| Love Story | |
|---|---|
West End Artwork |
|
| Music | Howard Goodall |
| Lyrics | Stephen Clark/Howard Goodall |
| Book | Stephen Clark |
| Basis |
1970 film Love Story |
| Productions | 2010 Chichester Festival Theatre 2010 West End |
Love Story is a musical written by Stephen Clark with music by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Stephen Clark and Goodall. It is inspired by Erich Segal’s best-selling novel of the same name.[1] Love Story transferred to the Duchess Theatre in the West End in December 2010 following a critically acclaimed sell-out season at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
Contents |
At Jenny's funeral, her family and friends flashback ("What can you say about a girl?") about her life.
Oliver is a rich young man who meets a spirited young woman, Jenny. She is poor and of Italian heritage, but has attended Radcliffe College and plays the piano. They fall in love and marry, against his family's wishes. Oliver, disinherited, attends law school, while Jenny works to support them. However, she contracts a fatal illness, leukemia, and dies.
Love Story had its world premiere at the Chichester Festival Theatre, where it ran at the Minerva Theatre from 29 May 2010 until 26 June 2010. The cast featured Emma Williams as Jenny, Michael Xavier as Oliver Barratt IV and Peter Polycarpou as Phil.[2][3]
Love Story transferred to the Duchess Theatre in the West End, officially opening on 6 December 2010 following previews from 27 November. It plays a limited 10 week engagement which will end 26 February 2011. Michael Ball makes his producing debut in a co-production alongside Adam Spiegel and Stephen Waley-Cohen.[4] Directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, the set and costume designer is Peter McKintosh, lighting designer is Howard Harrison, and musical staging is by Lizzi Gee.[5][6] The musical runs without intermission, and the music is played by an on-stage pianist and a septet of strings.[7]
A cast recording is available, released by Faber Music.
The reviewer of the Chichester Festival Theatre production wrote in indielondon.co.uk: "Stephen Clark has adapted the story into a succession of short scenes which, under Rachel Kavanaugh’s adept direction, follow on cohesively and coherently resulting in a believable and very poignant evening. Howard Goodall’s songs are integral to the action and they are beautifully performed by the principals and a chorus comprising of [sic] the rest of the cast...the two principals, Oliver (Michael Xavier) and Jenny (Emma Williams)...give superb and utterly sincere performances." [8]
In its review roundup of the musical at the Chichester Festival Theatre, theatremania.com noted the reviews "praising Goodall's score, Kavanaugh's staging and the central performances from Xavier and Williams."[9]
'Love Story is a delightful, five-star boutique musical, artistically innovative, simple and beautiful' - Daily Mail
'You'll fall head over heels for Love Story' - Mail On Sunday
'Howard Goodall's new musical is a cause for celebration. A finely wrought mood piece that pulses with sensitivity the gorgeous was of Goodall's magnificent melodies' - Sunday Express
Chichester Festival Theatre production review: "Howard Goodall and Stephen Clark have created a terrific new musical...The show finished to a chorus of heavy sniffles, superseded by hearty applause, which I take to mean a West End transfer should be given".[10]
| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Nominated | [11] | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Michael Xavier | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Emma Williams | Nominated | |||