Stephen Ward ( eng. Stephen Ward ) - the musical, which premiered in 2013 at the Aldwich Theater , West End , London. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber , libretto and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton based on the latter’s book on a political scandal in the UK in the early 1960s, known as the Profumo Case . The main roles in the production were performed by: Stephen Ward - Alexander Hanson , Christine Keeler - Charlotte Spencer , John Profomeau - Daniel Flynn, Evgeny Ivanov - Ian Conningham.
| Stephen Ward | |
|---|---|
| Stephen ward | |
| Music | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| The words | Don black Christopher Hampton |
| Libretto | Don black Christopher Hampton |
| Based on | Christopher Hampton |
| Tongue | |
| Productions | |
| 2013 West End | |
Content
Making the musical
For the first time, the intention to create a show based on the Profumo case, Lloyd Webber, was reported in an interview in February 2012 [1] . The first preview of the musical performed by the authors was held in London in early 2013 for a limited circle of actors and theatrical producers [2] . Already in March, a public demonstration of the song took place - the main musical theme of the future performance. This track was later released on digital media as a separate edition. The premiere took place in December 2013 at the Aldwich Theater. The authors stated that the cost of its creation exceeded 2.5 million pounds . Regarding the cost of other productions in the West End, this amount is not significant [3] .
Story
The main storyline of the musical is a segment of the life of 1961-1963 of the popular and sought - after osteopath , artist, gentleman from high society in London Stephen Ward, a friend of film stars and politicians. At a nightclub in the West End, he meets a young beautiful dancer Christine Keeler. A little later, he presents it to the Minister of War of Great Britain, millionaire John Profumo. Despite being married, Profumo enters into an intimate relationship with Christine. However, it soon becomes clear that she is at the same time close to the USSR naval attache, Yevgeny Ivanov, and probably shares with him all the information received from the Minister of War. Profumo is forced to resign. Ward was charged with pimping . In 1963, in a prison cell, before the pronouncement of the sentence, he committed suicide by taking a large dose of sleeping pills.
In the interpretation of the authors of the musical, Ward became a man whom the high society condemned to the role of a scapegoat, covering his own vices. Andrew Lloyd Webber said in an interview: “We do not pass a sentence, but we make it clear that we were treated very low. Some are convinced that this case is one of the greatest judicial errors ” [4] .
Critic reviews
Even before the premiere, Andrew Lloyd Webber said that he was pleased with the work done. Moreover, he called it terrific, especially against the background of recent failures: “I have not had a hit for 20 years. During this time I wrote six musicals and accepted the fact that everything that I do probably nobody likes ” [3] .
However, many theater critics have called the performance the biggest and final failure of the composer, who since his last triumph 20 years ago “has accumulated not only billions of pounds sterling, but also large stocks of arrogance” [5] . Several publications at once cite the conclusion of The Telegraph columnist: “There are several memorable numbers in the production, but there is no memorable hero” [5] [6] . The musical left the stage in March 2014.
Notes
- ↑ Andrew Lloyd Webber working on Profumo musical (English) . The Guardian (02/27/2012). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.
- ↑ Walker, T. Andrew Lloyd Webber presents Profumo scandal, the West End musical (Eng.) . The Telegraph (01/17/2013). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.
- 2 1 2 Philipson, A. Andrew Lloyd Webber: I can't afford it . The Telegraph (12/20/2013). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.
- ↑ Badov, A. Lloyd-Webber wrote a new musical based on the Cold War spy scandal . TASS (10/01/2013). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.
- ↑ 1 2 Beletsky M. In London, the musical "Stephen Ward" is closed, this is the largest failure of Andrew Lloyd Webber . Culture VRN, the journal (02.26.2014). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.
- ↑ Semibratov, D. Spectators boycotted the Lloyd Webber musical about the Soviet spy . Komsomolskaya Pravda (03/04/2014). The appeal date is March 18, 2017.