Alex Young, Chrystine Symone and Jordan Broatch will feature in the cast of Anyone Can Whistle at the Southwark Playhouse. Picture: Danny Kaan
Chrystine Symone and Jordan Broatch will join the previously announced Alex Young for the new London production of Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim’s rarely produced 1964 musical Anyone Can Whistle.
Due to play Southwark Playhouse from 1 April until 7 May 2022, the Matthew Rankcom-directed production will star Young (She Loves Me, Guys and Dolls, Sheffield Crucible) as rich and greedy Mayoress Cora Hoover Hopper with Symone (The Magician’s Elephant, RSC) as Nurse Fay Apple and Broatch as J Bowden Hapgood.
The cast will also include: Danny Lane, Samuel Clifford, Renan Teodoro, Nathan Taylor, Kathryn Akin, Marisha Morgan, Teddy Hinde, Hana Ichijo, Shane Convery and Jensen Tudtud.
Commenting on the production, director Rankcom said: “Anyone Can Whistle opened in the same season as Jerry Herman’s Hello, Dolly!, a more traditional Broadway musical with its high-kicking chorus line and uplifting songs. It couldn’t have been more different and closed after just 12 previews and nine performances!
“Arthur Laurents had wanted Barbra Streisand for the central role of Fay, but Sondheim was doubtful; while they dithered she was offered and grabbed the star-making lead in Funny Girl (she would go on to record a couple of the ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ songs on her next album) and it instead marked the stage musical debut of Angela Lansbury, who would become a close friend and frequent collaborator of Sondheim.
“Anyone Can Whistle may have been an early flop for Sondheim but, in looking at it for a contemporary audience, it feels current and daring in its treatment of gender norms and political corruption. There’s a reason this story has endured, and by embracing the joy and diversity of this incredible cast, I think audiences will be surprised at how much this show speaks to our 21st century society.”
Produced by The Grey Area and Liam McIntosh Entertainment, the production’s creative team also includes musical director Natalie Pound, choreographer Lisa Stevens and assistant director Alex Conder with orchestrations by Charlie Ingles, original orchestrations by Don Walker, set and costume design by Cory Shipp and lighting design by Alex Musgrave.
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Laurents, Anyone Can Whistle debuted on Broadway in 1964 with a production starring Lee Remick, Harry Guardino and Angela Lansbury in her stage musical debut as Mayoress Cora Hoover Hooper.
Angela Thomas
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