Baroque & Roll?

Book by Susan Wokoma
Directed by Paul Roseby
Music and lyrics by Naomi Hammerton

Advertised as a musical, the National Youth Theatre performed their production of Handel and Hendrix at St James’ Piccadilly this week. So, titillated by the title and the connection with the marvellous Handel/Hendrix house and museum in Brook St London, I just had to go. A musical featuring the ghosts of two of my greatest heroes? Unmissable!

Did you know these two great musicians lived next door to each other? 200 years apart, mind you, and a thin wall. Hendrix on the top floor of 23 Brook street, Handel occupying the whole house at number 25 for almost 40 years. Hendrix, it must be noted, only stayed 3 months so if his ghost ever visits, it’s probably only a pop in to ensure his hippie-style apartment has the right (copies of) his furniture.

You may think the connection between the two H’s is a bit spurious and exaggerated but wait! Music is the great connector. Both were geniuses. Innovators. Creators of magic which steals the emotions and soars the spirit.

So the idea to make a musical about these great men, weaving in a plot about a young woman who runs away from home, has suicidal thoughts but is saved by the ghosts of H&Hs a damn good one. And the delightful young cast put talent, commitment and powerful singing and acting into their performances.

Vegas Volente’s Mrs Bryant was impressive. What a wonderful blues singer she must be! I want to hear more from her. Mostyn Crawford was especially powerful as Hendrix, with a voice that approached that of the great musician. I was (much) less convinced by Charlie Weaver as Handel, but then I’m such an obsessive fan, no-one could approach the Master.

But maximum plaudits to the star of the show – the fragile, demanding teenage runaway Melody (Sophia Wolfenden) whose journey this is. She speaks straight to the heart with superb singing and an assured grasp of character.

(Caveat: the pictures in the program are misleading – I do hope I have the names right!)

The whole cast were excellent, although at the beginning the sound quality wasn’t good and let them down a little.

My only complaint is the absence of Handel and Hendrix. None of their music at all! Please, producer, director and composer Naomi Harrington go and see Mama Mia again. You missed a trick! The genius of using well-known music to illustrate a plot. Both H and H produced more than enough music to turn this musical magnificent. The music in the production is good but my goodness, H&H were geniuses.Just for starters, imagine a few bars of the Hallelujah Chorus at the moment the heroine realises she’s not going to commit  suicide…?

And read my bloody book! Ragazzo by Jon Elkon will give you a great insight into the mind and music of Herr Handel. After just a little too much wine.