilliant swing band number, 'Dancing With Me' which was sung superbly by Natalie Brown.
The whole concert was compered and presided over by The Barn's own Jamie Dixon, and the chatting / interviews etc between the songs is perhaps a little on the long side, but nevertheless interesting and relevant.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 12/7/20
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