Frome is awash with young talent when it comes to musical theatre and none more apparent than within the membership of the Frome Musical Theatre Company.
Their autumn production this year is Our House, the Madness Musical, and playing the leading roles are Ben Hardy Phillips as Joe Casey and Tabi Cox as his girlfriend Sarah.
Both young actors are already well-known faces in Frome with Ben having picked up a number of awards for his recent portrayal as Buttons in Cinderella last Christmas and Tabi for her role as Maria in The Sound of Music last year. Ben also played Pirelli in Sweeney Todd last year and Tabi was Belle in Beauty and the Beast in 2012. Away from the Frome Musical Theatre Company, they have also been seen in school and Merlin productions in recent times.
Our House is a musical with music and lyrics by Madness and a book by playwright Tim Firth. The show features songs from the ska/pop band Madness, and was named after one of their popular hit singles, “Our House”. Through the music of Madness, writer Tim Firth explores the themes of love, family values, growing up, responsibility and dealing with losing the people that shape us.
The story follows Camden lad Joe Casey who, on the night of his 16th birthday, makes a decision that will change his life. Trying to impress Sarah, the girl of his dreams, Joe breaks into a building development overlooking his home on Casey Street. But things take a turn for the worse as the police turn up. Joe’s life splits into two; the Good Joe who stays and gives himself up and Bad Joe who flees and leaves Sarah to run from the police.
Our House follows the two paths that Joe’s life could take after that fateful night; one path means a criminal record and social exclusion, while the other will lose him the girl that he loves. Over a period of seven years and two alternative lives, Joe deals with the consequences of that night. Whilst one Joe fights to keep Sarah, the other is marrying her in a glitzy Vegas wedding and, ultimately, while Good Joe fights to save his house on Casey Street, Bad Joe is determined to demolish it with tragic consequences. All this is watched over by Joe’s deceased father, who pulls the two stories together.
The Madness hits go on and on and as well as the title song the show includes Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Embarrassment, Driving in my Car, House of Fun, Nightboat to Cairo, Wings of a Dove and many more.
If you love the music of the 80’s and Madness in particular you won’t want to miss this one, so please book early by ringing the box office on 462795 or by contacting admin@fromememorialtheatre.org.uk.
