Heathcliff (musical)

Heathcliff

Poster for 1997 London shows
Music John Farrar
Lyrics Sir Tim Rice
Book Cliff Richard
Frank Dunlop
Basis Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë
Premiere 16 October 1996: National Indoor Arena, Birmingham
Productions 1996-1997 Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, London

Heathcliff is a musical, written by singer Cliff Richard and based loosely on the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. It is focused on the character of Heathcliff and the story is adapted to fit with the musical staging and production. The musical attempted to fill some gaps in Heathcliff's personal story by taking leads from implications made by Emily Brontë in the novel and fitting them into the sequence of events as written. All of the dialogue in the show is from the novel, although some parts were transposed to better fit the manner in which it was being performed.

The music was composed by John Farrar with lyrics written by Sir Tim Rice. The book is by Cliff Richard and Frank Dunlop.[1]

As a forerunner to the theatrical presentation, in early October 1995, Richard released the first single, "A Misunderstood Man", followed later in the month by the studio album Songs from Heathcliff, consisting of ten songs from the musical, five featuring Olivia Newton-John in duets. Three more singles followed, "Had to Be" (a duet with Olivia Newton-John), "The Wedding" (a duet with Helen Hobson) and "Be With Me Always".[1]

Rehearsals for the musical took place during the summer of 1996 in Camden, London, before moving to Earls Court 2 for production rehearsals featuring the stage sets and full band. Several public previews were held at Earls Court before the show moved to the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Heathcliff opened on 16 October 1996 having raised considerable interest from the media regarding Cliff Richard playing the dark, barely civilized character; with many sources speculating that Richard could not carry off such a role.[2] Box office records were broken for first-week ticket sales. Following the run in Birmingham, the show transferred to Edinburgh for four weeks, before returning to the National Indoor Arena for a few additional dates before Christmas. After the New Year, the show opened in the Palace Theatre, Manchester before transferring to London. The final performance was at Hammersmith Apollo, in May. Heathcliff played to audiences of close on half a million people, and had broken box office records at almost every theater.

Although the musical was not well received by critics, with one referring to it as "living dull", it was popular with Richard's fans. An advertising campaign for the show used some of the critics' quotes, such as "This Wretched Show" and "Withering Rather Than Wuthering", to contrast the opposing views of critics and fans.[3]

The opening advance takings for the show were £8.5m, believed to be a record at the time.[3] A cast recording of the show was released in October 1996 to coincide with the start of the tour and the single of "Be With Me Always" was released at that time.[4]

A film recording of the show was made at the Hammersmith Apollo, the video of which stayed at the top of the charts for 8 weeks.[5]

Background

Richard had long-harboured the desire to play Heathcliff. John Farrar in 1994 is quoted as saying "I remember him [Richard] talking about this 15 years ago when I was in England."[6] In 1991, Richard contacted Sir Tim Rice to ask him if he "would be interested in contributing to a whole album's worth of material". Richard had already lined up John Farrar and Frank Dunlop. Rice found the opportunity to provide Richard lyrics that would be in contrast to many of the lyrics and images that he had build up over his long career, "an irresistible one".[7] By January 1994, roughly half the material was ready. The musical was originally planned to be staged late 1994 at several arenas across the UK and since its press launch in February 1994, 150,000 tickets had been sold. However, in May "Heathcliff" was postponed because the show would not be ready in time, and the concert bookings were retained for "The Hit list Tour".[6][8]

Story

The main character of the musical, Heathcliff, was taken in as a homeless child by Mr Earnshaw, to live with his own family at the remote Yorkshire farmhouse, Wuthering Heights. Mr Earnshaw's son Hindley (Jimmy Johnston) formed an instant antipathy to the wild and rebellious Heathcliff. His sister Cathy (Helen Hobson) found in Heathcliff a suitable soul mate, whose fiery passions fed her romantic nature.

Heathcliff and Cathy were inseparable; and their habit of wandering unchecked on their beloved moors resulted in an accidental injury, which invalided Cathy for a time, necessitating a stay at Thrushcross Grange, the home of the Lintons (the cultured Edgar, and his sister Isabella). This contact with a more refined world seduced Cathy, spurring her to rein in her wild passions. The dazzle of wealth broadened her horizons, and her first taste of gentility caused the careless abandon of her relationship with Heathcliff. The possibility of a future together for them in a world that required more prudent choices be made is despaired. Her acceptance of Edgar Linton's (Darryl Knock) marriage proposal threw Heathcliff into a tormented rage. In order to avoid daily confrontation with his loss of Cathy and to punish her with his absence, he traveled abroad in an effort to improve his life, to match that of her husband.

Years pass and Heathcliff returns unexpectedly having amassed the extreme wealth he sought, as well as vast experience. Hindley Earnshaw, now master of Wuthering Heights following the death of his father, has become a drunken bully still seething with hatred for Heathcliff. Hindley and Heathcliff fought, with Heathcliff winning Wuthering Heights as the prize. Heathcliff married Edgar's sister, Isabella (Sara Haggerty), although he did not love her. He cruelly abuses her, as Cahty's marriage to Edgar continues to torment him. Cathy dies following a grueling childbirth, having confessed her undiminished passion for Heathcliff and her error in having given herself in marriage to Edgar, a decision which ultimately brought misery to all concerned.

Heathcliff endures years of torment following this loss, until his own death reunites the lovers in the afterlife.

People

Alternative poster for London

Cast

Production Crew

Musical numbers

Tour dates

16 Oct - 2 Nov & 14 - 19 Dec 1996

5 Nov - 7 Dec 1996

7 Jan - 8 Feb 1997

12 Feb - 17 May 1997

References

  1. 1 2 "Production History - Heathcliff". Sir Tim Rice (www.timrice.co.uk). Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Cliff Richard: Peter Pan or lost boy?". BBC News. 1999-11-29. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
  3. 1 2 Lister, David (1997-04-14). "Cliff's oxygen of bad publicity". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
  4. ↑ Cliff Richard Official Website Discography
  5. ↑ The Cliff Richard Fan Club
  6. 1 2 "Cliff's Next Challenge: "Heathcliff"". Dynamite International. Utrecht, Netherlands: The International Cliff Richard Movement (153): 1. April–May 1994.
  7. ↑ Cliff Richard (artist), Sir Tim Rice (album liner notes) (1995). Songs from Heathcliff (CD). EMI Records.
  8. ↑ "Cliff drops Musical for Tour". Dynamite International. Utrecht, Netherlands: The International Cliff Richard Movement (154): 1. June–July 1994.
  9. ↑ "The Sir Cliff Richard Home Page: Heathcliff".

External links

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