The People’s Musical: Stiles and Drewe’s Soho Cinders Charms Londoners at Star-studded Charity Gala Night

One Night Charity Concert at Delfont Mackintosh's Queen’s Theatre: George Stiles and Anthony Drewe help raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Sunday 9^th October 2011

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe are fast becoming the most talked about composers and lyricists in the West End and to see the premiere of their new show, Soho Cinders, was a real privilege. They have just celebrated 28 years of writing together and did so in style last Sunday when they showcased their latest dazzling comedy musical to a packed house full of celebrities, budding West End actors, fans and theatregoers. Amongst the celebrity audience was Stephen Fry, Julia McKenzie and the talented musical star Steven Webb, who is about to appear in Aladdin over at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. The show was staged as a charity concert in order to help raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Thanks to Delfont Mackintosh, the Queen’s Theatre (home to Les Misérables) provided the perfect setting for this prestigious gala night. Everyone had a ball!

Elliot Davis, writer, composer and musical director also collaborated with Stiles & Drewe on Soho Cinders. Davis has recently been working on a new production Loserville the Musical (due to open in the West End in 2012).

George Stiles was the perfect on stage host for the evening and led a 16 piece band from the piano and a stellar cast including: David Bedella, Clive Carter, Suzie Chard, Sharon D Clarke, Richard David-Caine, Amy Lennox, Beverley Rudd, Jos Slovick, Sandi Toksvig, Hannah Waddingham and Michael Xavier. David Shrubsole was Orchestrator and James Humphreys was in charge of Music Preparation.

Soho Cinders was produced by Neil Marcus and directed by Jonathan Butterell. Narrated by Sandi Toksvig, this production is a timely musical set during a forthcoming London mayoral election! Stiles and Drewe dreamt up the idea of writing this modern day classic just after they won an Oliver Award in 2000 for their hugely successful musical Honk!. They wanted to write a modern day musical that holds universal appeal and the Cinderella story does just that. However, there's a twist; Cinderella is a young guy, Robbie (Jos Slovick) who works in a dodgy gentleman's club in Soho run by the two ugly sisters. Robbie meets his prince, dashing mayoral candidate James Prince played by Michael Xavier. Prince outwardly appears as a conventional, career-minded politico with a stunning thirty-eight year old fiancée Marilyn Platt (Hannah Waddingham). He seemingly has all the right credentials to dupe the electorate, but secretly harbours strong gay feelings which grow into love for Robbie. Meanwhile, Robbie’s desperate financée finally admits that Prince is not what he outwardly appears and she eventually sets him free.

Soho Cinders is a fable about love, loss, sexuality and identity in London. The characters are everyday stereotypes – people who are desperately searching for themselves. The main thread of the story focuses on how two lost souls from very different backgrounds and against all odds can rip down seemingly impossible boundaries to find each other.

Afterwards, we were treated to a celebratory drinks party over at the beautiful Somerset House (Stiles and Drewe certainly know how to throw a soirée!). Champagne corks popped well into the warm October evening and the cast, friends and crew toasted their spectacular new show in what was a glittering, memorable occasion. I have never seen a West End cast so jubilant. Everyone was on a tremendous high and what’s more new stars were launched – particularly the careers of young musical actors Jos Slovick and Amy Lennox who I am sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of. Sir Cameron Mackintosh looks set for tremendous success if this show has a run in the West End next year. The songs and lyrics are infectious and you remember every word. Soho Cinders is a timely show – it's bawdy, earthy and very modern!

Stiles and Drewe’s last musical Betty Blue Eyes which ran over at the Novello Theatre, Aldwych was truly astounding and featured Sarah Lancashire and Reece Shearsmith co-starring with an animatronic pig! Betty Blue Eyes, based on the film A Private Function featured the most beautifully written musical score and lyrics. Betty Blue Eyes was set in 1947 and there's some fantastic musical influences running through the score - a complete mixture of American ragtime, English folk songs and swing band music. I’ve seen this musical three times and still find myself humming the title song on the way to work in the mornings. The day this show closed due to our difficult economic climate, theatreland went into mourning.

Jos Slovick (Robbie) won the hearts of everyone in the audience. Slovick has the most incredible voice and together with Amy Lennox who plays the role of Velcro, a girl who works in the laundrette, the dynamic young pair oozed star quality. Ms Lennox may look like a demure, willowy blonde but her voice is extremely powerful and her comic timing akin to a young Julie Walters. Everyone fell silent during musical number ‘Wishing For the Normal’ sung by Ms Lennox and Slovick. The lyrics in this song are very powerful and anyone stuck in a financial rut during this never ending credit-crunch can relate to lines such as: “Hoping for the hum-drum, is that aiming high? Others seem to find it tell me why on earth can’t I?” Slovick ‘s theatre credits include: Nicky Sullivan/Ritchie Valens in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Gatehouse), George in Spring Awakening (West End/Lyric, Hammersmith), Paul in The Dummy Tree (Buxton Opera House), X: The Musical (workshop, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane) and Homer in The Human Comedy (Young Vic).

