Wintersong – a Concert Version

Wintersong is a new musical which is apparently still evolving, and this concert performance for an invited audience was to give feedback to the creative team. There were no sets or costumes, and the performers read from their scores.

The story, set in a mythical mid-Victorian country town in the 1890s, involved a concert pianist developing arthritis, and trying to work out what he could do when he could no longer play. Meanwhile his long term fiancée is becoming increasingly frustrated at the constant postponement of the wedding date. Then he finds a young soprano he can mentor and write songs for.

There was also the sub-plot of the difficulties faced by a young woman whose career aspirations are hampered by the strict social mores of the period.

Did I enjoy it? Wholeheartedly!

In spite of having only four days to rehearse, the performers hardly missed a beat and, without costumes, created a real sense of their characters and generated strong chemistry with their opposite numbers. Composer Scott Cameron played the leading man, and we felt his frustration at his declining abilities. Equally frustrated was Chelsea Plumley as his fiancée. They worked well together and sang beautifully.

Teresa Duddy was the nervous young soprano, singing exquisitely. She had a lovely duet with the older diva, Danielle Calder, who took over the mentoring role towards the end. Melissa Langton and Michael Cormack were the other couple, singing well and having some very funny moments.

I found the storyline clear, the music very listenable with some lovely harmonies, and the dialogue natural, with a nice mix of pathos and comedy.

A full production is planned for next year and I look forward to this and wish them every success. Ultimately success or failure will be determined by the audience and the theatre companies which need to be convinced to perform this worthwhile musical.

Keep an eye out for it.

Graham Ford