REVIEW
I Wish
Presented by Wind Song Theatre & AFK Productions
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
WED 28 & THU 29 AUG
I Wish
Presented by Wind Song Theatre & AFK Productions
Palace Theatre, Southend-on-Sea
WED 28 & THU 29 AUG
In a world of publicity and pre-publicity it’s rare to see musical theatre and have no preconceptions.
The world premiere of Ashton Moore’s I WISH, at the Palace Theatre Westcliff on 28th and 29th August, was one such a “blank page” but the opening bars quickly indicated the mature musical score and dramatic vitality, with hints of Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Schwartz, that was to follow.
This production, a collaboration between AFK productions and Wind Song Theatre, featuring a 50 strong cast, the overwhelming majority of whom are of junior school age, opens with the vibrant, hilarious whole-company title song. Here the simple premise is set out; the eternal musing of the young and the not so young “if only I could have just one wish come true”.
However, far from simple are the various themes and subthemes explored throughout the piece. In alternate scenes, oscillating between school and the separate domestic lives of the 3 main characters (Johnny, Rosie and Scarlett), themes such as Who am I? “I’m thick!”, the universal need for love, acceptance and truth and the destructive effects of comparative poverty, are all explored. These, together with glancing references to bullying, marital strife, absent parents, a child gone missing and the pressures of being young in a digital age, earth the story in the real-life complexities through which children navigate.
For the more philosophical there is flirtation with the mysterious and even the metaphysical when, wishing on a shooting star, the three troubled youngsters are individually granted a wish after pleading “God, if you’re there, hear me”-for me one of several goose bump moments.
Wishes granted and the resulting unfolding changes, all three gradually realise the simple truth that with one change, everything changes- and not for the better, together with the life lesson that for life’s issues there’s no such thing as a panacea. Somehow and inevitably things have to return to ‘normal’ and life has to be faced head-on in the new found knowledge that “I am enough, I know enough and I have enough”.
I WISH is a feel-good feast of humour and positive energy, contrasted with serious themes, delivered by, a vibrant company, ultra-promising principals and excellent musicians with far too many great moments to list. Like its potential-saturated cast, ensemble and principals, I WISH, given a little bit of its own moondust (and just a smidgen of further editing), has all the hallmarks of a long running production on an appropriately larger stage.
A first-class evening’s entertainment.
REVIEW: Charles Sluddon
The world premiere of Ashton Moore’s I WISH, at the Palace Theatre Westcliff on 28th and 29th August, was one such a “blank page” but the opening bars quickly indicated the mature musical score and dramatic vitality, with hints of Jason Robert Brown and Stephen Schwartz, that was to follow.
This production, a collaboration between AFK productions and Wind Song Theatre, featuring a 50 strong cast, the overwhelming majority of whom are of junior school age, opens with the vibrant, hilarious whole-company title song. Here the simple premise is set out; the eternal musing of the young and the not so young “if only I could have just one wish come true”.
However, far from simple are the various themes and subthemes explored throughout the piece. In alternate scenes, oscillating between school and the separate domestic lives of the 3 main characters (Johnny, Rosie and Scarlett), themes such as Who am I? “I’m thick!”, the universal need for love, acceptance and truth and the destructive effects of comparative poverty, are all explored. These, together with glancing references to bullying, marital strife, absent parents, a child gone missing and the pressures of being young in a digital age, earth the story in the real-life complexities through which children navigate.
For the more philosophical there is flirtation with the mysterious and even the metaphysical when, wishing on a shooting star, the three troubled youngsters are individually granted a wish after pleading “God, if you’re there, hear me”-for me one of several goose bump moments.
Wishes granted and the resulting unfolding changes, all three gradually realise the simple truth that with one change, everything changes- and not for the better, together with the life lesson that for life’s issues there’s no such thing as a panacea. Somehow and inevitably things have to return to ‘normal’ and life has to be faced head-on in the new found knowledge that “I am enough, I know enough and I have enough”.
I WISH is a feel-good feast of humour and positive energy, contrasted with serious themes, delivered by, a vibrant company, ultra-promising principals and excellent musicians with far too many great moments to list. Like its potential-saturated cast, ensemble and principals, I WISH, given a little bit of its own moondust (and just a smidgen of further editing), has all the hallmarks of a long running production on an appropriately larger stage.
A first-class evening’s entertainment.
REVIEW: Charles Sluddon
INTERVIEW
We chat to writer and composer of I Wish, Ashton Moore, and get to have a sneak peek of one of the songs from the show sung by 12 year old Maisie Thorn. We also chat to Scarlett Perry and Albert Waldron both 12, who play Tyra and Jonny in this brand new musical premiere!
Jonny Baker hates that no-one tells him the truth. Rosie Whitehead has one friend. (Well… two, if you count Veronica, who doesn’t speak.) Scarlett Mayland knows that her parents are unhappy, but she doesn’t know why. When Jonny, Rosie and Scarlett peer into the night sky and wish on a shooting star for better lives, they never really expected to wake up the next morning to find their worlds have completely changed. And yet…
Sometimes everything you ever wished for isn’t so perfect after all.
44 of Essex’s top young performers assemble for the first ever full production of I WISH, a new musical by Southend-based composer Ashton Moore (national finalist, 2016 Perfect Pitch Musical Theatre Writing Award). With a breathtaking, eclectic score inspired by Dear Evan Hansen, Matilda, and Jason Robert Brown’s 13, brought to life by a stunning live band and dynamic cast, here is a rare opportunity to watch a genuinely homegrown new musical performed by talented young people from across the county.
I WISH is a family-friendly musical, suitable for theatre and music lovers of all ages.
This is a co-production presented by Wind Song Theatre and AFK Productions, with artistic direction by Lily Streames, musical direction by Ashton Moore, choreography by Douglas Yolland, lighting design by Mark Smith and sound design by Glenn Oxenbury.
£15.00 / Concs. £13.00
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Sometimes everything you ever wished for isn’t so perfect after all.
44 of Essex’s top young performers assemble for the first ever full production of I WISH, a new musical by Southend-based composer Ashton Moore (national finalist, 2016 Perfect Pitch Musical Theatre Writing Award). With a breathtaking, eclectic score inspired by Dear Evan Hansen, Matilda, and Jason Robert Brown’s 13, brought to life by a stunning live band and dynamic cast, here is a rare opportunity to watch a genuinely homegrown new musical performed by talented young people from across the county.
I WISH is a family-friendly musical, suitable for theatre and music lovers of all ages.
This is a co-production presented by Wind Song Theatre and AFK Productions, with artistic direction by Lily Streames, musical direction by Ashton Moore, choreography by Douglas Yolland, lighting design by Mark Smith and sound design by Glenn Oxenbury.
£15.00 / Concs. £13.00
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
BELOW: The cast in rehearsal
