Rock musical has serious message (From Wirral Globe)

Rock musical has serious message

9:42am Wednesday 4th February 2009

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A ROCK musical about alcoholism and its potentially devastating effect on families will be premiered in Liverpool next week.

Written by Peter Leay and Alan Richards, George... last week on the streets will be performed at the Actors’ Studio in Seel Street from February 9-14.

The story of one family’s struggle with an alcoholic loved one is told from both the victim and family’s point of view.

The cast features Birkenhead-based actress and director Pauline Daniels, singers Mark Lacey and Phil Jones, actresses Emma Lisi and Lisa Davies, entertainer Bernie Dalton and Robbie Knowles.

Peter’s son Paul has written music for the musical score and also sings on it, along with his sister Jenna. They also appear on the show’s cd sountrack.

New Ferry-based Peter is a former member of Wirral band Buster, which formed in the 1970s and had huge success in Japan before splitting in the early ‘80s.

He told the Globe: “About 20 years ago I came up with this concept album, but at that time the idea of concept albums was maligned and not really happening, so I left it.

“I met up recently with the guy who was Buster’s original manager and who got us our first contract. I gave him all of these old tapes, which he said were great. I said I wanted to do a musical based on the album.

“Everything today is drink awareness, by all means have a drink, but don’t go over the top. So, I thought if I had the timing right for this it would be great.

“We auditioned some people and the show’s ready to go now. I had a couple of people in mind for the parts and they came on board.

“The show is about an hour and a half, but we can compress this to an hour, because we’re going to turn it so that the son, who is about 16 is the alcoholic, with a view to touring this around schools as an educational project. The play isn’t all doom and gloom, because there is some humour in it too.”

Tickets are from the box office on 709 9034 and the CD soundtrack is available from mayfieldrecords.co.uk

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