| The Fields of Ambrosia | |
|---|---|
| Music | Martin Silvestri |
| Lyrics | Joel Higgins |
| Book | Joel Higgins |
| Basis | The Traveling Executioner |
The Fields of Ambrosia is a musical written by Joel Higgins and Martin Silvestri. It was performed in notable theatres such as the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick in 1993 and it was directed by Gregory Hurst, choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, staged by Gregory Hurst, and set design by Deborah Jasien. The cast included Christine Andreas as Gretchen Herzallerliebst, Higgins as Jonas Candide, Peter Samuel as Warden Brodsky, and Eddie Korbich as the mortician.
The 1996 production premiered at the Aldwych Theatre in London and was directed by Hurst again, with Mark Warman as musical director and a cast that included Andreas as Gretchen Herzallerliebst, Higgins as Jonas Candide, Michael Fenton Stevens as Doc, Mark Heenehan as Malcolm Piquant, Marc Joseph as Jimmy Crawford, and Roger Leach as Warden Brodsky. [1][2]Unfortunately, British critics and audiences were not ready[3] for a show about such grisly subject matter and the show closed after only 23 performances.[4]
Based on the 1970 film The Traveling Executioner, The Fields of Ambrosia is a black comedy and contains violence, sex, romance and sentiment.[5] It takes place in a deep rural town in the South in 1918.[6]
1996 Original Cast Recording
Mike Gibb of Show Music said, "The score, courtesy of Martin Silvestri and Joel Higgins, is a joy, from the melodic and powerful titletrack through quality production numbers like 'Nuthin and 'Step Right Up' and that is without mentioning two of the most glorious duets you are likely to encounter in the form of 'Too Bad' and 'Continental Sunday'"[7]
Paul Taylor of The Independent described "a reprehensibly enjoyable new musical", saying "Often very funny in its own right, the show has a number of moments where it seems to be tone deaf to its own ridiculousness."[8]