Miss Nightingale

Last updated

Miss Nightingale
The Musical
Miss Nightingale promo art west end premiere.png
Promotional art for 2018 production
MusicMatthew Bugg
LyricsMatthew Bugg
Book Matthew Bugg
Setting London, 1942
PremiereJanuary 20, 2011: The Lowry, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
Productions

Miss Nightingale - The Musical is a British cabaret musical, telling the story of a love triangle between singing star Maggie, her composer George, and their producer Frank. Set in a London nightclub during the Second World War, the show contains elements of bawdy comedy alongside the central romantic drama, and explores both the female and homosexual experience against the backdrop of fascism. [1]

Contents

Miss Nightingale was conceived and produced by Matthew Bugg, who wrote the libretto and the score. The piece was first presented at The Lowry, Greater Manchester and the King's Head Theatre, London in 2011. The West End premiere took place at the Hippodrome Theatre in 2018.

Plot

West End version:
London, 1942. Maggie Brown is a Northern nurse who has moved to the capital to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Her best friend and songwriter George Nowodny, a Jewish refugee from Nazi-occupied Berlin whom she met through her late brother Bill, lives with her in an East End bedsit; she is unaware that George was once her brother's lover, and that he is turning to prostitution to make ends meet. Maggie's boyfriend, Tom, a "wide boy," acts as her agent and sets up an audition at a new nightclub owned by Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe, a wealthy socialite who was invalided out of the RAF after being awarded for bravery. Impressed by Maggie's voice and George's satirical songs, Frank books the pair and turns Maggie into London's brightest new star, "Miss Nightingale." As the act's success grows, the three decide they no longer need Tom, but Frank does not realise that Tom has discovered his secret love affair with George, and is threatening blackmail. Deeply closeted at a time when homosexuality was illegal, Frank will do almost anything to avoid discovery. [2]

Songs

West End version: [3]

Productions

A chamber version of the musical premiered at The Lowry Studio in Salford, Greater Manchester in January 2011, directed and choreographed by Bugg, starring burlesque performer Amber Topaz in the title role. The production then transferred to the King's Head Theatre, London for four weeks. [4] [5] [6]

A full-scale re-worked version of the musical toured the UK for three months in 2013, directed by Peter Rowe and again headlined by Topaz. [7] The following year a second tour was mounted, starring Jill Cardo and a cast of actor-musicians. [8] The 2015 and 2016 tours were directed by Karen Simpson, with Clara Darcy in the title role. [9] With every new production of the show, Bugg made changes to characters and songs. [10]

In March 2017 the show returned to London for a two-month season at VAULT Festival, Waterloo, directed by Bugg and starring Tamar Broadbent. [11] The following year it transferred to the West End, playing at The Hippodrome Casino from March 2018 with Lauren Chinery in the role. [4]

Cast

RoleOriginal production [12] London revival [13] West End [14]
201120172018
Maggie (Miss Nightingale)Amber TopazTamar BroadbentLauren Chinery
George Ilan Goodman Conor O'Kane Matthew Floyd Jones
Frank Richard Shelton Nicholas Coutu-LangmeadOliver Mawdsley

Reception

Reviews of the 2011 premiere identified the musical's score as its chief attraction, but criticised other aspects of the production, in particular a libretto that "leaves a lot to be desired." [5] [15] [16] Reviews for the reworked versions of the musical were more positive, continuing to praise the "wonderful" songs [17] [14] alongside the entertaining humour of the script, [18] [19] and by 2015, Miss Nightingale was "one of the most successful new UK touring musicals of the last decade." [9]

Miss Nightingale was voted into 80th place in BritishTheatre.com's "100 Greatest Musicals of All Time" in 2016. The website's editor-in-chief wrote: "One of the great things that happen when you open a vote like this to the public is that you find out about a musical like Miss Nightingale." [20] Readers of The Guardian also included Miss Nightingale in their "Favourite stage shows of 2016" for performances at the Theatre Royal, Margate, describing the show as a "touching tale, beautifully and originally told." [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>Miss Saigon</i> 1989 stage musical

Miss Saigon is a sung-through stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's 1904 opera Madama Butterfly, and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. The setting of the plot is relocated to 1970s Saigon during the Vietnam War, and Madama Butterfly's story of marriage between an American lieutenant and a geisha is replaced by a romance between a United States Marine and a seventeen-year-old South Vietnamese bargirl.

<i>Guys and Dolls</i> 1950 musical by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows

Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, such as "Pick the Winner".

Hobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title taken from the popular expression, Hobson's choice—meaning no choice at all.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelphi Theatre</span> West End theatre in London, England

The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals. The theatre was Grade II listed for historical preservation on 1 December 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippodrome, London</span> Historic building and casino in London

The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, London. The name was used for many different theatres and music halls, of which the London Hippodrome is one of only a few survivors. Hippodrome is an archaic word referring to places that host horse races and other forms of equestrian entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Hippodrome</span> Theatre in Bristol, England

The Bristol Hippodrome is a theatre located in The Centre, Bristol, England, United Kingdom with seating on three levels giving a capacity of 1,951. It frequently features shows from London's West End when they tour the UK, as well as regular visits by Welsh National Opera and an annual pantomime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Binnie Hale</span> English actress, singer and dancer

Beatrice "Binnie" Mary Hale-Monro was an English actress, singer and dancer. She was one of the most successful musical theatre stars in London in the 1920s and 1930s, able to sing leading roles in operetta as well as musicals, and she was popular as a principal boy in pantomime. Her best-remembered roles were in the musicals No, No, Nanette (1925) and Mr. Cinders (1929), in which she sang "Spread a Little Happiness".

