Off Broadway to May Fair
From the Martinique Theatre off-Broadway, “All in
Love,” a musical based on “The Rivals,” has come to the May Fair
with Annie Ross heading an English company and the direction by
Douglas Squires. Only the other week one found Miss Ross out of her
element in a pub concert type of variety show, and in “All in
Love”, as Lucy she is also in a world distinctly not her own. Miss Ross is not in the wrong, it is the fault of the
show and what it has to offer her. I
can
imagine her playing Lucy in a production of the great
comedy itself, and in a musical version with good songs, wit
that sparkled and production or origin and charm. I can see her shining bright as any star. In "All in
Love" she has some scrappy numbers, of which she
makes the best, and a few scenes that give her small scope.
“All in Love” is
brash, blustering and
thoroughly inept, and
kills the glorious comedy of
the play. Surprise, the effect of situation and a comic sense of
character relationship and idiosyncrasy are all badly managed.
There are barnstorming
performances by Gwen Nelson as Mrs. Malaprop, Peter Pratt as Sir
Anthony Absolute and Peter Gilmore as O’Trigger, while Mary Millar
is a charming, amusing Lydia.
R.M.B.
CAST
“ALL IN LOVE”
Musical based on
Sheridan’s “The Rivals”, with music by Jacques Urbont and book and lyrics by
Bruce Gellner. Presented by Edward J. and Harry Danziger at the May
Fair on March 16. Scenery and costumes by Alan Barrestt; lightning by
John Corne; musical director, Anthony Bowles; stage manager, Peter
Bentley. Production supervised by Brian Taylor, produced by the
Danzigers.
|
Lucy |
..................................... |
Annie
Ross |
|
Lady
Holdfast |
..................................... |
Margo
Cunningham |
|
Miss
Holdfast |
..................................... |
Rita
Cameron |
|
Lady
Standpat |
..................................... |
Joyanne
Delancey |
|
Lady
Backstep |
..................................... |
Clarc
Welch |
|
Sir
Thomas Standpat |
..................................... |
Thomas
Walling |
|
Sir
Roger Backstep |
..................................... |
Charles
O'Byrne |
|
Sir
William Holdfast |
..................................... |
John
Moore |
|
Sir
Percival Crumble |
..................................... |
David
Sinclair |
|
Sir
Anthony Absolute |
..................................... |
Peter
Pratt |
|
Mrs.
Malaprop |
..................................... |
Gwen
Nelson |
|
Lydia
Languish |
..................................... |
Mary
Millar |
|
Sir
Lucius O'Trigger |
..................................... |
Peter Gilmore |
|
Captain
Jack Absolute |
..................................... |
James
Fox |
|
Fag |
..................................... |
Alan
Dudley |
|
Bob
Acres |
..................................... |
Ronnie
Barker |
|
Dancing
Mistress |
..................................... |
Pauline
Innes |
|
Fencing
Master |
..................................... |
John
Muirhead |
Directed by Douglas Squires
© The Stage, 19 March 1964
It is hard to understand how All in Love came to be
chosen as successor to the brilliant production Pirandello's Six Characters
in Search of an Author, which made such a fine opening to the May Fair
Theatre.
Based on The Rivals, with rather ungainly book and lyrics
by Bruce Gellner, and nondescript music by Jacques Urbont, this new musical
serves as nothing more than a tempting reminder of Sheridan's delightful
comedy. The strong cast, which includes Ronnie Barker, James Fox, Peter Gilmore,
Mary Millar, Gwen Nelson, Peter Pratt and Annie Ross, made a concerted effort to
bring sparkle to the proceedings.
A.C.
© Theatre World, April 1964
The Sunday Times simply said: "At the May Fair All in Love,
a music version of The Rivals, has not been well received."
© The Sunday Times, 22 March 1964
There were only 22 performances of this production of All in Love!
Musicals
Theatre
Copyright DiMar