Enchanted by THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG

THEATRE: Gielgud Theatre, London

DATE: 16-03-2011 (preview)

TIME: 15:00

WITH: Joanna Riding, Andrew Durand, Meow Meow, Matt Wilman, Gareth Charlton, Aki Omoshaybi, Dominic Marsh, Carly Bawden, Cynthia Erivo.

DIRECTOR: Emma Rice

Director Emma Rice had a huge hit for Kneehigh with her adaptation of the David Lean film "Brief Encounter" (1945), which packed in theatre audiences in the West End and on Broadway. Now she has turned her considerable talents to adapting Jacques Demy’s film classic "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" (1964) and if there is any justice this will be a hit as well.

 Photography by Steve Tanner

The show is based on the through-sung film, which won the Palm D’Or at Cannes, was nominated for several Oscars, made a star out of Catherine Deneuve (dubbed by Danielle Licari), and launched an instant classic chanson: ‘I Will Wait For You’. The song has been covered by countless artists, including Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Liza Minnelli, and Tony Bennett, and features prominently in the show. 

The production tells the love story of the young Genevieve (Carly Bawden), whose disapproving mother Madame Emery (Joanna Riding) owns a failing umbrella shop, and auto mechanic Guy (Andrew Durand). Their blossoming affair turns sour when Guy is send off to fight in Algeria and Genevieve is left behind with child, unbeknownst to him. While Guy is away on his tour of duty Genevieve marries jeweller Roland (Dominic Marsh) for practical purposes and the story ends on a bittersweet note when the two finally meet one last time in the snow.

Music legend Michel Legrand (5 Grammys, 3 Oscars) has orchestrated his beloved score, full of romantic melodies, intricate rhythms and 60s jazz, himself and it is performed magnificently under the inspired direction of Nigel Lilley. The latter conducts from behind a piano at the front of the stage, which ingeniously reaches onto the stage. This nice detail makes it immediately clear that music is organically linked to everything that happens on stage. 

Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler On The Roof) has translated the pedestrian French lyrics and done a workmanlike job. The lyrics are hardly inspired, though, nor does it lend the thinly drawn characters much dramatic weight. But then again the original features, with the exception of the famous love theme, mostly banal conversational language set to music as well. There are two interpolations in the score: the wonderfully playful ‘Di-Gue-Ding-Ding’ and torch song ‘San Toi’. The latter is gorgeously sung in French (by Meow Meow), but makes it painfully clear that the music flows much more smoothly in French. Linguistically there is not much to savour here, but the rest of the show compensates for this.

 Joanna Riding as Madame Emery

Rice’s staging is ingenious, but darker than the fluffy, colourful film and Lez Brotherston’s inspired design reflects this. It features magical miniatures, moving steel structures, a bike, pastel coloured balloons and even transforms a piano into a sparkling diamond. Some of the loveliest scenic moments take place on a roof, which carries a huge red neon sign with the words ‘Je t’aime’ (reminiscent of Baz Luhrmann’s staging of La Boheme for the Sydney Opera House). It also features a slide on which the lovers have sex. Rice has the production constantly moving in unique ways, which are clever theatrical equivalents to camera movements.

 Meow Meow & f.l.t.r. Matt Wilman, Gareth Charlton & Aki Omoshaybi

She has also added Maitresse (the sensational Australian cabaret star Meow Meow) and three sailors to frame the story. Maitresse is a naughty conferencier who morphs into 'everywoman' in the story, including a prostitute who services Guy in one of the most arresting sequences. The three dynamic sailors, right out of a Jean-Paul Galtier ad, are her chorus boys but also animate scenery, performers, puppets, and indicate time and place in surprising ways. One of the delights of the production is the interaction of these characters with the audience (I received two kisses from sailor Matt Wilman). 

 Andrew Durand & Meow Meow

The ensemble is solid throughout. It is a pity Bawden and Durand (from Broadway’s Spring Awakening) remain mere ciphers in the first act. Their characters are already in love at the start of the show and there is not much development. In the second act though, as their characters go through obstacles and make difficult choices, they become much more interesting. Durand is especially convincing as the battle scarred soldier returning from war. Two-time Olivier winner Joanna Riding (Carousel, My Fair Lady) deserves a special mention for her sensationally steely and practical Madame Emery, who aches for love beneath the surface.

 Andrew Durand as battle scarred Guy

Even though Umbrellas is flawed as a piece of musical drama I was absolutely captivated by its theatrical magic. By the time snow descended on my head at the end I was in sheer heaven.  The Umbrellas of Cherbourg send me floating onto Shaftesbury Avenue on a romantic high. Unlike the British critics I do recommend this musical and visual feast for the romantic at heart.

Watch the trailer!