8 /10 1 Votes
Book Roddy Doyle Playwright Roddy Doyle | 4/5 The Telegraph Productions 2013 West End Adapted from The Commitments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Basis 1987 novel The Commitments Premiere 8 October 2013 (2013-10-08): Palace Theatre Characters Jimmy Rabbitte, Mickah, Derek, Joey ‘The Lips, Imelda, Billy, Deco, Natalie, Rural Dean, Bernie, Outspan Similar Memphis, Sunny Afternoon, The Hothouse, I Can't Sing! The X Factor Mu, Urinetown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The commitments musical official trailer 2014
The Commitments is a musical written by Roddy Doyle. Based on the novel of the same name, also written by Roddy Doyle, the musical made its West End and world premiere in 2013 at London's Palace Theatre. The show features soul music classics such as Think, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone and Night Train.
Contents
Background
The musical is based on the 1987 novel, by Roddy Doyle. Following the book's adaption into a movie version released in 1991, Doyle turned down offers to turn the novel into a musical.
Officially confirmed on 19 April 2013, in Ireland, producers announced that the show would play the Palace Theatre, with tickets going on sale everywhere on 23 April. Despite initially looking to hire another writer to write the book for the musical, Doyle ended up writing the show himself. The show will be directed by Jamie Lloyd, with choreography by Ann Yee, set design by Soutra Gilmour, sound design by Rory Madden and lightning by Jon Clark. Ticket prices for the show began at £10, with all preview tickets half price.
West End (2013-2015)
The Commitments began previews on 21 September 2013, at the Palace Theatre, London, before holding its official opening night on 8 October. On 20 August 2013, casting was announced with Denis Grindel playing Jimmy Rabbitte, Killian Donnelly playing Deco, Ben Fox playing Joey Fagan, Sean Kearns as Jimmy Rabbitte’s father and Sarah O’Connor, Stephanie McKeon and Jessica Cervi playing The Commitmentettes. A typical London performance runs 2hrs 25mins, including one interval of 15 mins. On 21 May 2015, it was announced that the show would close on 1 November 2015. It is expected that a UK tour will commence in 2016.
Musical numbers
The musical features nineteen main songs with a further nineteen short sound bite's of soul and motown numbers.
Critical reception
The West End production of The Commitments received mixed reviews from critics.