Singing the songs of a doomed love affair in Love Story

Vitally smitten: Emma Williams as Jenny and Michael Xavier as Oliver
10 April 2012

"I bet this is one of your favourite films," remarked a male critic condescendingly at the start of this musical adaptation. Loath as I am not to live up to gender stereotypes, I had to confess that, no, I had always found the much-loved 1970 Ali MacGraw/Ryan O’Neal tearjerker a load of old tosh.

The prospect of sitting through Erich Segal’s story of forbidden love and early death once more, this time with songs, filled me with dread.

So it was obviously high time for comeuppance, and I can report with immense pleasure that Howard Goodall (music) and Stephen Clark (book and lyrics) have crafted a terrific new musical.

One of my many issues with the film is the way it belts through its account of Harvard rich boy lawyer Oliver and Radcliffe poor girl pianist Jenny without pausing to draw breath. The genius of turning this into a musical is that the songs offer welcome moments of interiority in the hectic narrative onslaught, giving crucial emotional heft and access into the hearts and minds of the lovestruck duo.

And it’s not just any songs we’re talking about, but plangent, beautifully crafted and sung pieces. The haunting opening number What Can You Say? deserves to become a classic.

It’s incredibly deftly staged by Rachel Kavanaugh, who guides us through the many locations with ease. All this would mean nothing, though, if Emma Williams and Michael Xavier weren’t as poignant, tuneful and, vitally, smitten, as they are.

Pasta, their jolly hymn to love in the time of penury, sung while they whip up a delicious-smelling supper, had everyone beaming before the weepy conclusion.

The show finished to a chorus of heavy sniffles superseded by hearty applause, which I take to mean that a West End transfer should be a given.

Until June 26. Information: 01243 781312; cft.org.uk

Love Story
Chichester

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