Heathcliff (musical)
Encyclopedia
Heathcliff was the brainchild of singer Cliff Richard
based loosely on the novel Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë
, though focussing on the character of Heathcliff
and adapting the story to fit in with the staging and production. The musical attempts to fill some of the gaps in Heathcliff's personal story by taking leads from implications made by Emily Brontë in the novel, fitting them into the sequence of events as written.
The music is by John Farrar
and lyrics are by Sir Tim Rice. The Book is by Cliff Richard
and Frank Dunlop (director)
The idea for Heathcliff was born in 1994 and much of the year was taken up in the production of the venture. Rehearsals took place during the Summer of 1996 in Camden, London before moving to Earls Court 2 for production rehearsals with the stage sets and full band. A couple of public previews were held at Earls Court before the show moved to the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
Heathcliff opened on 16 October 1996, amongst considerable interest from the world’s media about Cliff Richard playing the dark, barely civilised, character, with many sources speculating that Richard could not carry off such a role.
Box office records were broken for first-week ticket sales. Following the run in Birmingham the show transferred to Edinburgh for four weeks, before returning to the NIA for a few additional dates before Christmas. After the New Year the show opened in the Palace Theatre, Manchester before transferring to London.
The final performance was at Labatt's Apollo, Hammersmith, in May; Cliff had played to audiences of close on half a million people, and had broken box office records at almost every theatre.
Although the musical was not received well by some critics, with one referring to it as "living dull", it was popular with Richard's fans and with many Bronte buffs; an advertising campaign for the show used some of the critics' quotes, such as "This Wretched Show" and "Withering Rather Than Wuthering", to contrast the opposing views of the critics and fans.
The opening advance takings for the show were £8.5m, believed to be a record at the time. A cast recording of the show was released in October 1996 to coincide with the start of the tour and several singles were issued, including 'A Misunderstood Man", "Had To Be", "Be With Me Always" and "The Wedding" (40) , a duet with Helen Hobson.
A film recording of the show was made at the Hammersmith Apollo, the video of which stayed at the top of the charts for 8 weeks.
The two were inseparable and their habit of wandering unchecked on their beloved moors resulted in an accidental injury which invalided Cathy for a time, necessitating a stay at Thrushcross Grange, the home of the Lintons - the cultured Edgar, and his sister Isabella. This contact with a more refined world seduced Cathy, spurring her to rein in her wild passions somewhat; the dazzle of wealth broadened her horizons, her first taste of gentility causing her to question the careless abandon of her relationship with Heathcliff, and to despair of the possibility of a future together for them in a world that required more prudent choices be made. Her acceptance of Edgar Linton's (Darryl Knock) marriage proposal threw Heathcliff into a tormented rage; in order to avoid daily confrontation with his loss of Cathy, and to punish her with his absence, he travelled abroad in an effort to improve his station in life, to match that of her husband.
Years pass; Heathcliff returns unexpectedly, having amassed the extreme wealth he sought, as well as vast experience - although nothing to expunge his passion for Cathy. Hindley Earnshaw - master of Wuthering Heights following the death of his father - is by now a drunken bully, still seething with hatred for Heathcliff. They fight, Heathcliff winning Wuthering Heights as forfeit. He marries Edgar's sister, Isabella (Sara Haggerty) although he does not love her, and cruelly abuses her, in order to torment Cathy just as her marriage to Edgar continues to torment him. Ultimately, following a gruelling chilbirth, Cathy dies having confessed her undiminished passion for him, and her error in having given herself in marriage to Edgar, a decision which ultimately brought misery to all concerned.
Heathcliff endures years of torment following this loss, until his own death reunites the lovers in the afterlife.