<i>Fame</i> (musical) Musical

Fame is a stage musical based on the 1980 musical film of the same name, with book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. Conceived and developed by David De Silva, it premiered in 1988 in Miami, Florida, and has spawned many stagings worldwide, including an Off-Broadway production at the Little Shubert Theatre from 2003 to 2004, under the title Fame on 42nd Street.

<i>Mary Poppins</i> (musical) 2004 stage musical

Mary Poppins is a musical with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and a book by Julian Fellowes. The musical is based on the similarly titled Mary Poppins children's books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, and is a fusion of various elements from the two, including songs from the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Ellis</span> English actress and singer (born 1979)

Kerry Jane Ellis is an English actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music. Born and raised in Suffolk, Ellis began performing at an early age before training at Laine Theatre Arts from the age of 16.

<i>Lets Face It!</i> 1941 Cole Porter musical

Let's Face It! is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields is based on the 1925 play The Cradle Snatchers by Russell Medcraft and Norma Mitchell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Tucker</span> Northern Irish actress and singer

Rachel Kelly Tucker is a Northern Irish stage actress, best known for her portrayal of Elphaba in the musical Wicked. She also starred in Come from Away on Broadway, having originated the role in the West End. Rachel has starred in various other musicals and plays, including The Last Ship.

<i>Matilda the Musical</i> 2011 musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly

Roald Dahl's Matilda, also known simply as Matilda and Matilda the Musical, is a musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly. It is based on the 1988 novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. The musical's narrative centres on Matilda Wormwood, a precocious five-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life. After a twelve-week trial run staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) at Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2010 to January 2011, it received its West End premiere on 24 November 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre and its Broadway premiere on 11 April 2013 at the Shubert Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Gaumond</span> Canadian/British actor

Alex Gaumond is a Canadian actor, singer, songwriter and filmmaker best known for his involvement in West End theatre. He plays series regular gendarme Caron, the chief of police in Sainte Victoire, in the Channel 5 television series The Madame Blanc Mysteries, starring Sally Lindsay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David King (theatre producer)</span>

David King is an English entrepreneur and producer of musical theatre.

<i>The Bodyguard</i> (musical) 2012 stage musical by Alexander Dinelaris

The Bodyguard is a 2012 stage musical with a book by Alexander Dinelaris, based on the 1992 film The Bodyguard, with the score featuring songs recorded by Whitney Houston including "One Moment in Time", "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and her pop version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You". The show began previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End, on 6 November 2012, and officially opened on 5 December 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Kennedy (director)</span> British theatre director

Patrick Kennedy is a British-Australian theatre director and producer recognized as one of the major figures of the twenty-first century European avant-garde. He is the founder of The Patrick Kennedy Theatre Machine based in London and Sydney. He is a leading expert on the work of Richard Foreman. Most notable for creating and directing new musical Halbwelt Kultur and directing several UK premieres of Richard Foreman and Stanley Silverman's work, Kennedy's career has focused on avant garde plays and musicals.

<i>Calendar Girls</i> (musical) 2015 musical

Calendar Girls The Musical is a musical by Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, based on the 2003 film Calendar Girls, which is in turn based on a true story, and the original 2008 play adaptation by Firth.

<i>Only Fools and Horses The Musical</i> 2019 British stage musical

Only Fools and Horses The Musical is a 2019 British romantic comedy musical with book, music and lyrics by Paul Whitehouse and Jim Sullivan, and additional music by Chas Hodges and John Sullivan. It is based on John Sullivan's BBC television sitcom of the same name which ran from 1981 to 2003.

<i>Clueless</i> (musical) Musical based on the 1995 film of the same name

Clueless is a musical with a book by Amy Heckerling based on her 1995 film of the same name, itself loosely based on Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma, updating the setting to modern-day Beverly Hills.

References

  1. ↑ "Photos, video & podcast: Creating a musical out of wartime prejudice in Miss Nightingale". Terri Paddock. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  2. ↑ "About Miss Nightingale - Miss Nightingale". Miss Nightingale. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Buy CDs and Sheet Music". Miss Nightingale. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 "West End Premiere Of MISS NIGHTINGALE Opens At The Theatre At The Hippodrome Casino". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 Spencer, Charles. "Miss Nightingale, King's Head, London, review". Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "About – Miss Nightingale". missnightingale.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Miss Nightingale - The Musical". UK Theatre Web. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Miss Nightingale (Tour – Ipswich)". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Final UK tour for Miss Nightingale – The Musical". Entertainment Focus. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Miss Nightingale – Syndicated Interview with Matthew Bugg". Blackpool Grand. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Miss Nightingale, The Vaults – Review". Everything Theatre. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Theatre review: Miss Nightingale at The Lowry, Salford". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "Miss Nightingale, The Vaults - Review". Everything Theatre. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  14. 1 2 "MISS NIGHTINGALE Hippodrome, Leicester Square WC2". theatreCat. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  15. ↑ 17.15 EST (1 January 1970). "Miss Nightingale – review | Stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Vale, Paul (6 April 2017). "Miss Nightingale review at the Vaults, London". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "West End Wilma – REVIEW: MISS NIGHTINGALE (Hippodrome Casino) ★★★★★". www.westendwilma.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  18. ↑ danielle.woodward (29 March 2018). "Theatre review: Miss Nightingale". Psychologies. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "Miss Nightingale a great night out full of brilliant songs - review". Gay Times. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  20. ↑ Mayo, Douglas. "editor-in-chief". BritishTheatre.com.
  21. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (16 December 2016). "Readers' favourite stage shows of 2016". the Guardian.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.