Tim Rice’s New Musical opens at the Shaftesbury theatre
Tim Rice takes us From Here to Eternity and creates quite a buzz at the opening night. I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening night of the new show in London, Tim Rice’s From Here to Eternity at the Shaftesbury theatre.
It was a star studded opening gala night with many of Tim Rice’s cricketing buddies, including former England cricket captains David Gower and Mike Gatting in attendance. Also seen propping up the bar was stage legend Michael Ball, who himself recently trod the boards at the Shaftesbury theatre when starring as Edna in Hairspray opposite the sadly missed Mel Smith.
From Here To Eternity was an epic 1953 film which won an incredible eight Oscars and starred Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra. The setting is a Hawaiian island where the troops of G Company are preparing for the impending World War Two just before the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Tensions run high as newly transferred Private Prewitt refuses to join the boxing team; meanwhile romance simmers in the air.
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Darius Campbell and Rebecca Thornhill star in From Here to Eternity at the Shaftesbury theatre in London
Lyricist Sir Tim Rice is responsible for some of the West End’s most famous and successful musicals, including Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita all with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and working alongside Elton John to pen perhaps his most successful lyrics for The Lion King.
This time Sir Tim teams up with composer Stuart Brayson to produce some brilliant songs, particularly memorable is a blues duet between Private Prewitt and Sergeant Warner, played by Robert Lonsdale and Darius Campbell. The music is widely varied from typical theatre songs, through swing and jazz to rock and blues with some really catchy tunes.
The subject matter is perhaps not the most obvious for a musical, with the menace and under-lying tension as portrayed in the film not so evident when interspersed with songs. Nonetheless the two entwined love stories of reluctant boxer Prewitt and prostitute Lorene, and Sergeant Warner and Karen, the bored wife of his commanding officer, have a simmering intensity and passion that is perfectly captured by this musical.
The choreography by Javier de Frutos avoids the danger of camping it up as the military drills, training and boxing are brilliantly crafted. Stand out is the slow motion sequence as the battle of Pearl Harbour ensues, enhanced with the use of strobe lightening to heighten the dramatic effect and the stark reality of war and all its danger, wonderfully executed.
All the cast are superb, but in particular former Pop Idol contestant and winner of from Pop Star to Opera Star, Darius Campbell is stand out with his charisma and undoubted stage presence dominating proceedings. He is a giant of the stage both figuratively and literally with his velvet baritone voice truly commanding.
The excitement at the after show party was palpable as coconut rum flowed alongside the champagne as the likes of Anneka Rice and Graham Norton raised a toast in celebration to what was an impressive show, it remains to be seen whether the ticket buying public will be flocking to snap up tickets for From Here to Eternity, but we shall wait and see.
From Here to Eternity might not immediately hit the heights of Buzz Lightyear but nonetheless it is a show well worth seeing.
Book tickets for From Here to Eternity at the Shaftesbury theatre, London.
