Last night, I made a very last minute trip to see You Know How to Love Me at The Other Palace, being performed as part of the current “From Page to Stage” Festival; it was a showcase and celebration of Charles Miller’s music, with all songs performed by Carolyn Maitland, Oliver Tompsett, Miranda Wilford and Shona White. I have to admit, I knew little of Charles Miller before the evening started but left the theatre determined to find out more; as Tompsett said at the beginning of the show, “if you don’t know of Charles Miller’s work, then you’re in for a treat.” The concert was performed in The Other Palace’s studio theatre, a small intimate space below the main theatre, and perfect for shows like this.
All four vocalists were exceptional. Their voices working just as well together as they did individually; powerful and strong when required but also gentle and subtle at other moments, and Miller’s song allowed them to showcase all ranges throughout the night. Anger, sadness, comedic, dramatic – there were songs of all styles and I can honestly say there wasn’t one I disliked! There were some stand out ones for me personally though. These included a song sung by White, “Done”, in tribute to Louise Plowright, who passed away last year. The song, with lyrics by Kevin Hammond, was a comedic one and Miller’s music complemented this.
One of my favourite moments of the night had to be when Tompsett performed a song I’m assuming is titled “I had sex last night”, from Miller’s new musical R.S.V.P, A.S.A.P. Having seen Tompsett live numerous times before, both in shows and concerts, I didn’t know I needed to see him portray a camp best man, who had slept with his best friend, the groom, the night before his wedding… but apparently I did!
One of Miller’s musicals, The Return of the Soldier, is one I actually knew a little about. Telling the story of a soldier returning from World War 1, with no memory of his wife but instead of the girl he loved before her. Maitland and Wilford’s voices were sublime, singing the title song, followed by Maitland’s solo as the soldier’s wife – her emotional range and intense acting ability was shown to the max here and there were tears in her eyes by the end of the song.
For someone who had no real background knowledge of this composer, I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I am very intrigued by When Midnight Strikes, another of Miller’s musicals, with lyrics again by Kevin Hammond. The show ended with “You Know How to Love Me”, which comes from this musical – about a woman who discovers her husband is having an affair on the eve of the Millenium and the other woman (or man, who knows!) is at their party. I will be buying the soundtrack to this show and would recommend anyone who hasn’t heard of, or knows little about, Charles Miller to find out more!
All four vocalists were exceptional. Their voices working just as well together as they did individually; powerful and strong when required but also gentle and subtle at other moments, and Miller’s song allowed them to showcase all ranges throughout the night. Anger, sadness, comedic, dramatic – there were songs of all styles and I can honestly say there wasn’t one I disliked! There were some stand out ones for me personally though. These included a song sung by White, “Done”, in tribute to Louise Plowright, who passed away last year. The song, with lyrics by Kevin Hammond, was a comedic one and Miller’s music complemented this.
One of my favourite moments of the night had to be when Tompsett performed a song I’m assuming is titled “I had sex last night”, from Miller’s new musical R.S.V.P, A.S.A.P. Having seen Tompsett live numerous times before, both in shows and concerts, I didn’t know I needed to see him portray a camp best man, who had slept with his best friend, the groom, the night before his wedding… but apparently I did!
One of Miller’s musicals, The Return of the Soldier, is one I actually knew a little about. Telling the story of a soldier returning from World War 1, with no memory of his wife but instead of the girl he loved before her. Maitland and Wilford’s voices were sublime, singing the title song, followed by Maitland’s solo as the soldier’s wife – her emotional range and intense acting ability was shown to the max here and there were tears in her eyes by the end of the song.
For someone who had no real background knowledge of this composer, I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I am very intrigued by When Midnight Strikes, another of Miller’s musicals, with lyrics again by Kevin Hammond. The show ended with “You Know How to Love Me”, which comes from this musical – about a woman who discovers her husband is having an affair on the eve of the Millenium and the other woman (or man, who knows!) is at their party. I will be buying the soundtrack to this show and would recommend anyone who hasn’t heard of, or knows little about, Charles Miller to find out more!