Cast

Synopsis

Neil Simon’s biting and apposite witty commentary on the romantic ups and downs of Vernon Gersch an Academy Award-winning composer and Sonia Walsk an offbeat lyricist of contemporary pop songs. This happy collaborative partnership with Hamlisch and Bayer-Sager has produced an excitement only found in the best of Broadway musicals.

Directors Notes

Is it really 11 years ago that the BLT Social Committee organised a weekend in London? What a great trip that was So many memories crammed into 2 days. Losing the hotel. Tea at the Ritz. Covent Garden. Petticoat Lane, and a visit to the Theatre to see – yes – you’ve guessed – “They’re Playing Our Song’ starring Gemma Craven and Tom Conti,

Basically, a ‘two hander’ with a brilliantly witty script by one of America’s finest contemporary writers Neil Simon, a superbly demanding, yet excitingly melodic score by Marvin Hamlisch, such witty lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, coupled with an awesome thirteen scene set using State of the Art Lights and Back Projection and a 16 piece orchestra that was as tight as Count Basie at his best, this really was a truly magical experience. We all left the Theatre that night quite breathless and totally convinced that this was certainly not a show for amateurs! 11 years on, and here we are attempting the impossible! We must be mad!

Whilst not a word, or a note has been cut or changed from the original, I must admit that we have condensed the action of the play a little and reduced our scenes to 9 – without the help of back projection The 16 piece orchestra has dwindled to 4 (thanks to the wizardry of our keyboard player Dave Mawson) but, at least, the size of our cast remains unaltered! It has been quite a challenge, but typical of everyone at BLT the stops have been pulled out to the full, to present what must be the most demanding musical show ever
written for just two people (If you don’t count Leon!)

I don’t know if it is true, but I read somewhere that this show was based upon the true life romance of Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager. Even if it’s not, It’s a nice thoughtl

HAVE A NICE NIGHT.