The Likes Of Us: Live From The Sydmonton Festival (2005)

Earlier I had written a post about "The Musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber" but now I'm going to go deeper, exploring all of the musicals individually, from 1965's "The Likes of Us" (Wait, what? Bear with me) right up to the present day "Cinderella". Or "Bad Cinderella" as it's being called for its 2023 Broadway opening at the Imperial Theatre.

Who is Andrew Lloyd Webber? In case you didn't know: he was born Andrew Lloyd Webber on 22 March 1948 in Kensington, London to composer and teacher William Lloyd Webber and music teacher Jean Lloyd Webber. His younger brother is also a famed musician, the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber who also played on Andrew's 1978 LP "Variations".

He has composed: The Likes of Us (1965, unproduced in any form until 2005), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat (1968, extended in 1973), Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You (produced only once in 1969), Jesus Christ Superstar (1970, produced onstage in 1971), Jacob's Journey (a short-lived opening piece for the 1973 London production of Joseph), Jeeves (1975, reworked as By Jeeves in 1996), Evita (1976, produced onstage in 1978), Variations (1978), Tell me on a Sunday (1980), both of which were combined for the stage production Song & Dance (1982), Cats (1981), Starlight Express (1984), Requiem (1985), The Phantom of the Opera (1986), Cricket (composed for Queen Elizabeth's 60th Birthday in 1986), Aspects of Love (1989), Sunset Boulevard (1993), Whistle down the Wind (1996), The Beautiful Game (2000), The Woman in White (2004), Love Never Dies (2010), The Wizard of Oz (additional songs with lyricist Tim Rice for Andrew's 2011 production), Stephen Ward (2013), School of Rock (2015) and most recently Cinderella (2021, reworked as Bad Cinderella opening 2023).

Andrew has also composed the film scores: Gumshoe (1971) and The Odessa File (1974). Several of his musicals have been adapted for film: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Evita (1996), The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and Cats (2019). In the late 1990s, several of his musicals were filmed for home entertainment through Andrew’s Really Useful Group: Cats (1998), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat (1999), Jesus Christ Superstar (2000) and By Jeeves (2001). The Melbourne production of Love Never Dies, a continuation of The Phantom of the Opera, was filmed for release in 2011.

Founded in 1977, Andrew's own company the Really Useful Group has staged productions of all of his musicals, as well as others including: Daisy pulls it off (1983), The Hired Man (1984), Lend me a Tenor (1986), La Bête (1991), Bombay Dreams (2002), The Sound of Music (2006) and more.

In 1992, Andrew became Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. In 1997 he was made Lord Lloyd-Webber of Sydmonton. His awards include: six Tony Awards, three Grammys including the Grammy Legend Award, an Academy Award, 14 Ivor Novello Awards, seven Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe, a Brit Award, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, and the Classic Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2008, and an Emmy. Thank you, Lord Wikipedia for that refresher. Andrew is also one of seventeen people to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, making him an E.G.O.T. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, and became a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. *Thank* you, Lord Wiki!

He has worked with lyricists and playwrights: Tim Rice, Leslie Thomas, Alan Ayckbourn, variations on a theme by Niccolo Paganini, Don Black, T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe, Richard Maltby, Jr., Mike Batt, Charles Hart, Christopher Hampton, Jim Steinman, Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards, Ben Elton, Jackie Clune, David Zippel, Charlotte Jones, Glenn Slater, Frederick Forsyth, Jeremy Sams, Julian Fellowes, Emerald Fennell and more.

Some of his directors include: Frank Dunlop and Steven Pimlott, Tom O'Horgan and Jim Sharman, Alan Ayckbourn, Harold Prince, Trevor Nunn, John Caird, Gale Edwards, Robert Carsen, Jack O'Brien, Simon Phillips, Jeremy Sams, Richard Eyre, Laurence Connor, and again more. His movie directors: Stephen Frears, Norman Jewison, Ronald Neame, Alan Parker, Joel Schumacher and Tom Hooper.

