Coram Boy (play)

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Coram Boy is a play written by Helen Edmundson with music composed by Adrian Sutton, based on the 2000 children's novel of the same name by Jamila Gavin, an epic adventure that concerns the theme of child cruelty. The play is called a "play with music", rather than a musical.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

The action takes place in 18th century. The benevolent Thomas Coram has recently opened a Foundling Hospital in London called the "Coram Hospital for Deserted Children". Unscrupulous men, known as "Coram men", take advantage of the situation by promising desperate mothers to take their unwanted children to the hospital for a fee. The story follows a range of characters, focusing on two orphans: Toby, saved from an African slave ship; and Aaron, the deserted son of the heir to an estate, as their lives become closely involved with this true and tragic episode of British social history. [1]

[edit] Productions

Coram Boy at the Imperial Theatre, New York

The show was first staged at the National Theatre in London from November 2005 until February 4, 2006. It returned to the National Theatre from November 2006 to February 2007. [2]

The play then moved to Broadway at the Imperial Theater, starting previews on April 16, 2007, and officially opening on May 2, 2007. It closed on May 27, 2007 after only 30 performances and 17 previews. [3] The show was nominated for six Tony Awards but did not win any.

Melly Still was the director and co-designer (with Ti Green) of both the London and New York productions with Paule Constable designing lighting and Chris Schutt on sound . Melly Still also directed the Bristol December 2011 production for Bristol Old Vic at the Colston Hall and the production was designed by Anna Fleischle, lighting Bruno Poet, sound Chris Schutt. Adrian Sutton composed the music for all 4 versions[4].

Coram Boy is frequently produced in Britain by Universities, Drama schools and amateur groups.

1st London Cast (2005 - 2006)
2nd London Cast (2006 - 2007)
Broadway Cast
  • Toby -- Uzo Aduba
  • Alexander/Aaron (young) -- Xanthe Elbrick
  • Alexander Ashbrook (adult) -- Wayne Wilcox
  • Mrs. Lynch -- Jan Maxwell
  • Molly -- Jolly Abraham
  • Mrs. Hendry -- Jacqueline Antaramian
  • Otis Gardiner -- Bill Camp
  • Thomas Ledbury (adult) -- Dashiell Eaves
  • Thomas Claymore -- Tom Riis Farrell
  • Meshak -- Brad Fleischer
  • Isobel Ashbrook -- Karron Graves
  • Edward Ashbrook -- Laura Heisler
  • Miss Price -- Angela Lin
  • Lord Ashbrook -- David Macdonald
  • Frederic Handel -- Quentin Maré
  • Mrs. Milcote -- Kathleen McNenny
  • Alice Ashbrook -- Cristin Milioti
  • Thomas Ledbury (young) -- Charlotte Parry
  • Lady Ashbrook -- Christina Rouner
  • Melissa/Angel -- Ivy Vahanian
Bristol - Colston Hall (Bristol Old Vic 2011)
  • Toby -- Joe Sharpe
  • Alexander Ashbrook (young) -- George Clark
  • Aaron -- Toby Yapp/Finn Lacey
  • Alexander Ashbrook (adult) -- Freddie Hutchins
  • Mrs. Lynch -- Lucy Black
  • Molly -- Molly Cheesely
  • Mrs. Hendry/Mrs. Milcote -- Catherine Swingler
  • Otis Gardiner -- Tristan Sturrock
  • Dr Smith/Thomas Ledbury (adult) -- Ed Birch
  • Thomas Claymore/Frederic Handel -- Jo Hall
  • Meshak -- Fionn Gill
  • Isobel Ashbrook (Adult) -- Grace Carter
  • Isobel Ashbrook (young) -- Florence Wooley
  • Edward Ashbrook (young) -- Tobey Barke/Cameron Fraser
  • Miss Price -- Anna Haughton
  • Lord Ashbrook -- Simon Shepherd
  • Alice Ashbrook (adult) -- Esther Lawrence
  • Thomas Ledbury (young) -- Johannes Moore/Max Macmillan
  • Alice Ashbrook (young) -- Bethan Barke/Peggy Edwards
  • Edward Ashbrook (adult) -- Alistair Debling
  • Lady Ashbrook -- Saskia Portway
  • Melissa (adult)/Angel -- Emily Head
  • Mellisa (young) -- Mabel Moll

The production also included a large cast of Coram girls, boys and an ensemble of local actors.

[edit] Music

In the National Theatre and Broadway versions the music is performed by a 16-member onstage choir and a seven-piece chamber orchestra. In Bristol the orchestra was expanded to 20 musicians and t he choir was joined at the end of act 2 by a local chorus of 40 performers. The music includes parts or adaptations of Handel's Messiah and Theodora, as well as over an hour of original music consisting of songs, period-style dance, and chamber music, as well as dramatic underscoring. [5]

[edit] Awards and nominations

Tony Award nominations (no wins):

  • Best Featured Actress in a Play
  • Best Direction of a Play
  • Best Scenic Design of a Play
  • Best Costume Design of a Play
  • Best Lighting Design of a Play

2007 Theatre World Award - Xanthe Elbrick (winner)

Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play:

Outer Critics Circle Award nominations (no wins):

  • Outstanding New Broadway Play
  • Outstanding Director of a Play (Lucille Lortel Award)
  • Outstanding Set Design (Ti Green & Melly Still)
  • Outstanding Lighting Design (Paule Constable)


[edit] References

  1. ^ Edmunson, H. (2005) Coram Boy: Based on the novel by Jamila Gavin, Nick Hern Books, London.
  2. ^ "Coram Boy". National Theatre. 2007-02-24. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=16220. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 
  3. ^ Andrew Gans (2007-05-27). "Blue Boy: Coram Boy Closes on Broadway May 27". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108338.html. Retrieved 2007-05-31. 
  4. ^ "Coram Boy - A Bristol Old Vic Production at Colston Hall". Bristol Old Vic. http://www.bristololdvic.org.uk/coramboy.html. Retrieved 21 December 2011. 
  5. ^ Information about the music

[edit] External links

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