Should we choose music to go with our books?

A most enjoyable visit to a musical show at a theatre last week set me thinking about whether associating a tune with a novel would be a logical, or useful, thing to do?
If so, should I find a tune which goes with my favourite book, Sophie’s Salvation?

Perhaps I should describe the show which set me on this topic. For once, those of us who live in the UK have had an advantage over you guys on the other side of “the pond” for the past four years. We have been able to see a show not yet available in the USA.

Let’s see if you can guess what the name of the show is. It originated in the USA, and was a great success for the two stars back in the 1930s. The dancing was a great feature.

Several years ago, a talented team here in the UK managed to agree the rights to recreate the show here in England. The show toured provincial theatres here, to great acclaim, for a year before reaching the Aldwych Theatre in the West End of London. There the show had a successful two year run. Half way through, the main star decided to relinquish his role, and another actor rehearsed ready for a Press Night. At the last minute, he fell ill, and his understudy (Alan Burkitt) appeared at the Press Night in his place, and received rave reviews.

Here is another clue – the original 1930s show was a film, with music by Irving Berlin.

The UK show includes 10 more of that composer’s numbers. Perhaps I should now stop teasing you, and tell you. The show is “Top Hat”, originally starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Here are some Youtube clips for you to see.

First, a taster of Cheek to Cheek –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPhHC...

Then some words -

http://musicaltheatrereview.com/top-h...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uNy9...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo2A5...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hAfP...

The second provincial run here with Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Goocg has just finished and, according to the web site, they will be in Japan for a month in September. But what about you guys in the States – isn’t it time that you had a chance to see the show!