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JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS
by Eric Blau amd Mort Shuman
Based on Brel's lyrics and commentary
Music by Jacques Brel
Venue: King's Head Theatre Club Islington 1995
Directed by Julian Woolford



Cast

Michael Cahill
Alison Egan
Liz Greenaway
Stuart Pendred

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
MARATHON Company
ALONE Michael
MADELEINE Company
I LOVED
Liz
MATHILDE Stuart
BACHELOR'S DANCE
Michael
TIMID FRIEDA
Alison & Men
MY DEATH
Liz & Stuart
GIRLS AND DOGS
Stuart & Michael
JACKIE Stuart
STATUE Michael
THE DESPERATE ONES
Company
SONS OF...
Liz
AMSTERDAM
Stuart & Company
ACT TWO
THE BULLS
Michael & Company
OLD FOLKS
Alison & Company
MARIEKE
Liz & Company
BRUSSELS
Alison & Company
FANETTE
Michael
FUNERAL TANGO
Stuart
MIDDLE CLASS
Michael & Stuart
NO LOVE YOU'RE NOT ALONE
Liz
NEXT
Stuart & Company
CAROUSEL
Company
IF WE ONLY HAVE LOVE
Company

'This is an impressive show that has both intellectual and emotional appeal. May it run forever.' What's On In London

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Julian Woolford's production broke fringe box-office records earlier this year. Catch it while it's hot.' The Independent

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Review

While I was aware of the cult status this musical celebrating the life and work of the Belgian song-writer Jacques Brel had attained, the first opportunity I had to see it was in September last year at the Canal Cafe. Having enjoyed the cabaret style revue first time round, it was interesting to see how the same production would fare in the slightly roomier surroundings of the Kings Head. I was not disappointed. Brel's material has been criticised for being melodramatic, sentimental and even dull, but Eric Blau and Mort Schuman's concept for the show, together with their English translations of his lyrics, rarely fail on any of the above counts.  True Brel was ambitious in his themes, tackling the highs and lows of the human condition with songs about everything from war to love and old age, but there was an inherent sincerity in his material that cannot be denied.

The cast was in good form. Liz Greenaway's passionate renditions of No Love You're Not Alone and Sons Of were full of intensity and emotion. Michael Cahill demonstrated his versatility by teasing the audience in The Bulls and then switching to feelings of deep loss during Fanette. Alison Egan came up with a beautiful interpretation of Old Folks, while she raised our spirits with the wonderful Brussels. And Stuart Pendred, more than anyone, took advantage of the extra space of the King's Head stage with performances of Jackie and Funeral Tango that were quite capable of stopping the show. Congratulations also go to musical director and pianist Ruth Alexander and keyboard player Chris Brooker.

It would have been nice to know more about Brel the man.

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A web correspondent writes: It's not strictly correct to refer to the Blau/Shuman lyrics across the board as translations. In most cases, they are, if sometimes quite loosely. But a few (e.g. Marathon) bear no resemblance to the original French words, so English "version", "rendition" or some such might be a better term.