A Spoonful of Sherman - Review

Live at Zedel, London



****

Daniel Boys and Helena Blackman

It’s a surefire treat after a hard day of toil or tourism, to slip into the comfort of an collection of songs from the Sherman dynasty. In a show last seen at what is now The Other Palace, Robert J. Sherman (Robbie)  4th generation tunesmith and son/nephew of the legendary Sherman Brothers (Richard M. and Robert B.) has brought his carefully curated compilation across London for a two week residence in the Art Deco charm of the Crazy Coqs’, Live at Zedel.

The gig is badged as The Songbook Of Your Childhood – and the description is spot on. Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book, two of Walt Disney’s biggest hits of the 1960s were scored by the Sherman Brothers and if one then throws in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from James Bond’s Ian Fleming, the place of the pair in songwriting’s pantheon is assured.

50 songs are referenced in a 90 minute whirl as  Sherman offers fascinating glimpses of narrative into the lives of his antecedents. That the set list also includes such pop hits as You’re Sixteen and Let’s Get Together only evidences the breadth of the Sherman Brothers’ careers.

As one would expect, performers Helena Blackman and Daniel Boys bring a crisp technical skill to the numbers, with glimpses of the songs’ original magic occasionally shining through. Boys positively relishes every moment of Wind’s In The East, giving a passionate enthusiasm to his performance that would more than match any of the stage Berts that have preceded him. Christopher Hamilton accompanies the pair on the piano, with a turn that spills into a celebration of irreverent excellence, including a stunning take on The Ugly Bug Ball.

Robbie’s recent offering of Bumblescratch makes up a pleasing portion of the second half, but for all the family’s multi-generational talent, this show lives and breathes the genius of the Sherman Brothers. Love, laughter and history – it’s all here in a charming evening’s entertainment.

Runs until 20th August

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Review

New Wimbledon Theatre, London


****


Written by Ian Fleming
Music & lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Directed by James Brining

Lee Mead and Carrie Hope Fletcher

There's an aura of timeless quality that pervades the touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, currently in its second week at Wimbledon. Ian Fleming's wonderfully imaginative tale, so quintessentially English, married to the universal appeal of the Sherman Brothers' songs has made for a 20th century fairy tale that ranks alongside the classics.

Notwithstanding it being a warm July evening, the New Wimbledon theatre was filled by a generation-straddling audience. And in a production that makes intelligent use of projected graphics, there's a wholesome accessibility to the tour that makes it both affordable and reachable across the country - a pleasing contrast to the eye-watering ticket prices of so many West End shows.

The current cast are a delight. Lee Mead is the handsome widowered single dad - getting by with his crackpot inventions and instilling in his kids a decent sense of right and wrong and above all a belief in the power of imagination - and in that way, much like Peter Pan, a good production of Chitty (and this is a very good production) can speak to the child in all of us. Mead has his faithful following, but his take on Caractacus Potts' signature melodies (Hushabye Mountain, poignantly enhanced by the appearance of his late wife) is powerful and assured.

Opposite Mead, Carrie Hope Fletcher is Truly Scrumptious and who in a real life tale of theatrical romance was herself the young Jemima Potts when the stage show first opened at the London Palladium. As ever, Fletcher brings an ethereal charm to the role. Exquisite vocals - and what a delight to see the movie's Lovely Lonely Man, a song dropped from the stage show until now, restored (albeit now set in the Toymaker's workshop) to the libretto. And of course her doll impersonation with immaculate robotics and enchanting lyrics in Doll On A Music Box is as faultless as one might expect.

Stephen Mear's choreography gorgeously enhances the piece, with his work on the larger routines (The Bombie Samba and some fun tap work in Me Ol' Bamboo particularly excellent) being perfectly drilled visual treats. But it is his styling of (Matt Gillett as) the Childcatcher's entrapment of the Potts kids, that so evokes Robert Helpmann's terrifying cameo in the movie, and further defines Mear's remarkable calibre.

The supporting cast add just enough pantomime to the mix. Andy Hockley is a convincing Grandpa Potts and there's some well performed comic bungling from Sam Harrison and Scott Paige as Boris and Goran the Vulgarian spies. And it's an Albert Square dream team that currently pairs Shaun Wlliamson opposite Michelle Collins (both comic and talented actors par excellence) as the Baron and Baroness Bombast. And when one recalls that Chitty was written long before Britain joined the EEC (the EU's precursor) - there's almost a hint of wise prescience in Fleming's writing: Bombast for Juncker? Stranger things....

But as a familiar, family escape from some ghastly world affairs there's truly nothing better than this show. Down in the pit Andrew Hilton's orchestra make fine work of the Shermans' ditties, whilst onstage (and to use the vernacular) that iconic, fantasmagorical car - and yes, it really does fly - will have the kids wide-eyed in awe. The spontaneous standing ovation at the curtain call spoke volumes. Just go!

At Wimbledon until 30th July, then continuing on tour

A Spoonful Of Sherman - CD Review

*****

Just released on CD, A Spoonful of Sherman is a delightful recording that preserves one of the most sparkling revues of recent years. Staged at the St James Theatre in 2014, the show captured the songwriting genius of Richard and Robert Sherman. I reviewed it then (here) and an extract of my review, now to be found quoted on Wikipedia reads “It is a wonder that this charming show has not been staged before. Amidst all of Broadway’s giant songwriting partnerships, none reaches out to the child within us quite like the legacy of the Sherman Brothers. Cleverly crafted songs that speak of hope against adversity, written in verses that talk to every age.” Listening to the CD now, those words ring ever true.

