MISS ATOMIC BOMB, a new musical with book, music & lyrics By Adam Long, Gabriel Vick & Alex Jackson-Long sounds intriguing. It will launch at The St James’s Theatre in March. Adam Long is the co-creator, writer and director of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Abridged), which ran off-Broadway and in the West End for nine years and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Comedy. So he knows all about creating a hit show.
He’s joined as co-creator by Gabriel Vick making his writing début. I've directed him and he’s a very talented and witty guy indeed. He’s currently appearing as Bobby Wace in SUNNY AFTERNOON at the Harold Pinter Theatre, and has previously had roles in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at the Playhouse, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Garrick Theatre, ONCE at the Phoenix Theatre and he played Feuilly in the movie adaption of LES MISÉRABLES.
The plot sounds appropriately wacky and is described as follows –
Welcome to Las Vegas in 1952, where every mushroom cloud has a silver lining and fallout is your friend.
As the US military proudly tests its atomic bombs within sight of the Vegas strip, tourists are flocking into town to cheer the blasts and see who will be crowned the Miss Atomic Bomb beauty queen.
But in the midst of this euphoria, farm girl Candy's (Florence Andrews) sheep have mysteriously died, her fashionista friend Myrna (Catherine Tate) is designing clothes for pigs, young soldier Joey (Dean John-Wilson) has deserted the army, and his hapless hotel manager brother Lou (Simon Lipkin) desperately needs an atomic gimmick. In a city controlled by the military and the mob, time is running out for our four friends.
It’s quite a coup to get such a fantastic cast to star in a new work
Catherine Tate’s stage credits include ASSASSINS at the Menier Chocolate Factory, THE VOTE at the Donmar Warehouse, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Wyndham’s Theatre and SEASON’S GREETINGS at the National Theatre but she’s best known to television audiences for her multi-awarding winning CATHERINE TATE SHOW, CATHERINE TATE’S ‘NAN’ specials, BIG SCHOOL, DOCTOR WHO and THE OFFICE (USA)
Simon Lipkin’s stage credits include the title role in The LORAX at the Old Vic, Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory, AS YOU LIKE IT at Southwark Playhouse, I CAN’T SING at the London Palladium, ROCK OF AGES at the Shaftesbury Theatre and Garrick Theatre and SPAMALOT on UK and International Tour. He also voices characters on the Cartoon Network show THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL.
Further casting also includes Michelle Andrews, Stephane Anelli, Charles Brunton, Jessica Buckby, Cavin Cornwall, Olivia Fines, Ryan Gover, Alyn Hawke, Sion Lloyd, Suzie McAdam, Kirk Patterson and Sasi Strallen.
It could be the next West End hit so make sure you see it, in its first incarnation, at this swanky theatre in Victoria.
The piece is regarded as one of the best examples of the “Bel Canto” style in which the drama is expressed through vocal lines of extraordinary beauty and grandeur that demand exceptional technical control.