Your Lie in April’s totally staged 12-week West Finish premiere is now open on the Harold Pinter Theatre, taking part in till 21 September 2024.
The place and when?
Your Lie In April is a brand new musical from legendary Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award nominated composer Frank Wildhorn. Primarily based on the multi-million-selling manga by Naoshi Arakawa, Your Lie In April the musical premiered in Tokyo in 2022 to nice acclaim and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than a nationwide tour was mounted. Following the brand new musicals raucous success, an English language live performance manufacturing was staged in April of this 12 months and a full West Finish manufacturing was quickly introduced. Frank Wildhorn, recognized for his hits corresponding to Jekyll & Hyde, Bonnie & Clyde and the current Loss of life Observe The Musical, brings the romantic story of Your Lie in April to life together with his magnificent rating, mixing classical and musical theatre seamlessly. At present taking part in on the Harold Pinter Theatre till September, London audiences as soon as once more have the chance to expertise this stunning musical in a visually gorgeous full manufacturing.
Who’s within the solid?
For this full manufacturing, Nick Winston (Chess, Loss of life Observe: The Musical, Bonnie & Clyde, Shrek The Musical, Rock Of Ages) directs Zheng Xi Yong (Spring Awakening, Piaf, Miss Saigon) as Kosei Arima, Rachel Clare Chan (Oliver!, Loss of life Observe The Musical, Miss Saigon) as Tsubaki Sawabe, Dean John-Wilson (The King and I, Ardour, Merciless Intentions) as Ryota Watari and Mia Kobayashi in her skilled debut as Kaori Miyazono. Becoming a member of them are Ernest Stroud (Miss Saigon, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington) as Takeshi, first cowl Watari/second cowl Kosei, JoJo Meredith (Pacific Overtures, Loss of life Observe, Camelot) as Derick, first cowl Kosei, Chris Fung (The Society For New Delicacies, Redcliff, Frozen) as Mi-ike/ensemble, Eu Jin Hwang (Pacific Overtures, Loss of life Observe, Facets Of Love) as Kaori’s Dad/Choose #1, Kevin Tristan (Cabaret) as wing/dance captain, Mairi Ikegami (Ladies A New Musical, Urinetown, Into The Woods) as Sing/first cowl Kaori, Daniel Nardone making his skilled duebt as swing, Ericka Posadas (Can’t See For Trying, Miss Saigon, West Facet Story) as Emi/ensemble, Lucy Park (Priscilla: The Social gathering, Peter Pan, Come From Away) as Kosei’s Mother, Gracie Lai (Priscilla: The Social gathering, Jersey Boys, Bonnie & Clyde) as Kaori’s Mother/Choose #2, Imogen Regulation Hing Choy (Huge The Musical) as ensemble and Ria Tanaka (insert credit score) as swing.
Artistic crew
Justin Williams Loss of life Observe: The Musical, Stranger Sings- A Parody Musical, Who’s Vacation) has created one other implausible set design utilizing pastel colors on an summary levelled Japanese backyard, with a big automated piano spinning on a revolve within the centre and a stupendous pink cherry blossom tree presiding over the motion on the again. Dan Mild created a beautiful video design which adorned the again wall of the set, permitting for characters internal ideas and moods to be artistically portrayed all through the efficiency. The addition of a stay digital camera feed of Yong’s arms as he performed his Rachmaninoff was an impressed impact, engrossing the viewers additional in his efficiency.
What’s the present about?
Thought-about one of the crucial common romantic tales and best tearjerkers in Japanese manga historical past, Your Life In April follows Kosei Arima, the right piano prodigy dubbed the “Human Metronome” for his mechanical accuracy who has received many prestigious competitions. Nevertheless, Kosei has a secret, he loses his capacity to listen to music following the demise of his mom. His life then modifications once more when he strikes a friendship with a gifted violinist Kaori Miyazono. Can his new shaped friendship assist him return to taking part in the music he loves?
Assisted performances
TBC
Assessment
As our hero, Zheng Xi Yong as Kosei Arima was mesmerising. Overlook the triple risk performer, Yong’s efficiency seamlessly mixed a robust vocal, an affecting dramatic flip, an brisk bodily efficiency and the flexibility to play Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Minor Op. 23 No. 5 in full to live performance pianist customary. Deserving of the mid-show standing ovation he obtained, Younger’s efficiency in Your Lie In April is nothing wanting inspirational. Making her skilled debut, Mia Kobayashi performs younger violinist Kaori Miyazono to perfection. Whereas Akiko Ishikawa superbly performs violin onstage for her, Kobayashi’s vocal is completely gorgeous, a type of voices you’ll give a standing ovation for singing the phonebook. Kobayashi performed to the Pinter area superbly with each nuanced expression and quirky second of her Kaori splendidly portrayed. Future Elphaba, maybe? Rachel Clare Chan as Tsubaki Sawabe was superbly carried out and one other voice you may take heed to all day whereas Dean John-Wilson gave a comical flip as Ryota Watari and his vocal melted like butter. The ensemble gave physique to WIldhorn’s rating and was exceptionally robust all through with every particular person solo displaying unbelievable vocal expertise throughout the board.
The unique Your Life In April manga was revealed in 2011, promoting properly over 7.5 million copies in 17 international locations. It was tailored right into a 22-part anime TV collection in 2014 and a Japanese live-action movie in 2016. This sensational new musical model is taking part in on the Harold Pinter theatre till September, so don’t miss your likelihood to be part of this world-wide sensation and witness the magic of Manga stay on stage within the West Finish!
Reviewed by Stuart James for West Finish Wilma
★★★★★
The place can I get tickets?
https://westendwilma.londontheatredirect.com/musical/your-lie-in-april-tickets
