I created the role of the flirtatious, love-rat Jerry!
‘Sadly Solo Joe’ started life in 2000 as a solo-vehicle project for the talents of the Olivier Award winning actor Clive Rowe. In May 2002, with a full script and three more characters, it was showcased as part of the ‘Musical Futures’ competition at the Greenwich Theatre. The show was selected from the 12 original musicals showcased that year, and with the support of Greenwich Theatre and London Arts was given it’s own full-scale production!
‘Sadly Solo Joe’ is told in four simple Musical Acts. In the first act Joe tells the audience about his life (solo), the second introduces the possible love of his life Odetta (duet), in the third we meet Joe’s ‘best’ friend Jerry, the barman (trio), and in the fourth and tragic finale we get to meet Nicki, Odetta’s friend (quartet).
When I auditioned for the role of Jerry I knew from the script that the story needed a ‘thirty year old, confident, attractive, ladies man, with a Baritone voice’ … I had no chance! I was a twenty-something, vaguely confident, ‘boy-next-door’, ever so slightly timid, tenor’.
Somehow I got the job!
 During the three-week rehearsal period I grew myself a beard and exercised my lower vocal register … the rest would be down to my acting! Without giving away the final tragic ending … ‘don’t eat the chocolate mousse’!
I truly loved this show, such a great intimate piece. A very funny, likeable story; the music was a subtle blend of Blues, Musical Theatre, R&B and Soul; and the lyrics were so clever - witty and totally character driven. Being part of a four hander was also great fun … we all got a small moment to shine onstage and thankfully all got on well off-stage too!
The production was invited to transfer to the Sherman Theatre as part of the International Festival of New Musical Theatre in Cardiff, and was in fact the only new full-scale musical in the festival programme!
In Greenwich we were met with very encouraging and favourable reviews … unfortunately due to lack of publicity in Wales, our final run in Cardiff was a very quiet one. I believe the show deserves another outing. The writers, Peter Readman and Paul Ryan, are a relatively undiscovered talent that needs support, especially in this dying art of British Musical Theatre (!). I can only hope a theatre producer picks them, or their show, up!
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“A fine supporting cast … laid-back Simon Greiff … a show with genuine possibilities”
The Times
*** Three Stars
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“The cast work like crazy … nifty song and dance sequences”
The Guardian ...........................................
“Some strong tunes, some witty lines … Ryan & Readman have a talent to subvert as well as amuse”
The Daily Telegraph ...........................................
“A talented cast laden with oomph and vocal powers that set the whole Greenwich Theatre ringing … it boasts some juicy numbers”
Evening Standard ...........................................
“There are some lovely comic scenes, enough to give you a taste of the talent and passion that lie behind this production”
Time Out ...........................................
“It’s a cracker … Class written on it from head to toe”
Kentish Times ...........................................
“Rowe is terrific, but then so are the rest of the cast … appealing tunes and ingenious, colloquial lyrics … funny, fast-paced production”
The Stage ...........................................
“Simon Greiff (and cast) are cast spot on in the roles … all four sing well … they make this musical happen … Ryan’s book is very funny … enjoyable show”
Musical Stages Online ...........................................
“Rowe is well supported by Simon Greiff (and cast) … well written music carries the evening along …
Musical Stages ...........................................
“Delightful little gem … original, funny, tuneful, and lyrically brilliant”
South Wales Echo ........................................... |