The two disc compilation not only includes the show’s music, but also Robert Sherman’s son Robbie’s commentary that affords a remarkable insight into the lives of his father, uncle and grandfather. Aside from Disney classics that included The Jungle Book and Mary Poppins, the Sherman brothers penned soundtracks for other studios’ movies such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Slipper And The Rose. Few other movie scoring partnerships have matched their prodigious output.

Robbie Sherman conceived the show with musical director Colin Billing – and it is Billing who accompanies on piano throughout – assembling a lineup of some of the UKs finest musical theatre performers. Leading ladies Emma Williams and Charlotte Wakefield sing with Stuart Matthew Price and Greg Castiglioni, with solos and close harmonies that make an exquisite collection.  

As expected there are lavish nods to the Shermans' most famous works. Williams’ Feed The Birds and her later duet with Price in Doll On A Music Box / Truly Scrumptious capturing the magic of the originals and imbuing them with a contemporary poignancy. The CD brims with moments of wistful reflection for those of us old enough to have had these songs as the soundtrack to our childhood.

Castiglioni contributes a noble Bert from Mary Poppins with Step In Time, whilst his Ugly Bug Ball is a comic treat. Mention too to Price’s Poppins number – A Man Has Dreams – another gem. Wakefield leaves her mark of youthful excellence on the show’s title number, whilst also reminding us of quite what a gem The Jungle Book’s My Own Home truly was. 

Not just about the big movie numbers, there is a nod to the Sherman Brothers’ oft forgotten contribution to Tin Pan Alley that includes Price’s take on the 60’s classic You’re Sixteen along with Tall Paul.  

Robbie Sherman has inhertited the family’s musical genes and the album also includes a couple of numbers from his own work Bumblescratch – but it is in his appreciative commentaries on his forebears that so much is revealed. Robert Sherman was amongst the US troops that liberated Dachau and thus bore witness to  the depths of man’s inhumanity. In the post-war years and as the Cold War prevailed, this knowledge gives an added depth to the purest sense of human optimism that underscores the brothers’ There’s A Great Big Beautifiul Tomorrow and the timeless (and to be fair, often infuriating!) simplicity of It’s A Small World (After All).

Offering so much more than just a collection of beautifully performed songs, this is a lovingly crafted tribute to a pair of the 20th century’s cultural giants. A gorgeous CD and not just for lovers of musical film and theatre, A Spoonful Of Sherman appeals to the child in us all.


Available to purchase at:
http://www.simgproductions.com/Records/A_Spoonful_of_Sherman.html 

A Spoonful Of Sherman

St James's Theatre, London

****

The Sherman Brothers

It was with good reason that Walt Disney labelled Robert B. Sherman “The Poet”. Together with his brother Richard, Sherman was to pen Oscar winning scores for Disney movies during the studio’s golden era of animation in the 1960’s and 70’s, before then going on to create the songs for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. That both Disney’s Mary Poppins and Chitty were to be given fresh interpretations as spectacular West End and Broadway shows, only served to see the brothers’ talents span the centuries and it is a wonder that this charming show has not been staged before.

No other songwriting partnership has created so many numbers that have become fused into our psyche. Amidst a sold-out St James Studio, every member of the audience would have either sung the Shermans’ songs as children, or sung them to their own kids (or grand-children). The hard-wired familiarity created by songs such as Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a value in Western culture that is priceless.

Iconic songs demand performers of confident stature and Robert J. Sherman (the son of Robert senior) who compered the evening had assembled a cast that represented the finest of Britain’s young but accomplished musical theatre performers.

Stuart Matthew Price was as assuredly excellent as ever. Singing the little known Music Of The Spheres,written by Robert J, his tone was sublime and during his take on Hushabye Mountain from Chitty, tears were flowing in the audience. Charlotte Wakefield is another gifted actress who only last summer presented her credentials as a governess with an acclaimed Maria in The Sound Of Music. Tonight, with her performance of A Spoonful Of Sugar, one can confidently say that the position in the Banks’ household is hers. It was an enchanting cover of Julie Andrews' legendary performance and when Wakefield later sung My Own Home from The Jungle Book, the crystal clarity of her gorgeous performance could almost have suggested that the movie had been digitally re-mastered.

Emma Williams, who had created the role of Chitty’s Truly Scrumptious on stage, lived up to that character’s reputation for perfection. Amongst her first half highlights, Feed The Birds from Mary Poppins was to prove another moment of tear-streaming delicacy, whilst her Chitty contributions were as fresh as when first performed at the Palladium some 12 years ago. 

Greg Castiglioni provided the final voice to the quartet, an accomplished performer whose acting through song was a treat throughout the evening. Allocated perhaps more than his fair share of comic animal-songs, his Ugly Bug Ball was a blast, whilst one of the funniest Disney songs ever, I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book, was sung brilliantly notwithstanding the almost show-stealing simian accompaniment from Stuart Matthew Price’s gorilla-esque whooping and chimp-like chatter. (Should the singing work ever dry up, Price would make an excellent Johnny Morris.)

Accompanying all, Colin Billing’s piano work was outstanding often suggesting the low-keyed elegance of a cocktail bar, whilst ramping up the tempo when required. Robert J. Sherman’s narrative through the evening was not only undoubtedly authentic, but also sincerely presented and if he stumbled occasionally, the atmosphere of the room was nothing less than warm and forgiving. 

With a second act that could be slightly trimmed and an encore that’s simply a treat (no spoilers here) the show is a glorious tribute to some of the USA’s finest songs of the last century. Amidst all of Broadway’s giant songwriting partnerships, none reaches out to the child within us quite like the legacy of the Sherman brothers. Cleverly crafted songs that speak of hope against adversity, written in verses that talk to every age. This show deserves to tour and when it comes to your town, don’t miss it!