Tell Me on a Sunday is a one-woman song cycle with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Don Black which charts the turbulent love life of British girl Emma who moves to the United States in constant search of love, happiness and that all-important green card.
Needless to say, things tend to go wrong for the unlucky-in-love girl and the cycle is an erratic journey of ups and downs for both the character and the audience – injected with equal measures of comedy and pathos.
The show is a Watermill Theatre production, who have staged many hits over the years and is directed by Paul Foster.
The musical started life as a concept album back in the 1980s starring Marti Webb and was then staged as the first act of a show called Song & Dance before becoming a piece in its own right in 2003 and has toured numerous times with the likes of Denise van Outen and Faye Tozer taking on the role. This production, however, has been called the “definitive version” by the creators.
Acclaimed actress Jodie Prenger is back for her second stint in the role having first played the role the first time back in 2016. Jodie is probably best known to wider audiences for winning the role of Nancy in Oliver! through the BBC series, I’d Do Anything but has since gone on to carve out a solid and versatile career in theatre, having played leading roles in both musicals and plays such as Calamity Jane, Abigail’s Party and A Taste of Honey. In the role of Emma, Jodie is as formidable as ever. She tackles every song with perfect levels of comedy and drama and easily puts her own welcome spin onto songs that have been staples of musical theatre for decades, accompanied on stage by a live band.
The show was one of the very first musicals to open when the lockdowns eased, hitting the road back in July. It made sense – as a one-act show with only one person in the cast and minimal scenery – it ticked all the right boxes for a show following the pandemic. Almost four months later, it is a pleasure to say that the small-scale nature of the show has not been dwarfed by more extravagant productions which have been able to open since.As fresh and vibrant as ever, Tell Me on a Sunday continues to ooze warmth and heart thanks to a timeless score that boasts the classics ‘Take That Look off Your Face’ and of course the title song.
Other notable mentions include ‘Capped Teeth and Caesar Salad’ – a satirical song about the vanity of Hollywood – which is as timeless as ever in a world of the Kardashians. the finale song ‘Dreams Never Run on Time’, an exclusive addition to this production which ties the whole cycle together neatly.
The score is woven together with various devices which help the story move along at a succinct pace – including the ‘Let Me Finish’ segment and Emma’s frequent letters home to mum, both of which allow the character to have meaningful conversations despite being the only person who appears on stage.
Set design and lighting has been expertly crafted by David Woodhead, who has previously worked on the likes of Curtains and Nativity! A small array of miniature statues represent the New York skyline and light up at various moments, whilst other simple props and furnishings dress the stage appropriately. One particular stand out moment was during the emotive performance of the title track. As the only lit figure in a pool of complete darkness, the moment highlighted one of complete loss for Emma in a moment – when matched with Prenger’s powerhouse vocals – was awe-inspiring and surreal.
Mercifully, the ‘Dance’ element of this production has been replaced with a much more welcome second act – an intimate chat with the delightfully bubbly Jodie Prenger who storms back onto the stage in a dazzling frock (following many admirable quick costume changes in Act 1) for a piano-accompanied rendition of Oom-Pah-Pah. The Blackpool-born star then lets her sparkling personality radiate as she takes questions from the audience. Jodie’s understudy Jodie Beth Meyer also gets a chance to take to the stage to give a stellar performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Another Suitcase in Another Hall before Jodie Prenger wraps up the delightful evening with a heartfelt performance of An Unexpected Song.Tell Me on a Sunday is a beautifully crafted tour-de-force that tells a heartfelt story through simplicity and intimacy – a triumphant return for live theatre all held together by one of the finest leading ladies in the country.
Tell Me On a Sunday is currently running at The Lowry Theatre in Salford and will go on to play in Bury St Edmunds before concluding in Guildford.
Review by Jordan Lloyd Beck
Rating: ★★★★★
Seat: Stalls N25 | Price of Ticket: £38
