- We are deeply
grateful to Julian Slade's archivist, Stewart Nicholls,
- for providing
information and illustrative material on Wildest Dreams
-
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- A musical entertainment in two
acts by Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds, with music by Julian
Slade
-
- First performed at the Everyman
Theatre, Cheltenham on 20 September 1960.
- A revised production opened
in London at the Vaudeville Theatre on 3 August 1961, closing
on 7 October after a run of 76 performances. There was a revival
at the Everyman, Cheltenham in 1970.
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- WILDEST DREAMS: THE STORY
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Act I
Mark Raven, an ambitious young journalist, arrives in the sleepy
country town of Nelderham determined to follow up the lack of
response to his newspaper's questionnaire about the town (NELDERHAM).
An expelled schoolgirl, Carol Arden, is staying at the house
of Mrs Birdview, a magnet for local cultural life, of which a
prominent figure is the nervous composer of art-songs Stephen
Bent (MRS BIRDVIEW'S MINUET). Carol's unmarried aunt, Harriet
Gray, arrives in Nelderham to take charge of her. Carol reassures
her aunt that her behaviour has been beyond reproach (PLEASE
AUNT HARRIET). Carol spends much of her time dreaming of handsome
men, and - in one of her wild dreams - Mark appears to her as
a lustful sheikh (TILL NOW). Mark meets Carol at Clumpington
Hill and is immediately taken with her (GIRL ON THE HILL). To
her surprise, Harriet finds that it was Stephen Bent who took
Carol off in a sports car (the reason why she was expelled).
He falteringly begins to explain himself, but gains confidence
when he describes the effect that driving has on him (ZOOM, ZOOM,
ZOOM). There is no doubt that Carol means to be a free spirit
(HERE AM I). Hoping to please her niece, Harriet throws a party
at which she and Stephen execute a sedate waltz while the youngsters
rock and roll (WILDEST DREAMS). The party is a success, and Mark
and Carol are falling in love (RED OR WHITE). >>> |
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Act 2
The locals of Nelderham have their own opinions on life. They
are not exciting opinions, but they are firmly held (YOU CAN'T
TAKE ANY LUGGAGE WITH YOU). Mark seems to be making progress
with Carol. He takes her to his digs, and his room has a bed
in it (a first in a Julian Slade musical). The room opens a new
world to Carol (A MAN'S ROOM). It is not only Carol who is lost
in wild dreams. Harriet has a dream of the stammering Stephen,
changed to a dominant lover (I'M HOLDING MY BREATH). Mark is
sure that he can influence the future of Nelderham and of Carol
and her young friends (QUITE SOMETHING). Harriet dutifully attends
a performance of Stephen singing some of his compositions, but
disgraces herself by giggling (GREEN/OXBLOOD HILL). The locals
are content not only to extol the delights of the local beauty
spot, Clumpington Hill (THERE'S A PLACE WE KNOW) but also to
sing the praises of their quiet life (THE DAYS GO BY). Mark inevitably
submits an unsensational article about Nelderham for his newspaper,
and is called back to London. He misses Carol, and she misses
him (WHEN YOU'RE NOT THERE). Returning to Nelderham, he proposes
to Carol, and Stephen proposes to Harriet (THIS MAN LOVES YOU)
So runs the extraordinary plot of Wildest Dreams … >>> |