Just some of the talent to have performed his music: Gary Bond, Laurie Beechman, Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Murray Head, Ian Gillan, Yvonne Elliman, Ted Neeley, David Hemmings, Julie Covington, Colm Wilkinson, Paul Jones, Elaine Paige, David Essex, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, Marti Webb, Bernadette Peters, Brian Blessed, John Gielgud, Sarah Brightman, Ray Shell, Stephanie Lawrence, Placido Domingo, Michael Crawford, Steve Barton, Ann Crumb, Michael Ball, Kevin Colson, Kevin Anderson, Glenn Close, Alan Campbell, George Hearn, Davis Gaines, Irene Molloy, Marcus Lovett, Lottie Mayor, Hannah Waddingham, Maria Friedman, Martin Crewes, Adam Brazier, Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Ben Lewis, Anne O'Byrne, Danielle Hope, Alexander Hanson, Alex Brightman, Carrie Hope Fletcher and oh so many more. A night of a thousand stars!

Not to mention his company LW Theatres runs six theatres in London's West End: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The London Palladium, The Cambridge Theatre, The Adelphi Theatre, The Gillian Lynne Theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre London.

Really, I could go on...

Once upon a time however, there was a young musician who lived in a flat in South Kensington with his family and their cats, who was meeting up with a young writer named Tim Rice who had wanted to write a book about pop music. The two gentlemen were working together on a musical about the life of Doctor Thomas Barnardo, the philanthropist from nineteenth century London who founded the Barnardo's homes for homeless children, still very much in operation today.

Tim and Andrew had been brought together by a mutual friend, publisher Desmond Elliot of Arlington Books. "The Likes of Us" the name of their new musical was going to be a traditional book musical (that is, with songs and spoken dialogue) in the vein of "Oliver!" The book writer was Leslie Thomas who had written novels like "The Virgin Soldiers", "Orange Wednesday", "The Love Beach", "Come to the War" and more. Andrew reveals in his autobiography "Unmasked" that while they were waiting for Leslie's book to be written, he and Tim decided to start work on the score.

There were high hopes for "The Likes of Us", including a professional run on the West End, but in the end no production was forthcoming. Nor was the score ever completed, and according to Andrew, the book they *did* receive didn't mesh with the songs they’d already written. A full demo was recorded, I believe sometime around 1965 or 66, but "The Likes of Us" would not be mounted in any form for another forty years!

This performance featured a new narration written by Tim Rice, I believe, and performed by Stephen Fry. It was done at Andrew's annual Sydmonton Festival, where he has previewed many of his works from the original studio album of "Evita" to "Love Never Dies". This performance, captured with full cast and lush complete orchestrations, was released on Really Useful Records in 2005. The narration and the music follow the journey of Doctor Barnardo in Victorian London as he establishes a home for destitute children.

To date, this is the only recording of the musical available, which can be performed by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. Let's have a look at the score then. This is also going to be a little game, because if you're not familiar with Andrew’s back catalogue, some of this music has been recycled into his later musicals.

Before we start, the CD includes orchestrations by David Cullen and Chris Walker, conceived by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The performance I believe is directed by Christopher Luscombe. Adam Brazier and Sally Ann Triplett play our romantic leads, Dr Barnardo and Syrie, with Ian Sharp and Nancy Sullivan as Johnny Farthingay and his girlfriend Jenny, Hannah Waddingham as Rose, Stephen Fry performing Tim's narration, and Tim himself in the cameo role of the Auctioneer. They are supported by a lively and vivacious chorus. Just revel in their work here!

CD 1: "Introduction"---we begin with Stephen Fry's amusing narration. The whole performance is punctuated with these little moments and as a fan of Tim's writing and wit, it definitely adds to the liveliness of the proceedings.

"Overture"---the audience is treated to a lavish, fully orchestrated "Overture". I almost wish the 1965 Andrew Lloyd Webber could have this, but I say almost because then he might not have written "Joseph" or "Jesus Christ Superstar". As far as those musicals are concerned, this seems to have more in common with "Oliver!"

"Twice in Love Every Day"---bear in mind that this is the first song from the first Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in chronological order. That makes this offering incredibly hilarious. It's sung by Rose played by Hannah Waddingham who you might recognize as Septa Unella from "Game of Thrones" (the one who shouts "Shame!" at Cersei Lannister!).

