A Spoonful of Sherman

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A Spoonful of Sherman
A Spoonful Of Sherman April 2014 flyer.jpg
St. James Theatre poster by Rebecca Pitt (Second Run)
Music Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman and Robert J. Sherman
Lyrics Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman and Robert J. Sherman
Book Robert J. Sherman
Productions January 2014 St. James Theatre April 2014 St. James Theatre

A Spoonful of Sherman is a two act cabaret show which premiered on January 6, 2014 at the St. James Theatre in London. Robert J. Sherman produced, wrote and emceed A Spoonful of Sherman. The event also served as the book launch for Sherman's father's (posthumously released) autobiography: Moose: Chapters From My Life for which Sherman also served as the book's editor. After each performance, Sherman participated in a book signing. The show was billed as "A Celebration of the Life, Times and Songs of Robert B. Sherman" and was received extremely well by the crowd and the critics alike. The cast consisted of four rising West End theatre stars including Charlotte Wakefield, Emma Williams, Stuart Matthew Price and Greg Castiglioni. Musical Direction was provided by Colin Billing and the show was directed by Stewart Nicholls.[1] Lighting was designed by the show's Stage Manager Andrew Holton.

Production

The show was produced by MusicWorld (UK) in association with the St. James Theatre, James Albrecht, Creative Director. Joanne Benjamin and Clive Chenery of The Entertainment Business provided General Management.

A Spoonful of Sherman received outstanding notices, garnering four stars from Clive Davis of the London Times[2] as well as four and five star reviews from dozens of other papers and online reviewers.[3][4][5][6] The show covered ninety years of Sherman songwriting (including material written by the Sherman Brothers' father, Al Sherman (who began writing music in the early 1920s.) Songs written by the younger Robert Sherman were also included in the show as well) but the focus of the evening was the music and lyrics of Robert B. Sherman and the Sherman Brothers. "In deciding what songs to select, particular emphasis was put on material that would propel the narrative of Robert B. Sherman's life story forward. My narration would then fill in the gaps. Of course almost all of the famous stuff made it in. Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Winnie the Pooh , The Jungle Book and "It's A Small World (After All)" were represented, but I'm particularly pleased that we were able to include some unexpected gems in the mix as well."[7] A Spoonful of Sherman was so successful in its own right, that further shows were scheduled for April 2014.[8][9]

Origin of the Name

A Spoonful of Sherman is derived from the title of the popular song "A Spoonful of Sugar" from the successful 1964 Walt Disney musical motion picture, Mary Poppins. The song was written by the Sherman Brothers.

Critical praise for A Spoonful of Sherman

  • Clive Davis of The London Times gave the show 4 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★, writing that it was: “A show that strings together one joyous hit after another, delivered by a first-rate quartet of singers.”[2]
  • Mark Shenton in The Stage wrote, "There’s plenty to both surprise and delight here."[3]
  • UK Theatre Web gave the show 5 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ writing: “It really was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Riffs and mash-ups on Winnie The Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins and a smashing Al Sherman Medley made the evening all too short, all too few songs, all the more memorable. I feel privileged to have been there. A truly scrumptious smorgasbord of smash hits by the Sherman Brothers.”[10]
  • Bargaintheatreland gave the show 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ writing: "Something magical happened at St James Theatre – it was a night of revelation, emotion and sheer joy."[11]
  • Jonathan Baz gave the show 4 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ and wrote: “It is a wonder that this charming show has not been staged before. Amidst all of Broadway’s giant songwriting partnerships, none reaches out to the child within us quite like the legacy of the Sherman Brothers. Cleverly crafted songs that speak of hope against adversity, written in verses that talk to every age. This show deserves to tour and when it comes to your town, don’t miss it!”[12]
  • Rhiannon Lawson of What's On Stage gave the show 4 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★ and wrote: "If you love a bit of nostaligia, enjoy flying a kite, singing with orangutans, feeding the birds or wondered what the wonderful thing about Tiggers is, you will have a Truly Scrumptious evening at A Spoonful of Sherman. Leaving the theatre with a spring in my step, I don't expect my sugar rush from this evening to be over for some time.[13]
  • Edward Seckerson wrote: “A cavalcade of Sherman, three generations, no medicine, just charm, and one or two genuine surprises...to demonstrate that the legacy lives on – “Music of the Spheres” by Robert J. Sherman (given a real sheen by Stuart Matthew Price). I want to hear that again, as I do “The Whistle Tune” from Busker Alley ”[14]
  • Remotegoat gave the show 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ writing that it was: "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious! An evening of magic and delight."[15]
A Spoonful of Sherman
A Spoonful of Sherman 2014-2015 Original Cast Recording CD Jewel Case.jpg
Cast recording by Original London Cast
Released 13 July 2015 (2015-07-13)
Genre Musical Theatre
Length 91:51
Label SimG Records
Producer Nick Lloyd Webber
  • Musical Theatre Review wrote: "I predict a great future for A Spoonful of Sherman. Don’t miss this great cast!"[4]
  • West End Wilma gave the show 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ writing: "The audience were on the edge of their seats yearning for more."[16]
  • The Public Reviews called the show: "Irresistible" giving it 4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ “A delightful way to spend a couple of hours - great fun."[17]
  • The Leighton Buzzard Observer wrote: “Walt Disney may have built a magical ‘toon empire but it was the Sherman Brothers who gave the mouse maestro his voice. A Spoonful of Sherman is a night of pure indulgence.”[18]
  • Stagey Secrets wrote: “Truly scrumptious. The overwhelming power of their music is inescapable.”[19]

Original London Cast Recording

The double CD, Original London Cast Recording was recorded between July 2014 and February 2015. It was produced by Nicholas Lloyd Webber and mixed and engineered by Matthew Weir at the Palace Studios, located in London. Mastering was produced by Simon Grieff and engineered by Sam Featherstone at Price Recording. The executive producer of the album was Robert Sherman who also wrote and performed the narration and co-conceived the show with musical director, arranger and pianist, Colin Billing. It was released by SimG Records on July 13, 2015.[20] Reviews of the CD were extremely favorable.[21][22][23][24][25][26] The cast recording was released digitally on iTunes September 7, 2015.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Davis, Clive. "A Spoonful of Sherman at the St. James Theatre, SW1" The Times, January 15, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shenton, Mark. "A Spoonful of Sherman" The Stage, April 22, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Honoré, Patrick. "A Spoonful of Sherman – St James Studio Theatre" Musical Theatre Review, January 19, 2014
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Robert J. Sherman comments on "A Spoonful of Sherman" facebook.com, accessed August 1, 2015
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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