The modest Charing Cross Theatre, situated underneath the arches of the railway station which gives the venue it’s name, is fast establishing itself as a home for innovative and quality musical theatre.
I'm glad to hear that the next production will be YANK! Yank was the nick name given to American soldiers in the Second World War and there’s long been a buzz about the piece amongst show aficionados in New York following a try out production Up State and Off Broadway in 2010.
However my enthusiasm is slightly dampened because for some reason the press release for the London revival doesn't mention that the musical has a gay love story at its heart.
It seems a perverse decision to cover this up as the plot laments how the central characters have to keep their homosexual relationship secret and suffer great heartache as a result. It’s an unnecessary decision too. Do the producers think gay people don’t buy tickets? Are they aiming the piece at people who’d find homosexuality repellent?
For the moments it’s described in the press release as “A poignant love story based on the true, hidden history of gay soldiers during World War Two, YANK! focuses on the life of Stu, who is called up to serve in the forces in 1943 and becomes a reporter for Yank Magazine, the journal ‘for and by the servicemen’. Telling the stories of the men in Charlie Company, the musical explores what it means to be a man, and what it is to fall in love and struggle to survive in a time and place where the odds are stacked against you”
The book and lyrics are by American writer David Zellnik, with music by his brother Joseph Zellnik which pays homage to the timeless music of the 1940s.
Yank! is directed by James Baker, and is produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Hope Mill Theatre, Ben Millerman with Jim Kierstead and Guy James following a successful run at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.
The largely unknown but critically acclaimed cast and their theatre credits are listed as follows -
“Scott Hunter will reprise his role as Stu. Stage credits include Cinderella (Trinity Theatre), Grease (European tour) and Howard Goodall’s The Kissing Dance. Joining the company as Mitch is Andy Coxon, whose credits include Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), 20th Century Boy – The Marc Bolan Musical (UK tour), Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre) and European tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Evita. Sarge/Scarlet will be played by Waylon Jacobs, whose credits include Chicago, Memphis and We Will Rock You (West End) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Regent’s Park). Bradley Judge will play Rotelli. His credits include Aladdin (The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn), Don’t Run (Waterloo East Theatre) and Sister Act (Aberystwyth Arts Centre). The rest of the company is completed by members of the original Manchester production: Benjamin Cupit who made his professional debut as Professor in the Hope Mill production; Lee Dillon-Stuart (Les Misérables at Queen’s Theatre and Carousel for Pitlochry Festival Theatre) as Tennessee; Chris Kiely (The Ladykillers and Pygmalion for Theatre Royal Windsor, Sunset Boulevard at Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and a national tour of Chess) as Artie; Kris Marc-Joseph (Anno Domini at The Actors Church, Children of Eden and See Rock City and Other Destinations at Union Theatre) as Czechowski; Mark Paterson (tours of Horrible Histories and Peter Pan at Manchester Opera House/New Victoria Woking) as Lieutenant/NCO; Tom Pepper (The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Arts Theatre, and on television, Drifters, Grandpa in My Pocket and Red Dwarf) as Cohen/Speedy; and Sarah-Louise Young (a member of award-winning improvised musical The Showstoppers at Apollo Theatre and extensive cabaret credits including Fascinating Aida) as Louise"
Tickets for the smash hit musical Hamilton with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton, have sold out where ever the show is playing. Great news for investors but it’s a headache for the public as a black market in overpriced or even phony tickets has evolved.