16th Oct - 2nd Nov & 14th - 19th Dec 1996
5th Nov - 7th Dec 1996
7th Jan - 8th Feb 1997
12th Feb - 17 May 1997
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
based loosely on the novel Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
by Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë
Emily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
, though focussing on the character of Heathcliff
Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights)
Heathcliff is a fictional character in the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Owing to the novel's enduring fame and popularity, he is often regarded as an archetype of the tortured Romantic hero whose all-consuming passions destroy both himself and those around him.Legend has stereotyped...
and adapting the story to fit in with the staging and production. The musical attempts to fill some of the gaps in Heathcliff's personal story by taking leads from implications made by Emily Brontë in the novel, fitting them into the sequence of events as written.
The music is by John Farrar
John Farrar
John Farrar is a music producer, songwriter, music arranger, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
and lyrics are by Sir Tim Rice. The Book is by Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
and Frank Dunlop (director)
Frank Dunlop (director)
Frank Dunlop is a British theatre director.-Early life:Dunlop was born in Leeds, England to Charles Norman Dunlop and Mary Aarons...
The idea for Heathcliff was born in 1994 and much of the year was taken up in the production of the venture. Rehearsals took place during the Summer of 1996 in Camden, London before moving to Earls Court 2 for production rehearsals with the stage sets and full band. A couple of public previews were held at Earls Court before the show moved to the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
Heathcliff opened on 16 October 1996, amongst considerable interest from the world’s media about Cliff Richard playing the dark, barely civilised, character, with many sources speculating that Richard could not carry off such a role.
Box office records were broken for first-week ticket sales. Following the run in Birmingham the show transferred to Edinburgh for four weeks, before returning to the NIA for a few additional dates before Christmas. After the New Year the show opened in the Palace Theatre, Manchester before transferring to London.
The final performance was at Labatt's Apollo, Hammersmith, in May; Cliff had played to audiences of close on half a million people, and had broken box office records at almost every theatre.
Although the musical was not received well by some critics, with one referring to it as "living dull", it was popular with Richard's fans and with many Bronte buffs; an advertising campaign for the show used some of the critics' quotes, such as "This Wretched Show" and "Withering Rather Than Wuthering", to contrast the opposing views of the critics and fans.
The opening advance takings for the show were £8.5m, believed to be a record at the time. A cast recording of the show was released in October 1996 to coincide with the start of the tour and several singles were issued, including 'A Misunderstood Man", "Had To Be", "Be With Me Always" and "The Wedding" (40) , a duet with Helen Hobson.
A film recording of the show was made at the Hammersmith Apollo, the video of which stayed at the top of the charts for 8 weeks.
Story
Heathcliff, taken in when a homeless child as an act of charity by Mr Earnshaw, to live with his own family at the remote Yorkshire farmhouse, Wuthering Heights. Mr Earnshaw's son Hindley (Jimmy Johnston) formed an instant antipathy to the wild and rebellious Heathcliff, whereas his sister Cathy (Helen Hobson) found in Heathcliff a suitable soul mate whose fiery passions fed her romantic nature.The two were inseparable and their habit of wandering unchecked on their beloved moors resulted in an accidental injury which invalided Cathy for a time, necessitating a stay at Thrushcross Grange, the home of the Lintons - the cultured Edgar, and his sister Isabella. This contact with a more refined world seduced Cathy, spurring her to rein in her wild passions somewhat; the dazzle of wealth broadened her horizons, her first taste of gentility causing her to question the careless abandon of her relationship with Heathcliff, and to despair of the possibility of a future together for them in a world that required more prudent choices be made. Her acceptance of Edgar Linton's (Darryl Knock) marriage proposal threw Heathcliff into a tormented rage; in order to avoid daily confrontation with his loss of Cathy, and to punish her with his absence, he travelled abroad in an effort to improve his station in life, to match that of her husband.
