London’s
West End has always staged a lively selection of musicals, and in recent years
the genre has been given a further lease of life by the popularity of shows
featuring the work of a single artiste or band. There is still plenty of room
for the likes of Billy Elliot, Cats and Les Miserables, along with revived classics such as High Society, Guys and Dolls and Gypsy,
but the shows that are really wowing audiences are what are being coined as ‘Jukebox Musicals’.
Extending The Run of American Idiot Underlines the Importance of Musicals
The
latest West End success to get the audience dancing in their seats is American
Idiot, showing at the Arts Theatre. This
lively, enigmatic show is based around the Green Day album of the same name
which was released in 2004. The central themes of urban disaffection, drugs and
friendship underpin the plot, but it is ultimately the power of the music that
shines through and makes this show such a hit. Although Green Day may not
necessarily reflect the tastes of the average British theatre-goer, the success
of the run highlights the fact that there’s plenty of room for everyone in a
West End audience.
The
success of the Abba showcase ‘Mama Mia!’
and ‘Jersey Boys’, which tells the
story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, underlines what can be achieved
with a set list of exceptional songs and a cast capable of bringing them to
life. The inherent feel-good factor of shows that tell a story through a
montage of hit records resonates with audiences who can connect with music that
is already familiar in an entirely new way.
In this way, Jukebox Musicals provide an escape to a bygone world and in
the case of Mamma Mia! we get the
chance to savour some classic Abba songs against the backdrop of a beautiful
Greek island. What’s not to like?
Of
course, this type of show is nothing new - The
Buddy Holly Story was a mainstay of the West End throughout the 1990s – but
their recent success has catapulted the genre to the forefront of the box
office. A simple look at the current London listings reveals ever more examples
of the Jukebox Musical, including Beautiful
– The Carole King Musical, Let It Be, based on some of the best
Beatles offerings and Sunny Afternoon,
which features the music of The Kinks. While nostalgia may be one of the main
draws of such shows, they also highlight the fact that for many people you just
can’t beat live music.
There
would have been a time when it was difficult to imagine an entire show based on
the songs of a single act, but in truth any singer or band with a sufficiently
large back catalogue could be the feature of a West End show. Many of the more recent
pop chart success stories could be translated to a live theatre show, including
perhaps the likes of Amy Winehouse, Rihanna and Beyoncé. It’s not too difficult to picture a show
based on the in-fighting, controversy and showmanship of Oasis, if only because
at the heart of the performance will be some of the most memorable rock songs
of the past two decades.
Long
live nostalgia!
Footnote:
The arts in all forms continue to thrive in London, and it’s
often made possible only with the support and patronage of many groups, organisations
and private individuals who share their passions in the most practical of
ways. Organisations such as The Tate Foundation, which
include figures such as Sir John Ritblat, Lady Ritblat, Sasan Ghandehari and John
Porter, ensure that the capital will remain a center of artistic excellence for
generations to come.
