I never cease to be amazed at what world events and legendary people musicals can be based on. We've had the Titanic and The French Civil War of course, but we've also had musicals on Princess Diana, Tony Blair and Golf. So, I wasn't too surprised when I learned that Michael John LaChiusa's latest musical was to be about Anna 'Annie' Edson Taylor, the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel - and survive.

Called, unsurprisingly Queen of The Mist, the musical tells the story of Taylor, who, in 1901 at the age of 63, set out to be the first woman to shoot Niagara Falls in a barrel of her own design. Navigating both the treacherous Falls and a fickle public with a ravenous appetite for sensationalism, this unconventional heroine vies for her legacy in a world clamouring with swindling managers, assassins, revolutionaries, moralizing family, anarchists and activists. Convinced that there is greatness in her and determined not to live as ordinary, she sets out to battle her fear and tempt her fate.

With a soaring score that incorporates turn of the century themes with LaChiusa’s signature complexity and insight, Queen of the Mist is the story of a single great fall, and how one woman risked death so that she could live. Handling the role of Taylor is Mary Testa, who has featured on other LaChiusa creations such as See What I Wanna See and Marie Christine. Here she handles the role with understanding and passion - a difficult role in that Taylor wasn't the most likeable character you will meet. She has a shrillness to her voice that some won't like, but her interpretation cannot be doubted. The theme 'I Have Greatness In Me' is both written and delivered with the utmost skill.

Staring alongside her is Andrew Samonsky, who was new to me, but he also features on the soon to be released Merrily We Roll Along concert cast, so he will be one to watch, as one of the highlights for me is his act one ballad 'On The Other Side'.

Orchestration is superb - it should be, it's by the maestro Michael Starobin, and it's a triumph in making a relatively small ensemble sound much bigger. I listened to the album three times whilst reviewing it, and enjoyed it, followed it easily thanks to the libretto included on the CD, and learned things too - including some choice language, which was a little bit of a shock.

Whilst LaChiusa is not a mainstream theatre composer by the general public's standard, this is certainly a recording that deserves much acclaim.

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Ian Gude