The Story Of My Life

How wonderful to discover this UK premiere of a Broadway musical in the intimate confines of the Stage Door Theatre. Rarely are you able to get so close to musical performers and see such superb talent in full flow. Having the audience seated at pub tables with space for the actors to perform both on the small monochrome set, as well as in the aisles between the tables gives it an immersive quality and adds to its pleasure greatly.

The musical is about the bond that exists between two young boys that are thrown together through a common understanding of the film It’s A Wonderful Life. It looks at how this friendship grows and is challenged when one boy is tied down through his commitment to run his father’s aptly names bookstore “Writer’s Block’, and the other, who has the chance to pursue his dream to be a writer.

What is so strong about this piece is the way that Markus Sodergren and Tim Edwards capture the exuberance of youth and then grow into their older selves. Often switching back and forth throughout the story and the musical numbers. Both have exceptional singing voices but what is truly amazing is the clarity of diction here. The clever songs and lyrics by Neil Bartam are often both heartfelt and complex and you never miss a single word.

The plot centres around Thomas Weaver (Sodergren) as he desperately tries to write a eulogy for his best friend Alvin (Edwards). His is suffering with writer’s block after failing to come up with one for Alvin’s father’s funeral. This now haunts him as does the spectre of Alvin himself. The songs move the story back and forth, exploring their play as children through to adulthood and the moment they last spoke. Brian Hill’s book cleverly weaves the different time frames with both humour and pathos.

The orchestrations and choice of instruments adds much to the haunting nature of this delightful show and it is cleverly directed by Robert McWhir who brings out every possible nuance.

This is a musical that is small in scale but big on sheer talent and heart. A show that deserves full houses and further UK productions.