Search - Julian Slade, Betty Benfield, David Morton :: Trelawny (Original 1972 London Cast)

A lovely musical from Julian Slade

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 12/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Julian Slade is best-known for his collaboration with Dorothy Reynolds to create SALAD DAYS, still one of the most successful British musicals of all time. But, in 1972, Slade wrote the score for a musical version of Arthur Wing Pinero's TRELAWNY OF THE WELLS.Renamed TRELAWNY, the musical recounts the story of the fetching actress Rose Trelawny as she attempts to juggle to two great passions; acting and having a relationship with the love of her life. Gemma Craven (THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE) plays the title role with a supporting cast headed by Ian Richardson, Elizabeth Power and Max Adrian.Hayley Mills was originally cast in the role of Rose Trelawny for the musical's tryout in Manchester, but was replaced by Craven by the time the musical had opened in London's West End.Slade wrote a humdinger of a score which includes several standouts. Among them, Elizabeth Power's energetic "The Turn of Avonia Bunn", Gemma Craven's gutteral "Rules" and the heart-rending ballad "The One Who Isn't There".For fans of lesser-known British musicals, TRELAWNY is highly-recommended. This lovely reissue comes via a new UK-based boutique label called Must Close Saturday Records."