MusicalTalk - The UK's Independent Musical Theatre Podcast MusicalTalk

It’s time to give your kitchen equipment dirty looks as we join Thos and Colm as they look at what makes the recent revival of modern classic, Caroline, or Change, so impressive.  Whether it’s the off-beat surrealism, quiet revolution, avoidance of the obvious and a skillful use of stillness, this most unusual of musicals makes a profound impact as our presenters discover.

Adamant that Porgy and Bess is an opera?  Well, it ain’t necessarily so as Thos and Colm chat about the recent English National Opera production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess – the is-it-or-isn’t-it-an-opera opera!  With a soaring score, we look at the fusion of arias and songs, and how this monumental classic holds up in the 21st Century. 

We start the new year with another look at 42nd Street, one of the evergreen stories of musicals – with a peek at the original 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes, an in-depth look at the recent London production with Colm and a discussion on the unusual tensions in the show itself which points it in two directions at one: a literal two way street!
 

It may be a reduced Christmas this year with the pandemic and lockdowns, but that’s no reason not to have a good old quiz and songfest here on MusicalTalk.  So that can only mean its our traditional MusicalTalk Crimbo Musical Theatre Quiz – a merry mix of quirky questions and superb songs compiled for your diversionary pleasure by Thos who is on totally MAD form (hint: this might be a clue).

Dom and Nick are joined by John from New York to talk about more streaming options available - such as On the 20th Century, Upon a Mattress and 42nd Street - plus whatever else takes our fancy. 

In this week’s bumper episode, we look again at Jekyll Versus Hyde, the frankly brilliant adaptation of the evergreen story by discussing the musical with its creators, Laurence Owen and Lindsay Sharman and hearing what Thos and Mike thought about its investigation into duality. There’s also a chance to hear a ten point review of the recent West End version of 42nd Street which has been made available as a virtual show that you could watch online!