My West End Wish-List
Posted on 22 August 2016
The West End offers a constant range of variety. Some musicals and plays have been around for years and that’s how we want it to stay. Some crop up and are gone again in as little as 8 weeks. There are some things however that don’t make an appearance as often as they should or even at all. Here’s what I’m hoping will come to the West End in the future.
Moulin Rouge is arguably one of the biggest films ever. It circulates around the Bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom and love. It’s an array of music and dancing. Glittering costumes and packed with dramatics. Sounds perfect for a West End musical, right? Just picture that cabaret on a West End stage. Adapted properly, I’m sure it would last for fifty years. (Especially if it began with the original cast. One can dream.)
Now the West End has shown justice to Disney musicals already. The Lion King is a vital part of the West End, in my opinion, and now we have been introduced to a whole new world, with Aladdin recently joining the line-up. Of course, there are many Disney musical stage adaptations we’d love to see but just imagine Beauty and the Beast. Difficult to pull off? Sure. How does one have talking candle sticks on stage? But if there’s a genius out there willing to try, then I’d be first in line.
Hamilton has taken Broadway by storm and the West End is just waiting for its turn. We all love a bit of history, especially when we’re being cultured and going to the theatre but what we love more than that is a good musical. Well, we’re in luck with this one. The much loved musical about America’s founding fathers is going to be with us in October 2017. I suspect tickets will go fast so you’re going to want to be on the ball with this one.
It’s been done many times but it’s shocking really that it isn’t a staple part of the West End’s menu. The King and I is a timeless classic, having been adapted many times and even animated at one point, so why isn’t here to stay? Maybe it just the needs the right producer to give it a spruce but there’s no denying the attraction of those tales of love that are forbidden and unlikely. Just look how well Romeo and Juliet does every time it graces our stages.
This list really could go on all day because whilst we’re spoilt for choice. There’s no denying we want more. We’re only human and there’s just so much more that could be done. Now I’ve got my fingers crossed that the theatre gods are reading so that some of these wishes can come true.
