ALW working on new show about Botswana president and his wif

Depends on who writes the book I suppose. Stephen Ward had quite a bit going for it, but the book was terrible and didn't give us a chance to engage with anyone. Stephen Ward, the "society osteopath" hobnobbing with girls half his age wasn't someone I could really get interested in. I would have loved to find out more about the two girls, their motivations, thoughts, feelings about it all. Instead we got a big whiny "I luuuurve my man"-ballad from someone who hadn't really featured throughout the show (Mrs Ward).

I read about the story of the first Botswana president and his English wife a while ago when writing about Botswana history and it is a fairly interesting story about two people defying plenty of obstacles on their way to love and success. ALW showed in "School of Rock" that he can still write terrific tunes. So this COULD fly. If he'd finally get together with a really good writer to come up with a book better than Stephen Ward or the abysmal Love never dies.

Oh god, no more acting like cats or trains. Just no.

All very well for him to be 'fascinated' by a jazz loving Botswanan president and his missus but it doesn't exactly chime with most people does it?

Let's go see that musical about the phantom kidnapping a child star opera singer and hiding her in his lair! TICK


Let's go see that musical of Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard with GLENN CLOSE in a turban! TICK


Let's go see that musical about that ruthless Argentinian hooker who slept her way to the top, sings fab songs then dies. TICK.

Let's go see that musical about a jazz loving Botswanan president and his wife! *insert sound of party pooper here*

Evita only works in that comparison because you know the show. If it was opening now there would be the same reaction as you're having to him possibly doing this. The race element to their story could create the drama and conflict it would need to be compelling, I agree it would need a strong book but it could work.

Although it feels like he is maybe trying to create a new evita

I think this could be quite good. Interesting topic.
Agree a lot will depend on the book.

I honesty think ALW is at the stage of his career where he doesn't care if things will be commercial but he will write about what interests him.
He was passionate about the whole Stephen Ward story. Hearing him talk about it before it opened though he seemed to know it wasn't gonna be a commercial success.

That said I agree with the above and would LOVE another Cats or Starlight.

Something like this he would be wise to try out at somewhere like the menier or Chichester. Something smaller scale with a good reputation.

He also needs to write it then leave it alone. Surrounding himself with so many years yes men hasn't helped in in recent years.

It doesn't have a reputation as yet and he owns it, not really the independent aspect his shows need really. He needs to work with Cameron again, someone who will stand up to him

Sorry, was meant to a somewhat tongue-in-cheek reply, I forget you can't hear my tone when you read it... ;-)

School of Rock probably was ALW's safest ideas but I think after Stephen Ward he wanted to something more fun. 

ALW wanted to do The Master and Margarita as a musical but decided to do Love Never Dies instead so it'll be interested if he sticks with this idea. I think he should pick a lyricist who hasn't worked with him before rather go with Don Black and Christopher Hampton or Glenn Slater.

If there's one thing ALW has managed to do over his career it has been to take seemingly non-commercial topics and make successful shows out of them.

For example..
Jesus Christ with guitars? Who ever thought that would fly.
A musical on rollers?
TS Eliot poems performed in lycra?

OK - he's misfired a few times, but he tries to not be too obvious and for that I'm not going to dismiss anything he comes out with this early on as being a non starter.

I thought Jeeves was Tim Rice's idea but he dropped out so Alan Ayckbourn came in to replace him as both lyricist and book writer.