Romantics Anonymous (musical)

Romantics Anonymous is a musical with music by Michael Kooman, lyrics by Christopher Dimond and book by Emma Rice. It is based on the 2010 French-Belgian film Les Émotifs Anonymes by Jean-Pierre Améris and Philippe Blasband.[1]

Romantics Anonymous
MusicMichael Kooman
LyricsChristopher Dimond
BookEmma Rice
BasisLes Émotifs Anonymes
by Jean-Pierre Améris
Philippe Blasband
Premiere20 October 2017 (2017-10-20):
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London
Productions2017 London
2020 Bristol
2020 COVID-19 live stream

Productions

London (2017-18)

The musical premiered at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in London from 20 October 2017 running until 6 January 2018. The production was directed by Rice (who at the time was Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe), designed by Lez Brotherston and choreographed by Etta Murfitt.[2]

The production received positive reviews earning four and five stars from The Stage,[3] WhatsOnStage.com,[1] BroadwayWorld[4] and Musical Theatre Review.[5]

Bristol and COVID-19 live stream (2020)

The musical ran at the Bristol Old Vic from 18 January to 1 February 2020, produced by Emma Rice's theatre company Wise Children and Push Theatricals with Rice returning as director and Carly Bawden reprising her role as Angélique with Marc Antolin returning as Jean-René (having previously playing Ludo / Remi). Following the Bristol run, the musical was scheduled to embark on an international tour, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic all dates were cancelled including dates at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. (17 to 29 March), the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills (7 April to 17 May 2020), and Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC (21 May to 7 June).[6][7]

The musical was broadcast live from the Bristol Old Vic stage (featuring the majority of the cast from the January 2020 run) from 22 to 26 September 2020, being presented as a "digital tour", meaning that tickets were sold through partner theatres across the UK and US and each region would be available to book on a specific night. The company was tested for coronavirus before forming a bubble, meaning the show could be rehearsed and performed without social distancing.[8]

Cast and characters

Character London (2017) Bristol / COVID-19 live stream (2020)
Jean-René Dominic Marsh Marc Antolin
Angélique Carly Bawden
Father / Pierre / Receptionist Philip Cox Craig Pinder /

Philip Cox (live stream)

Salesman / Fred Joe Evans Brett Brown /

Omari Douglas (live stream)

Suzanne / Mimi Natasha Jayetileke Me'sha Bryan
Ludo / Remi Marc Antolin Harry Hepple
Magda / Brigitte / Dr Maxim Joanna Riding Sandra Marvin
Young Woman Lauren Samuels Laura Jane Matthewson
Mercier / Mumbler / Marini Gareth Snook

Critical reception

The musical received positive reviews when it opened in London with five star reviews from BroadwayWorld and Musical Theatre Review and four star reviews from WhatsOnStage.com, The Stage, Financial Times, The Independent, Time Out London, London Times and The Guardian.[9]

References

  1. "Review: Romantics Anonymous (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)". Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  2. "Romantics Anonymous / Shakespeare's Globe". www.shakespearesglobe.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  3. "Romantics Anonymous review at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London – 'an irresistible treat'". The Stage. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  4. Gilpin, Debbie. "BWW Review: ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  5. "Romantics Anonymous – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse – Shakespeare's Globe". musicaltheatrereview.com. 29 October 2017.
  6. "Wise Children Productions". WiseChildren.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  7. "Wise Children to revive Emma Rice's Romantics Anonymous". The Stage. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
  8. "Romantics Anonymous musical to be live-streamed from Bristol Old Vic stage | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  9. "Kooman & Dimond". www.koomandimond.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
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