Richard Fleeshman, Joe McGann, Charlie Hardwick and Sting at The Last Ship launch. Picture: Tony Johnson
There are squeals of delight from Sting admirers in the audience as the originator, composer and lyricist of The Last Ship strolls to the microphone.
We have just had one of the most breathless and adulatory of introductions from the general manager of City Varieties who insists that he has every record Sting has made.
The epitome of cool settles, nods to the keyboard player and launches the first song.
The concept is now a familiar one: the decline of smoke-stack industries, the disappearance of an entire industry and the devastation wrought on the lives of the work-force. Billy Elliot and coal mining spring to mind, as does Robert Wyatt’s ‘Shipbuilding’.
Against this backdrop there are also themes of generational conflict in The Last Ship; with a son breaking free of an overbearing father; and the wanderer’s return, as the hero comes home to reclaim the abandoned girlfriend.
Cast members on stage are Richard Fleeshman as Gideon, Charlie Hardwick as Peggy and Joe McGann as Jackie.
Sting’s introduction reveals that he feels a considerable personal involvement with the subject matter as the show is set in his hometown of Wallsend on Tyneside, once a major centre for shipbuilding. Like the hero of his story, he was determined from early childhood not to end up in the shipyard.
To cries of: “Too right,” he acknowledges that perhaps the show’s journey should have started in the North of England rather than the USA, where it had a mixed reception.
Sting is celebrated for the eclecticism of his musical influences. Bruce Springsteen once accused him of having too many chords in his songs, but he seems to have opted for a simpler, folk-rock style here.
Clearly, big production numbers are inappropriate given that there are only four performers, although a rousing rendition of ‘What Have We Got?’ ends the show.
The pick of the performances is Fleeshman’s version of ‘What Say You Meg?’. Sting nods in appreciation as the high notes are achieved.
As the applause dies away, he confesses that he gets “pissed off” when other singers make more of his songs than he can. Fleeshman looks more than a little pleased with the compliment.
Clearly, this is a very personal project for Sting and, mercifully, he has created an original score rather than opted for the cliches of the jukebox musical.
The Last Ship opens for a four-week launch season at Northern Stage in Newcastle on 12 March 2018 and will be followed by a major UK and Ireland tour (Leeds Grand 1-5 May). A warm reception is guaranteed.
Mike Tilling
Readers may also be interested in:
UK launch of The Last Ship – full cast and creative line-up revealed – News
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.