Similar evaluate – a brand new musical of The Father or mother Entice has its personal particular impact | Musicals

Ewealthy Kästner’s 1949 novel The Father or mother Entice tells of an identical twins separated as infants when divorcing dad and mom every take one. Ten years later, the ladies are reunited unintentionally at a summer season camp. Tailored twice by Disney, the magic of movie made us consider that one actor was two sisters (Hayley Mills in 1961, Lindsay Lohan in 1998). Identical, a brand new musical model of the story instigated by producer Kenny Wax, makes use of a stronger magic: actual twins play the lead roles. On the efficiency I noticed, these had been the wonderful Savannah and Sienna Robinson (different performances function Kyla and Nicole Fox and Eden and Emme Patrick). Though the stage decor is beautiful (a frequently shocking mixture of previous and new – video projections on to flats and backdrops), it’s these two small women who present essentially the most wonderful visible impact of all. “You may have my face!” Lisa exclaims the primary time they meet: they appear indistinguishable.

Because the story reveals, nonetheless, there may be extra to a person than their look. Lisa and Lottie’s distinctive tastes and talents grow to be obvious after they sneakily swap lives. Lisa’s composer father (James Darch) is amazed by his daughter’s hitherto unsuspected expertise for music, whereas Lottie’s journalist mom (Emily Tierney) is delighted by her woman’s newfound enthusiasm for tenting. The story of a fractured household reunited resonates, parable-like, in our current, fractious time. Within the closing household reunion, what strikes each dad and mom and viewers is the best way the ladies’ particular person abilities mix to create a brand new track – and set up household concord.

Stuart Paterson’s e-book follows the novel in setting the motion in Munich and Vienna of 1950. Whereas the interval look is entrancing, some lingering, last-century attitudes jar: the calculating, man-catcher portrayal of the composer’s ballerina girlfriend, particularly, strikes a bitter word. George Stiles’s new music, although, is emotionally pitch-perfect, now vivid, now darkish, now surging joyously, coupled with witty lyrics from Anthony Drewe. Path, as could be anticipated from Trevor Nunn, is elegant and performances are each sharp and heat, however the manufacturing’s biggest power is the magic of the an identical women.