Dream On
Published 30 Sep 2010 09:30
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QUEEN, Abba and Michael Jackson have all had their songs turned into musicals and now it is the turn of a ‘rockney’ duo who inspired one of Britain’s much-loved playwrights.
Stop Dreamin’ - billed as a feel good comedy about a family, love and the inspirational power of music - will be making its stage debut at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, on Wednesday, October 13.
The musical based on the songs of the legendary Chas and Dave is scripted and directed by master of stage comedy - Ray Cooney (pictured below), who has written more than 20 West End shows. The idea for the musical was born after Mr Cooney was persuaded by his son to join fans at a gig in Harlow.
He said: “I thought they only wrote stuff like ‘Down To Margate’ which was all cockney, but what I realised when I went to the gig was they wrote some beautiful melodies.
“At the end of the gig as people queued to get their T shirts signed I waited my turn and when I got to the front I said ‘you were fantastic, I am Ray Cooney’ and at that point Dave jumped up and was like my wife loves you.
“By this time I was getting embarrassed and I said I don’t have an idea yet, but I would love to write a script with your songs and Dave took my face in his hands and said ‘Ray I would be honoured’. So I went to my attic, which is where I do all my writing, and sat there with all these discs. My mum was a cockney woman and something happened to my mum when she was 17 that changed her life forever. I thought what I am going to do is base this story on my mum and dad and once I got that idea I sat there with Chas and Dave discs and photographs of mum and dad when my mum was 17, when they were middle-aged and elderly and then the story just flowed.”
The musical is set in London in the 1960s and family man Fred has a lot on his plate, a troubled marriage, wayward children and a father who is slowly losing his grip on reality. But help is at hand in the form of Mr Music, a mysterious new ‘friend’ who is invisible to everyone but Fred.
The cast is led by Cliff Parisi, who is best-known as the loveable Minty from Eastenders. He is joined by Trevor Bannister, famous for his long-running role as Mr Lucas in the classic British comedy ‘Are You Being Served’ and Vicki Michelle, who shot to fame as the saucy Yvette in ‘Allo Allo’.
Louise Jameson of Doctor Who and Bergerac fame, well-known actor Royce Mills and Daisy Wood-Davis who recently appeared in the hugely successful musical Dreamcoats and Petticoats, complete the star-studded cast.
The musical features Chas and Dave classics including Ain’t No Pleasing You, Rabbit and Gertcha and will be on stage in Windsor, from Wednesday, October 13 to Saturday, October 23.
Mr Cooney said: “I love coming to Windsor it has been a part of my life since I was a young actor. ”
For tickets, costing £11-£33, call the box office on 01753 853 888 or see www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 30 Sep 10
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