A Guide To Musical Theatre (http://www.nodanw.com/shows_a/andy_capp.htm) * * * * * * ANDY CAPP Book by Trevor Peacock Music by Alan Price Lyrics by Alan Price and Trevor Peacock First performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and subsequently at the Aldwych Theatre in 1982 with Tom Courtenay, Alan Price and Val McLane heading the cast. * * * * * * Synopsis This exuberant musical, with a delightful score, conjures up the timeless dream world of work shy, beer-swilling Andy Capp, known the world over from Reg Smythe's cartoon strip in the Daily Mirror The story is essentially a narrative setting an upcoming wedding (of Raquel and Elvis) against the ongoing fracas in Andy and Flo's household. But it is also a faithful evocation of the cartoon, full of mother-in-law jokes, drunken escapades, big-bosomed, mini-skirted women wielding rolling pins and paunchy, cloth-capped men stomping around in boots. * * * * * * Reviews: "Lively, free-spirited show" Daily Mail "Alan Price's score is always enjoyable and in one number is superlative". City Limits "Andy Capp: anecdotal, larky, fun." New Statesman "An innocent, warm-hearted, gutsy frolic" - Daily Telegraph * * * * * * The Cast M11 F9. Extras may be used Original London Cast Characters in order of appearance: Geordie ALAN PRICE Vicar COLIN PROCKTER Linda NICKY CROYDON Jack TREVOR COOPER Andy Capp TOM COURTENAY Percy COLIN PROCKTER 0lga ANGELA MORAN Chalkie JOHN BARDON Pauline FIONA MATHIESON Elvis Horsepole MICHAEL MUELLER Penny SALLY BENTLEY Dawn JOY GRAHAM Fred STANLEY FLEET Ruby JUDITH BARKER Florence Capp VAL McLANE Ron DAVID BLUESTONE Passerby TREVOR COOPER Raquel Scrimmett NICKY CROYDON Mrs Scrimmett VIVIENNE ROSS Mr Scrimmett ROBERT VAHEY * * * * * * The Scenes Various simple interior and exterior settings * * * * * * Musical Numbers 1. On My Street - Geordie 2. We're Waiting - The Company 3. Good Evening - The Company 4. I Ought to be Ashamed of Myself - Andy and The Company 5. Good Old Legs - Andy and Chalkie 6. I Have a Dream - Raquel and Elvis 7. Oh Gawd, Men...Beasts! - Mrs Scrimmett 8. Points of View - The Company 9. Spend Spend Spend - Flo, Ruby and Raquel 10. Don't Tell Me That Again - Andy and Flo 11. Frozen Moments - Geordie 12. I Could Not Have Dreamed Him - Raquel 13. Goin' to Barcelona - Mrs Scrimmett 14. Hermione - Andy 15. When You've Lived in Love with Someone - Flo 16. Mr Scrimmett - Mr Scrimmett 17. The Trouble with People - Andy and Geordie 18. It's Better to be in Simple Harmony - The Company 19. The Wedding - The Company 20. I Ought to be Ashamed of Myself (reprise) - Andy and The Company 21. Simple Harmony (reprise) - The Company * * * * * * Orchestration Piano Conductor, Woodwind 1, Woodwind 2, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar 1, Drums, Bass, Synthesiser Isn't the internet wonderful? You never know what you'll find next!
How wonderful! Was anybody here lucky enough to have seen that show? I adore Tom Courtenay; I could watch him in anything. Although I don't see him as a natural for the role of Andy Capp. Alan Price as a Geordie, though, that's perfect casting! A quote from an article I found on the web: The critic of the Financial Times did not find it "particularly rewarding to watch Tom Courtenay shambling about as a drunken half-wit," but the show successfully transferred from Manchester to London, and later proved enormously popular in Finland. Anybody interested in the libretto can buy it here: http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/product.asp?StockID=5824
