Leo Colston, a sad and lonely middle-aged failure, finds the journal that he kept as a 12-year-old and conjures up his younger self to recount a visit to his school friend Marcus during the hot idyllic summer of 1900.
The opening sequence establishes the credentials of this superlative British musical by David Woods (book) and Richard Taylor (music), which is based on the novel of L P Hartley. An aristocratic family is bathed in golden sunlight and we are dazzled, as
Young Leo is, by the lush harmonies of the beautifully refined ensemble. The masterstroke is that, by contrast, the boy’s voice is natural and untutored – so he has difficulty fitting in musically as well as socially. However, Marcus’ beautiful older sister Marion takes him under her wing and, eager to please, Young Leo becomes The Go-Between, ferrying messages to a handsome local tenant farmer Ted. We, the audience, know that this illicit relationship is doomed and that catastrophe is inevitable, but the climax is still devastating. The recriminations between the elder Leo and young Leo are intense.
This exciting new interpretation of a classic deserves a wide hearing.
This joint production developed in association with Perfect Pitch continues at the Northampton Royal and Derngate until November 19th.
David Hails saw the production at the Derby Theatre.