- a musical apology for a life of the great Dr Barnardo…
BARNARDO
Book music and lyrics by Ernest Maxin
Studio Recording (1980) cast: The George Mitchell Singers and
His East End Kids. Musical director: George Mitchell
SONGS: London's East End; Lovely Hot Pies; Snuggle Up; Girls
Are Luverly
- This rubbish was not to be recorded by its London cast after
opening at the Royalty Theatre in May 1980 to a totally damning
press. Maxin's only outing as librettist, lyricist and composer
for musical theatre displayed a complete lack of taste or talent,
and was off after 43 performances. The idea that a mindless East
End knees-up, with indigestible great dollops of nauseating sentimentality,
could be made of the noble story of Dr Barnardo's struggle against
poverty and child abuse was despicable. A full recording of this
score by the original company would surely have resulted in the
worst-ever original cast recording; as it is, we have here four
numbers performed by forces led by George Mitchell, responsible
for the musical delights of The Black And White Minstrel Show.
The selection lacks a song called 'Cor', and 'My Son' sung on
stage by Barnardo as he holds his dead baby son in his arms.
But the George Mitchell Singers give us 'London's East End' in
which the lobotomised ensemble celebrate the fact that 'Best
things always come from … Share our Cockney fun in …
Bargains can be won in London's East End' - and 'Fog is always
thick in … You'll get done real quick in … Feel your
heart tick-tick in London's East End.' An announcement in 1967
that Tommy Steele would be starring in a musical about Barnardo
came to nothing. Phew!
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