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Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe

Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe

MrsSallyAdams Profile Photo
MrsSallyAdams
#1Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/26/23 at 10:55am

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. 


threepanelmusicals.blogspot.com

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#2Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/26/23 at 12:43pm

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. 

William12
#3Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/27/23 at 1:27pm

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.

SoCalDirector
#4Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/27/23 at 5:35pm

I saw this in London in 2019 and thought it was a mess.   The premise was good enough but the show was basically given to the stepsisters in terms of focus.  It was barebones like an off-off Broadway show.   I don't know what I was expecting but left totally bewildered at what I had just seen.  I can't imagine it coming to the US.  Everyone's Talking About Jamie should come here first.


Miles Robert Mills

MrsSallyAdams Profile Photo
MrsSallyAdams
#5Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/27/23 at 7:23pm

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. 


threepanelmusicals.blogspot.com

RippedMan Profile Photo
RippedMan
#6Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/27/23 at 7:45pm

I saw Jamie in LA and thought it was kind of awful. There were decent songs here and there, but something about it just didn't feel fresh or interesting. 

Mark_E Profile Photo
Mark_E
#7Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/28/23 at 6:53am

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.

Owen22
#8Soho Cinders by Davis, Stiles & Drewe
Posted: 2/28/23 at 7:59am

Stiles and Drewe also penned the Soapdish musical for Chenoweth. 

Part of the problem with some homegrown British musicals is they don't understand the basic structure of a musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber still hasn't figured it out (luckily sometimes he's lucky enough to have collaborators who do). That was surprisingly also part of the problem with Soho Cinders, though it was a fun show.


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