I was very pleased to recently receive a release from the British label, SimG Records. You can always expect something new and different from Simon Greiff at SimG - new writers, new artists and new works - so I always look forward to hear what's on offer each time. Their latest release is the original cast recording of Ushers - The Front of House Musical. And it really is the 'original cast' as the musical is currently performing at London's Charring Cross Theatre.

Ushers is set in a West End theatre, and follows a working shift in the lives of the stagiest people in theatre - the Front of House staff, portraying the hilarious, ridiculous and frequently moving stories of ice-cream and programme sellers. A preview performance of a new jukebox musical is due to take place, a three-year workplace romance is on the rocks, an untrained newbie is working her first shift and the amorous manager is under pressure to cut costs.

The cast, as I mentioned, is the same cast currently performing the show, and all are excellent. Ralph Bogard, Daniel Buckley, Ceris Hine, Ross McNeill, Liam Ross-Mills, Carly Thoms and musical director Lee Freeman all come together to make a fully engaging, entertaining recording. The work is written by Yiannis Koutsakos, James Oban and James Rottger and was a finalist in the WestEndProducer’s Twitter ‘Search For A Composer’ Competition, and it's clear it has its feet firmly in theatreland.

And that is perhaps my one problem with the recording, and I guess the piece itself. It is very inward-looking, very much relying on in-jokes, theatre references and the like, and I fear for its acceptance (and understanding) in the world of Joe Public. I've not seen the show, but there is a good synopsis in the CD booklet, which enables you to follow things well with the CD, although I would have preferred more story to listen to as well - there is room on the CD, as it comes in at a brisk 29 minutes.

There is much humour to be had on the recording though. I preferred the character numbers to the more direct company numbers. Ceris Hine's 'Leading Men' is a great theatre-esque number, and the more subtler 'The Parts I Could Play', 'Let Go' and 'Half Finished Story' from Ross McNeill, Liam Ross-Mills and Daniel Buckley respectively all are top-rate numbers that would enhance any show.

Again, production and packaging from SimG is excellent, as I have come to expect from the label. I didn't warm to the part, or the performance of the manager, and the number 'Spend Per Head' was a little 'pantomimesque' for me. Also, I found the balance of numbers between the first and second acts a little skewed, but this may right itself in the actual performed show.

So, if you are a 'theatre luvvie' you will adore this album, I'm sure. If you are not, there is still much to find good here, and it's more than worth a listen.

8

Ian Gude