Paradise Found

Paradise Found at Menier Chocolate Factory

Why see Paradise Found?

Based on the novel The Tale Of The 1002nd Night by Viennese author Joseph Roth, Paradise Found centres on the Shah of Persia, who is feeling low.

To list his spirits he is off to Vienna with his eunuch in tow for some new adventures. He promptly falls in love with the Empress of the Empire, much to the dismay of her husband, so a resident of the local brothel - who is a double for the Empress - is substituted for a night of passion. But she is in love with a Baron, who is having an affair with the soap manufacturer's wife.

The cast of Paradise Found is led by Mandy Patinkin, who came to the West End last year with his one-man show. A regular on the US stage, his Broadway credits include Evita, for which he won a Tony Award, Sunday In The Park With George, The Secret Garden, Hamlet and The Wild Party. He has television credits including Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds.

Directing team Prince and Stroman have a wealth of credits between them. The recipient of 21 Tony Awards as a producer and director, Prince's work includes directing the long-running musical The Phantom Of The Opera. Stroman is a choregrapher and director whose work on Crazy For You and Oklahoma! in the West End earned her two Laurence Olivier Awards. Her other work in London includes Show Boat, The Producers and Contact.

Cast

Kate Baldwin
Shuler Hensley
Judy Kaye
Mandy Patinkin
John McMartin
Nancy Opel
George Lee Andrews
Amanda Kloots-Larsen
Lacey Kohl
Herndon Lackey
Daniel Marcus
Jim Poulos
Martin Van Treuren
Pamela Winslow Kashani

Creative

Author: Based on the novel by Joseph Roth
Director: Harold Prince and Susan Stroman
Music: Johan Strauss II
Lyrics: Ellen Fitzhugh
Book: Richard Nelson
Sound: Gareth Owen
Lighting Design: Howard Binkley
Costume Design: Judy Dolan
Design: Beowulf Boritt

Reviews

Customer reviews

2 reviews, average rating: (3.3 Stars)

P Nash

Broadway Stars on the London Fringe

What a treat it was to see the first preview of a 'new' musical (the tunes were old, the lyrics were new). The latter were clever, witty, and occasioned smiles and chuckles rather than riotous outbursts. Tunick's arrangements of Strauss's material was inventive and masterly, and the pit was well-balanced. The ensemble singing was always accurate, and it was magical to witness the vocal power and perfect comic timing of Broadway stars Patinkin and Kaye. The intimate environs of the venue are ideal for this show, but the lack of adequate air conditioning will continue to be a problem. Familiar Prince directorial touches were in evidence, as was strong choreography from Stroman (it's not dance-heavy show). It purports to be based on a true story, but the old-fashioned musical comedy nature of the piece made it seem like a waste of the considerable energies expended on it. But you will rarely get the chance to see such a talented and stellar group of performers so up-close and personal. ... Read more
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