Canterbury Tales - Musical
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[edit] Canterbury Tales West End Musical
The Canterbury Tales was originally presented at the Oxford Playhouse in 1964 and was conceived by Nevill Coghill. It was expanded into a full length musical and put on at the Phoenix Theatre, London on 21 March 1968. The music was written by Richard Hill & John Hawkins, with the lyrics by Nevill Coghill. It was considered to be very bawdy but appealed to the audiences. The Lord Chamberlain's censorship of the theatre had just ended, so it did not experience any censorship. The Musical took five tales from the Canterbury Tales and told them with song & humour. These were; The Miller's Tale; The Priest Tale; The Steward's Tale; The Merchant's Tale; & The Wife of Bath's Tale. In addition, Chaucer's Prologue & Epilogue were spoken. The London production played for 2080 performances. The Broadway version in 1969, only managed 121 performances due to the difference between the humour of Britain & the USA.
[edit] Original Cast
- Chaucer - Martin Starkie
- The Host - Michael Logan
- The Miller - Kenneth Warren
- Nicholas, Damian & The Young Squire - Nicky Henson
- Absolon, The Clerk of Oxford, & The Young Knight - Billy Boyle
- Alison & May - Gay Soper
- The Old Man, The Steward, Chanticleer & Old January - Wilfred Brambell
- The Priest - Daniel Thorndike
- Pertelote & the Prioress- Pamala Charles
- The Wife of Bath - Jessie Evans
- Fox - John Rutland
[edit] Songs - a selection
- Canterbury Day
- When I was a Boy
- I have a Noble Cock
- Fill your Glasses
- Come Marry Me Honey
- Chanticleer & Pertelote's Duet & Trio (with Fox)
- If she has Never Loved Before
- What do Women Most Desire
- Love will Conquer All
- I have a
[edit] References
- "Guinness Who's Who of Stage Musicals" - Colin Larkin [ed] - ISBN 0-85112-756-8
- Original Cast CD notes
- Phoenix Theatre Program
