Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe

Mickey Jo Theatre mentioned Soho Cinders during one of his videos on Bad Cindrella. I gave the 2011 concert album a listen, then watched some clips on YouTube.

The story pairs a working-class lad, Robbie, with a closeted politician. Instead of a slipper, he loses his cell phone. The idea is clever. The score has some fun numbers. But there are balance problems. The leads lack personality and agency. The big numbers go to the sidekick, the stepsisters and the politician's heartbroken girlfriend. The latter gets an "I Know Him So Well" moment with Robbie's bff when it should really be with Robbie.

Was there ever talk of this show coming to Off-Broadway? I'd like to see a revision that beefed up Robbie's part and gave him some agency. I grew annoyed that he shared most of his songs with his female sidekick. He only gets one true solo, early in act two, and then the supporting cast takes over again.

Jordan Catalano said: "It’s been a few years since I saw this so someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I remember it being an extremely “British” show that would need extensive alterations if it were to play here, making it a totally different show."

This is my recollection as well.

Jamie's a good comparison. The Jamie film came and went without making much cultural impact. Discourse has gone quiet post quarantine.

The composers of SoHo Cinders also wrote Becoming Nancy, another queer YA romance. The show had a tryout in Atlanta in 2019. Reviews were mixed and I don't know if it will re-ignite post quarantine either.

A shame. There's a market for LGBT+ teen stories, as Heartstopper shows. And there's a shortage of happy LGBT+ romances in musical theater in general. Which is surprising. They tend to break up or die.

I attended the one night concert in London all those years ago (brilliant cast including Sharon D Clarke and Hannah Waddingham), and also saw productions at the Soho Theatre, Union theatre and Charing Cross. It’s a fantastic fun show that doesn’t take itself seriously, but it is indeed very British!
Stiles and Drewe have some great material, I loved the above mentioned Becoming Nancy in Atlanta and think it would play really well in the U.K.