Some Cotswold highlights are famous, some are quietly fascinating, and REVIEW: The Glenn Miller Story, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham is one of the reasons we keep finding new things to love about the area.
Read on for the details, from Theatre Reviews, The Glenn Miller Story and Everyman Theatre to the reasons this place or story continues to add to the charm and character of the Cotswolds.
05/10/2016
Rating: ***** By David Wood
Is this theatrical madness or a touch of truly inspired casting? London-born Tommy Steele, not far off his 80th birthday, playing the American band leader Glenn Miller, a man half his age when he died?
Is this theatrical madness or a touch of truly inspired casting? London-born Tommy Steele, not far off his 80th birthday, playing the American band leader Glenn Miller, a man half his age when he died?
Well let’s forget the ever so slight age difference and also forgive this British national treasure for never quite nailing the American accent, for this show is a knock-out musical triumph and it was a joy to be part of a hugely appreciative Cheltenham audience.
Bill Kenwright’s show takes us through trombonist Glenn Miller’s stellar musical career, from his early years of struggles trying to find ‘the sound’ to his rise to fame as an arranger and composer of some of the most memorable songs of his generation.
And many of his biggest hits are paraded in this show by a superb 16-piece orchestra, including Chattanooga Choo Choo, At Last, In the Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000.
Tommy Steele is one of our great song and dance entertainers and he seems to revel in this chance to pay his own little homage to the legendary bandleader.
He is helped by an energetic and exuberant supporting cast, not least by Abigail Jaye who plays his devoted wife Helen and who has the audience enthralled by her beautiful vocal rendition of Moonlight Serenade.
But as we all know, the story ends tragically as Major Miller’s plane goes missing over the English Channel on December 15, 1944.
But this show ends on a high note with Tommy Steele coming back on stage and effectively telling the audience they’re getting an encore of the foot-stomping Sing Sing Sing.
So was it madness to cast Tommy Steele as Glenn Miller? Judging by the reaction of most of the packed audience who stood to applaud him, it was more of a masterstroke.
The Glenn Miller Story runs at the Everyman Theatre until Saturday, October 8
David Wood
Bill Kenwright’s show takes us through trombonist Glenn Miller’s stellar musical career, from his early years of struggles trying to find ‘the sound’ to his rise to fame as an arranger and composer of some of the most memorable songs of his generation.
And many of his biggest hits are paraded in this show by a superb 16-piece orchestra, including Chattanooga Choo Choo, At Last, In the Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000.
Tommy Steele is one of our great song and dance entertainers and he seems to revel in this chance to pay his own little homage to the legendary bandleader.
He is helped by an energetic and exuberant supporting cast, not least by Abigail Jaye who plays his devoted wife Helen and who has the audience enthralled by her beautiful vocal rendition of Moonlight Serenade.
But as we all know, the story ends tragically as Major Miller’s plane goes missing over the English Channel on December 15, 1944.
But this show ends on a high note with Tommy Steele coming back on stage and effectively telling the audience they’re getting an encore of the foot-stomping Sing Sing Sing.
So was it madness to cast Tommy Steele as Glenn Miller? Judging by the reaction of most of the packed audience who stood to applaud him, it was more of a masterstroke.
The Glenn Miller Story runs at the Everyman Theatre until Saturday, October 8
David Wood