Hannah Waddingham who recently wowed audiences in the role of The Wicked Witch of the West in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of The Wizard of Oz over at the Palladium, was fantastic as James Prince’s long-suffering fiancée Marilyn. Hannah has just returned from a break abroad and had two weeks to rehearse and prepare for Soho Cinders; in true professional spirit she delivered a spectacular performance. Marilyn Platt is a character that many thirty-something women identify with – a woman who is desperate to settle into a relationship and falls for ‘Mr Wrong’, or rather makes do with ‘Mr Wrong’ rather than facing the world alone. Marilyn would prefer to turn a blind eye to her man’s sexuality rather than face the truth, which she eventually has to confront. Soho Cinders explores loneliness too and pulls away barriers to uncover the frailties of characters.

Last summer Ms Waddingham enthralled audiences in her role as the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, receiving the Whatsonstage.com Best Actress in a Musical nomination 2011. Further accolades include her role as Desirée Armfeldt in Trevor Nunn’s production of A Little Night Music (Meiner Chocolate Factory and Garrick, Best Actress in a Musical Olivier and Whatsonstage.com nomination 2010). Hannah received Best Actress in a Musical, Olivier and Whatsonstage.com Awards, Best Newcomer Award 2009 Broadway.com for her role as The Lady of The Lake in Monty Python’s Spamalot (Palace and Schubert Theatre, Broadway NYC) and for her role as Suzanne Valadon in Lautrec (Shaftesbury) she won Best Actress in a Musical and Best Newcomer Awards 2000 Whatsonstage.com.

David Bedella played one of the most fascinating characters, William George, smooth campaign manager to James Prince. William George will try any trick in the book to fox the electorate – a control freak and all round creepy toad. Bedella portrays the slimy double-dealer as a slick, perfectly manicured spin machine – the type to grease an enemy’s car brakes or sprinkle itching powder into the Leader of the Opposition’s swimming trunks. In fact, Stiles and Drewe have written the song ‘Spin’ which made the audience roar with laughter.

Michael Xavier gave a passionate performance as a man trying to break free from William George’s puppet strings. Sick of his veiled life and his strong feelings for law student Robbie, he makes a dash for freedom and cuts the apron strings of convention. Xavier’s rendition of ‘Gypsies of the Ether’, together with Jos Slovick, was truly haunting. Michael Xavier was nominated for two Olivier awards this year: Best Actor in a Musical for Love Story and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for Into The Woods.

The best song in this musical is ‘You Shall Go To The Ball’ sung by Sharon D Clarke (Chelle) and accompanied by Amy Lennox and Full Company. This catchy number has not left my head since Sunday night. Sharon D Clarke is currently playing Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical (Piccadilly). Sharon has the richest voice I’ve heard and this talented singer was recently a judge on BBC1’s Last Choir Standing which had an audience of over 12 million viewers every Saturday night. Click here if you want to see Sharon in Ghost The Musical.

Beverley Rudd (Dana) and Suzie Chard (Clodagh) were sensational as the two ugly sisters whose highlight in life is trying to set up a titty bar in London. Dressed in tight mini skirts and skimpy tops to reveal their wares, the pair were shameless. They flaunted their bulbous assets on stage in a song called: ‘I’m So Over Men’. The whole audience clapped, cheered, laughed and shouted for more. They were horribly obscene. In fact, their act was so funny that at the end of the show George Stiles decided to record their song live.

Richard David-Caine played the role of Sasha and Clive Carter played the part of Lord Bellingham. Richard David-Caine has certainly burst onto the West End stage in this fabulous role where he sings ‘Spin’ with David Bedella. David-Caine trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and his theatre credits include: Elder Latimer is in Love (Arcola), Newsrevue (Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh), Jihad! The Musical (Jermyn Street Theatre), Potted Panto (Vaudeville), Lights, Camera, Walkies (Guilded Balloon, Edinburgh) and The Tempest (Orange Tree). He performs in comedy sketch group Four Screws Loose. Clive Carter who sings ‘Old Compton Street’ is wonderful as mayoral campaign sponsor Lord Bellingham. Mr Carter has a long history of character roles. Recent credits include: The Wizard in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Bob in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace) and Cromwell in A Man For All Seasons (Theatre Royal, Haymarket).

Other credits for this show include the brilliant choreography from Drew McOnie, and Paul Tyrer and Jamie Clark for The Booking Office Ltd (the leading booking agency for touring productions in the UK).

Everyone from Stephen Fry to Julia McKenzie and Steven Webb had a fantastic night out for a great cause. Let’s just hope that Soho Cinders has a well deserved run in the West End next year. Please click here to buy the live recording of Soho Cinders.

If you would like to make a donation to the Teenage Cancer Trust please Click Here.