Actual gifts

I hope that at least some readers will make it to this point. In this season of goodwill, I hope I may be forgiven if I have been preachy. It was not my intention.

However you cut it, there is no shame in being fearful of not giving the expected Christmas gifts, especially if it is part of the unwritten contract given in exchange for festive hospitality. So, here are some ideas…

I make no apology for a musical theatre bias to the list which starts with the cast recording of Les Misérables—The Staged Concert recorded live at London's Gielgud Theatre. Earlier in the year, producer Cameron Mackintosh made the film recording available as part of a fundraising initiative and now the cast recording of this modern classic with its outstanding cast of musical theatre talent can be yours too via a range of services.

Michael Ball plays Javert, Alfie Boe plays Jean Valjean and Carrie Hope Fletcher plays Fantine. Matt Lucas, Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Katy Secombe, Shan Ako and Lily Kerhoas are also in the cast, which is supported by an orchestra of more than 65.

Another Mackintosh release is the live cast recording of Mary Poppins. This features original music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman and new songs and music from Olivier award-winning duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

The Mary Poppins recording has Zizi Strallen in the lead role, Charlie Stemp as Bert, Joseph Millson as George Banks, Petula Clark as the Bird Woman.

The National Theatre of Scotland has released an album of selected music from The 306 Trilogy called lost Light.

The show commemorates the heart-breaking true story of the 306 men executed for cowardice and desertion during the First World War and looks at life in the trenches and back home in Glasgow and London.

Music is by Gareth Williams and lyrics are by award-winning playwright Oliver Emanuel; the performers are Emma Connell Smith, Stewart Webster, Sonia Cromarty, Steve Cooper, Aisling O'Dea, Elias Rooney, Wendy Somerville, Kirsty Findlay, Paige Peddie, Connie MacFarlane, Bethany Tennick, Amanda Wilkin and Peter Hannah, Louis Maskell, Josh Manning, Nigel Brown and Fraser Hume.

Lost Light was released on 11 November and is available via the usual music platforms.

The Grammy Award-nominated The Prince Of Egypt has released a cast recording. The soundtrack combines five songs from the animation film on which it is based as well as some original songs also by Stephen Schwartz. The show is due to return to London's West End next year.

Due for release later this week is the cast album of Flowers for Mrs Harris, recorded by the Chichester Festival Theatre company including Clare Burt, who won a UK Theatre Award as Mrs Harris, Joanna Riding and Gary Wilmot. Also in the cast are Claire Machin, Louis Maskell, Mark Meadows, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Nicola Sloane, Luke Latchman and Rhona McGregor.

The recording is available from Dress Circle with a veritable cornucopia of musical theatre items from wicked bags—or rather Wicked bags—to charm bracelets.

Amongst the books that have caught my eye is The Importance of Happiness about Noël Coward's little-known work transforming the Actors' Orphanage during the 1930s to 1950s. It is written by Elliot James (published by Matador).

Actor, writer and director Martin Milnes is on the young side to have written his memoir, but Wild Card: How I Learned To Be A Friend, Have A Friend & Finally Love My Birthday was published earlier in the year. I found it an extravagance of name-dropping through which I learnt more about the golden days of Hollywood (published by Zuleika Books) than about the author, but Milnes must be a goldmine of anecdotes and very good company. He would be on my invitation list in a game of fantasy dinner party guests.

There is also Mark Newell's Oh, Calamity!, a history of the Aldwych farces and the people behind them. There were thirteen of them, each farce enjoying great success in the second decade of the previous century, transferring to film where their popularity continued.

Newell includes in the book a look at the original screenplays by farceur Ben Travers and the actors whose stardom was assured by their performances such as Robertson Hare.

Another 'first' and an even more academically worked history is Rohan McWilliam's London's West End Creating the Pleasure District, 1800-1914. Pre-empting my review of this book which will come anon, this is a close examination of the origins of the West End beyond the confines of stage performance and of theatreland. (Published by Oxford University Press.)

Then of course, the collection at Nick Hern Books is always worth looking at and they are currently offering four playscripts for £30 delivered wrapped and bowed to the recipient of your choosing.

All that remains is for me to wish you a happy Christmas and may 2020 bring us all a better world.