Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate, London 06 February to 03 March 2024.

4****: William Russell.

“Robert Jason Brown’s music gloriously sung and played.”

A splendid six piece band under Liam Holms and four talented singers create a superb wall of sound for Kai Wright’s production of this song cycle rather than a book musical which musically is probably about as good as it gets. One may wonder what on earth the set is meant to be but that is by the way and if director and designer Sophie Goodman want to set the action in what looks like a charity shop so be it. First staged in 1995 in New York it is for for four performers, two men, two women, sometimes individually, sometime in duet and occasionally all four at the same time. Brilliantly though the stories are sung, however, words matter and although the singers are miked – not absolutely necessary in the Gatehouse – the words do not come over clearly enough. Maybe it is because of the decision to place them in front of the band which then overwhelms them Whether anybody in the Gatehouse needs to be miked is arguable and the failure to get the failure to get the lyrics across did lie with the singers because given the volume of sound the band was making they were never going to rise above it. Sound designer Glenn Oxenbury really needs to think again. Do not, however, be deterred from going because - even without meaning - musically it is glorious, and the cycle is one of Jason Brown’s best works. The best thing to do is google it as you will find there an explanation as to what each song is about – love, death and the whole damn thing in Manhatten starting on the deck of a fifteenth century ship. Otherwise shut your eyes and listen.

Cast

Lizzy Parker – Woman 1.

Eleanore Frances – Woman 2.

Luke Walsh – Man 1.

Christopher Cameron – Man 2.

Creatives

Director – Kai Wright.

Production Design – Sophie Goodman.

Lighting Design – Jason Ferri.

Sound Design – Glenn Oxenbury.

Musical Director – Liam Holmes.