Years pass; Heathcliff returns unexpectedly, having amassed the extreme wealth he sought, as well as vast experience - although nothing to expunge his passion for Cathy. Hindley Earnshaw - master of Wuthering Heights following the death of his father - is by now a drunken bully, still seething with hatred for Heathcliff. They fight, Heathcliff winning Wuthering Heights as forfeit. He marries Edgar's sister, Isabella (Sara Haggerty) although he does not love her, and cruelly abuses her, in order to torment Cathy just as her marriage to Edgar continues to torment him. Ultimately, following a gruelling chilbirth, Cathy dies having confessed her undiminished passion for him, and her error in having given herself in marriage to Edgar, a decision which ultimately brought misery to all concerned.
Heathcliff endures years of torment following this loss, until his own death reunites the lovers in the afterlife.
Cast
- Heathcliff - Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
- Cathy - Helen Hobson
- Earnshaw/Hindley - Jimmy Jonhston
- Edgar - Darryl Knock
- Isabella - Sara Haggerty
- Troubadour - Gordon GiltrapGordon GiltrapGordon Giltrap is an English acoustic and electric guitarist and composer, whose musical styles cross multiple genres, including folk, blues, folk rock, pop, classical and rock....
- Elements - Rob Fardell, Chris Holland, Sonai Jones, Niki Kitt, Suzanne Parry
- Dancers - Gbenga Adeyemo, Andrew Carroll, Phyllida Crowley SmithPhyllida Crowley SmithPhyllida Crowley Smith is an English ballerina, theatre actress and choreographer.Born on the Isle of Wight, England, she studied at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts...
, Samuel Hall, Jacqui Jameson, RIchard Joseph, , Lizzie Liegh, Andrea Smart, Bryn Walters - Vocalists - David Combes, John Parry, Mick Wilson
Production Crew
- Lyricist - Tim RiceTim RiceSir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
- Composer - John FarrarJohn FarrarJohn Farrar is a music producer, songwriter, music arranger, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
- Director - Frank Dunlop (director)Frank Dunlop (director)Frank Dunlop is a British theatre director.-Early life:Dunlop was born in Leeds, England to Charles Norman Dunlop and Mary Aarons...
- Production Design - Joe Vanek
- Lighting Designer - Andrew Bridge
- Sound Design - Mike Lowe, Colin Norfield, John James
- Production Music Director - Mike Moran
- Choreographer - Brad Jeffries
- Assistant Choreographer - Michelle Papouis
- Orchestrator - Sean Callery
Musical numbers
- A Misunderstood Man
- Sleep of the Good
- Gypsy Bundle
- The Grange Waltz
- Each to His Own
- Had To Be
- Mrs. Edgar Linton
- The Journey
- When You Thought of Me
- Dream Tomorrow
- Gambling Song
- I Do Not Love You Isabella
- Choosing When It's Too Late
- Madness of Cathy
- Marked with Death
- Be With Me Always
- The Nightmare
Tour dates
- National Indoor ArenaNational Indoor ArenaThe National Indoor Arena is a large indoor arena and is owned by the NEC Group. It is situated in central Birmingham, England and was opened in 1991, as the largest indoor arena at the time in the UK...
, Birmingham
16th Oct - 2nd Nov & 14th - 19th Dec 1996
- Edinburgh PlayhouseEdinburgh PlayhouseThe Edinburgh Playhouse is a former cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland which now hosts touring musicals and music concerts. Its capacity is 3,059, making it the UK's largest working theatre in terms of audience capacity....
5th Nov - 7th Dec 1996
- Palace Theatre, ManchesterPalace Theatre, ManchesterThe Palace Theatre, Manchester, is one of the main theatres in Manchester, England. It is situated on Oxford Street, on the north-east corner of the intersection with Whitworth Street. The Palace and its 'sister' theatre the Manchester Opera House on Quay Street are operated by the same parent...
7th Jan - 8th Feb 1997
- Hammersmith ApolloHammersmith ApolloHammersmith Apollo is a major entertainment venue located in Hammersmith, London. Designed by Robert Cromie in Art Deco style, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, being re-named the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962...
London
12th Feb - 17 May 1997