3rd March, 2026
Curve, Leicester
“Still getting together in rooms
like these”
Somewhere at the back of my mind was the bit of music trivia
that Don McLean’s 1971 global hit ‘American Pie’ is about the plane crash that
killed Buddy Holly in 1959. But, even with the very singable chorus, I hadn’t
properly considered the lyrics to any of the song and its six verses. Luckily,
that’s where a small theatre company from Prince Edward Island on the east
coast of Canada comes in. Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson of Harmony House, based in
a community with a population of about 400, have devised the enchanting Inside
American Pie, part-concert, part-documentary which provides a deep-dive
into the lyrics, the man behind them, and the musical sensibilities of the era.
Borne out of the pandemic, the show has become a hit in Canada where’s it’s played
several successful summer runs in P.E.I. and also in Toronto.
Thankfully, it was here that the artistic team at Curve spotted it and, with
the help of Mirvish Productions, it’s now making its European premiere in
Leicester.
Co-Creator Mike Ross, playing an upright piano, sings the
first verse of the song before (teasingly) taking a step back to tell us the story
of the horrific plane crash that inspired it (also killed were The Big Bopper
and Ritchie Valens). With the initial inspiration now within our knowledge, we
hear those lyrics again, this time spoke line by line, and their meaning
becomes clear. Ross occasionally goes back to magnify his focus on certain words
or lines. His unshowy, matter-of-fact delivery is part of the charm, leaving the
emotion of McLean’s words do the talking. We hear Wiki-style bits of history
behind the lyrics of lines such as “I can't remember if I cried/ When I read
about his widowed bride” referring to Holly’s pregnant widow (who turns 94 this
year). But, more interestingly, we hear Ross’ interpretation of more opaque phrases.
Is McLean’s teenage chronic bronchitis behind the spoonerism ‘broncin’ buck’? Could
the line actually be ‘drinkin’ whiskey in Rye’ referring to a place in New York?
Might a reference to Lenin actually be referring to John Lennon? These digressions
lend a greater depth to the song’s intrigue and is a reminder that music is
subjective.
Peppered through the show are carefully selected songs from
that era. Some like the opener ‘Come On, Let’s Go’ by Valens and a later number
‘Sympathy for the Devil’ by The Rolling Stones help to tell the story, placing
us in a specific time and place. But others are more evocative of mood, helping
to paint a picture of changing social movements and musical tastes. ‘Imagine’,
beautifully sung Brielle Ansems and arranged by Ross, is a good example of
this. Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times They are A-Changin’’ speaks to a wider theme of
change. ‘American Pie’, more than just about a plane crash and the effect that
had on McLean as a teenager, is about nostalgia and change. It represents a
shift from the innocent 1950s to darker times. The way Ross and Wilson build
that picture thematically and musically through fairly prosaic storytelling and
using just one song as a jumping off point is impressive.
The show is musically exhilarating. A cast of five
singer-musicians including Ross, Ansems, Alicia Toner, Greg Gale and Kirk White
bring the songs to life. It has the electric feel of a music gig but has a
cunning theatricality. At one point, Ross puts on some glasses and, with his
blue jacket, I couldn’t help but picture Buddy Holly. This is probably
unintentional, but speaks to a bigger effect of Inside American Pie in
that it subtly evokes such images and reflections whilst you’re sat there
having a great time. And a great time you’ll surely have!
Inside American Pie plays at Curve, Leicester until 14th March. For
more information, please visit https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/inside-american-pie/
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| Mike Ross in Inside American Pie. Credit: Dahlia Katz |
