News of The Smiths' Musical from the NME

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Morrissey finally goes too far – “Heaven Knows I’m Les Miserables Now” by James Jam.

If you’re looking for Rock’n’Roll with a theatrical edge – whoa! Put down that Secret History Of The Divine Comedy! – Welcome to the world of the rock musical. All-singing, all-dancing theatrical tributes exist for Queen, the Pixies, Abba and, incredibly, Slayer. And now it’s the turn of The Smiths.

“The thing that goes wrong with putting pop songs in a show like this,” says Andrew Wale, director of Smiths tribute Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, “is that the songs can be diminished in their placing. But what’s great about the music of The Smiths is that you can put yourself in those songs and imagine yourself in those situations.”

But apparently this is not a yarn that has much to do with the story of The Smiths themselves, instead focusing upon the characters within the songs, and allowing Morrissey and Marr’s songs to ‘inspire’ the tale. Described as “The Smiths as you’ve never heard them before!” its creators ask us to “Imagine Morrissey and Marr’s songs as a two-way mirror reflecting back to the half-remembered mysteries of childhood and forward to the bleak conclusions of adulthood.” Crikey! When do we get to the hearing-aid bit?

“It’s not the story of the band,” clarifies Andrew. “More than anything, I’ve collected these people together because I find them fascinating as individuals. It’s more about finding an emotional pain through the songs.”

And will Smiths fans enjoy it? “I’d certainly hope so. It contains the romance, the passion and the dark elements that are in the songs as well.”

By the way, the Slayer thing was a lie, but as soon as I find the time, I’m going to write it. Sort of like Cats with a sub-plot of sado-masochistic bondage. And blood. Bring on the dancing girls!

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others opens at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, in July.
 
sounds absolutely horrible. I may have to stand outside with a placard.
 
I'm going press night. Should be a giggle.

> Morrissey finally goes too far – “Heaven Knows I’m Les Miserables Now” by
> James Jam.

> If you’re looking for Rock’n’Roll with a theatrical edge – whoa! Put down
> that Secret History Of The Divine Comedy! – Welcome to the world of the
> rock musical. All-singing, all-dancing theatrical tributes exist for
> Queen, the Pixies, Abba and, incredibly, Slayer. And now it’s the turn of
> The Smiths.

> “The thing that goes wrong with putting pop songs in a show like this,”
> says Andrew Wale, director of Smiths tribute Some Girls Are Bigger Than
> Others, “is that the songs can be diminished in their placing. But what’s
> great about the music of The Smiths is that you can put yourself in those
> songs and imagine yourself in those situations.”

> But apparently this is not a yarn that has much to do with the story of
> The Smiths themselves, instead focusing upon the characters within the
> songs, and allowing Morrissey and Marr’s songs to ‘inspire’ the tale.
> Described as “The Smiths as you’ve never heard them before!” its creators
> ask us to “Imagine Morrissey and Marr’s songs as a two-way mirror
> reflecting back to the half-remembered mysteries of childhood and forward
> to the bleak conclusions of adulthood.” Crikey! When do we get to the
> hearing-aid bit?

> “It’s not the story of the band,” clarifies Andrew. “More than anything,
> I’ve collected these people together because I find them fascinating as
> individuals. It’s more about finding an emotional pain through the songs.”

> And will Smiths fans enjoy it? “I’d certainly hope so. It contains the
> romance, the passion and the dark elements that are in the songs as well.”

> By the way, the Slayer thing was a lie, but as soon as I find the time,
> I’m going to write it. Sort of like Cats with a sub-plot of
> sado-masochistic bondage. And blood. Bring on the dancing girls!

> Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others opens at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre,
> London, in July.
 
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