UK Roundup - Saturday Night Fever, Singing in the Rain, Les Mis and more...

Summers look to be an exciting time these days, thanks to Adam Cooper's new trend of starring in musicals. Hot off his On Your Toes at the Royal Festival Hall last August, the former dancer of Adventures in Motion Pictures is to star in a brand new revival of Singin' in the Rain at the Sadler's Wells. Based on the MGM film, Singin' had been touring the country extensively since 1999, thanks to a new production The National Theatre co-produced with the West Yorkshire Playhouse. These are, however, entirely different productions. After London, Singin' in the Rain moves to Leicester, where it will reopen the Haymarket Theatre.

How long can it 'stay alive' this time?.. is the question we ask as Saturday Night Fever boogies from tour to transfer. In the Apollo Victoria, one of the West End's five biggest venues, the musical will reopen after it closed at the Palladium four years ago for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Replacing Bombay Dreams, Fever is the musical that began life as a film starring John Travolta, with songs by The Bee Gees such as 'Stayin' Alive', 'You Could Be Dancing' and, of course 'Night Fever'. It opens on 6^th July.

Victoria Wood's Acorn Antiques has received its London workshop, with one or two familiar names and faces taking part. Reviving the roles they created, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie (both seen together in Calendar Girls) and Duncan Preston were directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography by Anything Goes' Stephen Mear. Acorn Antiques was a mock soap opera from the 'Victoria Wood As Seen On TV' series, but sadly Victoria Wood did not workshop; her role was taken by Janie Dee. Whether these names will take to the stage with the production is yet to be known.

When Miss Saigon came to New York Cameron Mackintosh almost pulled the plug on the whole thing, thanks to Equity's strict American / English laws. He got his way then, and it seems he's got his way now. Why? Because the opening night of transferred Les Miserables tomorrow night (4/3) will go ahead with the Sinfonia 'virtual orchestra' taking musicians' parts. The full cast, including ex-pop star Jon Lee from S Club 7 (who, years back, played Oliver in the Sam Mendes production) have all transferred with the production. It now plays approximately thirty seconds down the road at the Queen's Theatre.

Shortly before its London run comes to a close, there's hot water down in the High Court as Stones in His Pockets writer Marie Jones is being contested over whether the play is entirely her own work. Director Pam Brighton told the London court that after she originally directed the 1996 production, dramatic changes were made to the revised 1999 script, which went ahead without her direction. Rehearsal room additions by Brighton, she says, means that she is owed half-ownership to the rights. The ruling of the case will not be known for a few weeks.

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