Curve, Leicester
12th October, 2021
“Dreams never run on time”
The Watermill Theatre’s 2016
production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black’s one-woman, one-act musical has
been revived for a UK tour. Tell Me on a
Sunday (1979) centres on Emma, an English woman navigating the ups and
downs of love and loss in Manhattan. Originally performed in the West End in
1982 as part of the double bill Song and
Dance, and perhaps once a curio of Lloyd Webber’s work, Paul Foster’s
production is fresh, stylish and beautifully carried by Francis Goodhand’s
musical direction and a star turn from Jodie Prenger.
Lloyd Webber’s music and Don Black’s
lyrics prove to be a song writing masterclass. There is something rose-tinted
about Tell Me on a Sunday: Emma’s
idealistic belief in love is largely unwavering; the English girl in search of
the American Dream is a romantic idea; and Black’s playful lyrics, particularly
in the title song, show Emma’s inclination towards optimism. But this is balanced
with the turbulence of emotional conflict, accepting heartbreak and being let
down in songs such as the show’s anthem, ‘Take That Look Off Your Face’. What I
liked about Foster’s production is that he cleverly keeps the period setting
without it feeling dated. Whereas others might be tempted to drag the setting
into the present which could jar with the music and story, the effect of keeping
it in the 1980s feels romantic and classy. After all, the experiences of the
highs of love and lows of loneliness are timeless.
The audience instantly warms to Emma
thanks to Prenger’s strong performance. She captures the wide-eyed sense of
adventure from being in New York whilst also convincingly staying grounded with
a sense of British wit and cynicism. Lines about the size of sandwiches in NYC
and Black’s lyrics about Los Angeles in ‘Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad’ remain as
funny as they are true. She plays the show’s conversational style very well and
maintains Emma’s sense of hope. This is all played out on David Woodhead’s
gorgeous design of Emma’s stylish apartment and a mini New York skyline,
skyscrapers and Brooklyn Bridge becoming part of the furniture.
Overall, the intimate song cycle of
Tell Me on a Sunday followed by a
Q&A with Prenger and further musical numbers in the second act make for a
great night out!
Tell Me on
a Sunday plays at Leicester’s Curve until 16th October and
then tours the UK until 20th November. For further dates, please
visit Tell Me On A Sunday
(tellmeontour.co.uk)
Jodie Prenger in Tell Me on a Sunday. Credit: Tristram Kenton |
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