In 1955, a small town and its railway station is the setting for a highly dramatic new British musical, The Stationmaster.
Released on 26 Jul in three formats (a complete work 2 CD set, four audio dramas comprising the complete works, and the songs stood alone), this musical is written by Susannah Pearse (book) and Tim Connor (music and lyrics).
The Stationmaster is based on the novel Judgment Day by Ödön von Horváth. The time and place have been changed from 1930s Germany to 1950s Britain.
A place where everyone knew each other in the community and where judgements were carried out from behind twitching net curtains and between gossips on street corners.
Thomas, the stationmaster, is a pillar of the town, a trusted figure, but when he makes one mistake, and then another, and then another, his life turns his little world on its head.
Nigel Richards plays Thomas, Jessica Sherman his neglected wife Catherine, and Alex Young is the flirty Anna.
The story is set up very quickly, within the first three songs. There’s the shadow of the war, which has ripped families apart, and the politics of the village fete.
Thomas becomes the most tragic of figures in this epic saga as it progresses. Love, guilt, pride, opportunity, and retribution are all present in a strong book and some clever lyrics set against soaring melodies.
The original source, Judgment Day, had an undertone of Nazi oppression and the opposition to it. That’s obviously lacking in moving this story, The Stationmaster, post-war, but it still pulls out the issue of how a town can turn on someone who is different, rightly or not.
The four-part version, which is the one we were sent for review, has each part ending in a cliffhanger or blockbuster number, which makes you want to hear more.
The character of Catherine is a difficult one, but Sherman is brilliant and her songs have a potent power.
Contrasting with Young’s Anna, also extremely effective in her songs with their unusual phrasing and quick delivery, she is the heart of The Stationmaster.
Richards gives Thomas a sense of unease and mounting frustration at his “one mistake”, while local busybody Mrs Deakin is given a light touch by Nicola Sloane, although her ‘drunk’ acting might be a little OTT.
John Coates is also very touching as Anna’s father, local publican Martin. Although this cast recording works well as it stands, there is some fun to he had visualising potential staging if this musical was fully produced.
****
The Stationmaster will be available from 26 Jul. It is directed by Emma Kilbey, with Chris Guard as conductor.
The Complete Work concept album is released via Auburn Jam Records and available to purchase directly from the creatives at timpaniproductions@outlook.com.
Digital versions will be available to download from Spotify, YouTube and other digital platforms.