Whistle Down The Wind

Whistle Down The Wind, the best selling book by Mary Hayley Bell, has been turned into a musical  by Andrew Lloyd Webber and set in 1959 and relocated to Louisiana USA . 

Sue Sampsons inspirational directing always brings out the best of her principals and cast. The show started without the traditional overture, the whole cast coming on stage to sing the opening number led by the Baptist Minister (Myles Harfield) whose rich bass voice and the accompanying  rock choir set the scene for the musical.  The Man (Jason McCann), an escaped prisoner who found refuge in the barn of a local family, displayed his fine acting and his singing was breathtaking. Boone (Martin Sampson), the owner of the barn, recently widowed, and doing his best to comfort his young family, was a very moving part and showed his stage presence. Swallow (Rebecca Rogers) the eldest daughter, her acting and singing were well suited to the role, well supported and acted by, her brother Poor Baby (Benjamin Glover) and sister Brat (Savannah Johnson), all trying hard to come to terms with the loss of their Mother. The Sheriff (Paul Furlong), his deputy (Nick Lang), Snake Preacher (Alan Hillier), Edward (Dave Sillet) and the villagers, believing the Man is in the area, are searching for the escaped prisoner. All gave good support to the production. Amos (Brad Roberts), the boyfriend on his motor bike, with his girlfriend Candy (Jennifer Furlong), also gave good support. Amos admires Swallow and wants her to go away with him. The local children all go to the barn to see The Man thinking he is some kind of saviour and want him to tell them stories. The Man asks Swallow to retrieve a parcel, she agrees and asks Amos to take her on his bike. The scene of them speeding through the village with a backcloth of the countryside was very effective. In the end The Man realises the chase is up and sets fire to the barn, the scene is a very dramatic and a spectacularly haunting end to the show leaving the audience with the unanswered question: did The Man survive?

Steven Bean's conducting of the Lloyd Webber score of love songs and rock music complimented the cast, giving good support to the singing of the principals and chorus.

The set was designed and built by Stage Manager Pete Day, John Larke, Tony Marshall, Dave Sillett, and Sue Sillett. Sound by Chris Evans and Lighting by Tony Marshall and David Tropman

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