"I'm a Very Busy Man"---next we meet Adam Brazier's Thomas Barnardo, a bold and soaring performance that continues for the rest of the evening. Some of this music becomes "I Hope you like it here" in Andrew's "The Woman in White".

"Love Is Here"---Johnny Farthingay and Jenny sing their cosy little love song, which becomes "Travel Hopefully", one of the musical highlights from Andrew's "By Jeeves" musical.

"Strange and Lovely Song"---this is the first of about three soaring solos from Barnardo. I believe it was also performed by the vocal quartet Cantabile which doesn't surprise me. Why wouldn't you want to resurrect this song?

"The Likes of Us"---if you're a "Variations" fan, then you would recognize one of the highpoints of that recording: "Variation 18". This was a new piece that Andrew had composed, or recycled from the music for "The Likes of Us". Here, you get to hear it with its original lyrics. It's sung by the homeless kids on the rooftops of London, quite stirring.

"How am I to know?"---this is the second of Barnardo's solos, and probably the one I least remember of the three.

"We'll Get Him"---a lively piece from Rose and the Chorus, as they start arcing up about Barnardo's plans. If you're familiar with "Joseph", this music gets quoted in the scene with the Ishmaelites.

"This is my Time"---apparently Tim completed this lyric 39 years after it was originally due. It's a song for Syrie which is pretty nice enough. Not one I really remember offhand though.

"Lion Hearted Land"---a chorus for the Prime Minister and his cabinet, which has some pretty amusing lyrics!

"We'll Get Him (Reprise)"---not much different to the original song, really.

"Love Is Here (Reprise)"---here we have a downbeat reprise of the earlier song and it's quite nice really. I suppose this version of the music wouldn't have worked in "By Jeeves".

"A Man on his Own"---this is not only my favourite moment from "The Likes of Us", but one of my favourite moments from Andrew and musical theatre in general. If you're going to hear one song from this score, then this is the one.

CD 2: "Entr'acte"---similar to the Act 1 "Overture", we are treated to this delightful, lavish medley of musical themes. I enjoy every precious minute with this orchestra and I think young Lloyd Webber would have been so thrilled.

"You can never make it alone"---Syrie leads the children with this song. The music I can imagine hearing in something like "Joseph" or "By Jeeves".

"Hold a March"---now Rose leads the crowds with this rousing number. My favourite part is the key change!

"Will This Last Forever?"---Barnardo and Syrie now have this pleasant Act 2 duet. It's a beautiful little piece actually. The music will become "If this is what we're fighting for" from "The Beautiful Game" where most of it was sung A Cappella.

"You Won't Care About Him Anymore"---Syrie consoles Jenny over her breakup with Johnny, with this charming little number. The music became "I Don't Think I'm Wanted Back at Home" in the short-lived "Jacob's Journey", which was briefly used in some productions of "Joseph". It ultimately became the opening song from the Broadway version of "By Jeeves". That song was Bertie Wooster's "Never Fear".

"Going, Going, Gone"---in a significant evening, this is an incredibly significant performance, because Tim Rice's Auctioneer is premiering the first song Tim and Andrew ever wrote together. Perhaps the listener can sense the excitement Andrew must have felt when he first heard rhymes like: "Here I have a lovely parrot/Sound in wind and limb/I can guarantee that there is nothing wrong with him!"

"Man of the World"---several of the cockney children have a sweet little number. I can imagine the music being reused in another Andrew score, only it never was.

"Have another Cup of Tea"---this lyric has some real howlers, something about having to pull down someone's house because it smelled pretty bad. It's almost like "Oliver!" meets "My Fair Lady" but with that beloved Tim Rice wit.

"Strange and Lovely Song (Reprise)"---the proceedings draw to their close with this stirring reprise, Barnardo now being joined by Syrie.

"The Likes of Us (Reprise)"---and what a perfect way to end this performance with a reprise of the title song! What you have just heard is the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that never really was.

It's one that I enjoy and one that I hope others find enjoying too. It's also the beginning of a long and very colourful journey.

Thank you for reading,

Ryan.