Hello Again
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Introduction to "Hello Again"
"Hello Again" made its professional European premiere in London’s West End at the Bridewell Theatre in September 2001, as part of a series spotlighting emerging American musical theatre writers. Written by Michael John LaChiusa, this musical adapts Arthur Schnitzler’s 1897 play "La Ronde," weaving a daisy chain of love affairs across the 20th century. Unlike its Off-Broadway debut in 1993, the London production embraced a revised script, running for a limited season. Its non-chronological storytelling and eclectic score from opera to disco offered a fresh, avant-garde addition to the West End, starring a cast of rising talents in an intimate venue.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
Michael John LaChiusa penned the book, music, and lyrics, bringing his signature complexity to "Hello Again." Known for "The Wild Party," he set each scene in a different decade, blending styles with finesse. The London production was directed by David Kernan, with musical direction by Philip Tillotson, who enriched the score’s pastiche. Choreography by Gillian Gregory animated the intimate space, while the cast including Caroline O’Connor and John Barrowman in earlier iterations delivered raw, versatile performances. The Bridewell’s off-West End ethos suited LaChiusa’s experimental vibe, amplifying its cult appeal.
A Tapestry of Love Across Time
The plot traces ten characters through ten vignettes, each a sexual or romantic encounter linking one to the next, spanning 1900 to 1990 in random order. A Soldier beds a Whore in the 1940s, who seduces a Nurse in the 1910s, who loves a College Boy in the 1960s, and so on ending where it begins. Characters like the Senator, the Actress, and the Young Thing navigate lust, longing, and betrayal, their stories tied by musical motifs. Songs like "I Gotta Little Time" and "The Bed Was Not My Own" shift from tender to torrid, reflecting love’s timeless messiness in a kaleidoscope of eras.
Performance and Reception
Opening in 2001, "Hello Again" ran for a brief but impactful season at the Bridewell, a 150-seat venue off Fleet Street. Critics praised its ambition WhatsOnStage called it “a dazzling musical mosaic” though some found its fragmented narrative challenging. Audiences embraced the lush score and bold staging, with the intimacy amplifying its emotional stakes. A 2019 revival at the Union Theatre, directed by Paul Callen, revisited its allure, earning similar acclaim for its vocals but mixed notes on its restrained sensuality. Both runs cemented its status as a niche gem, not a blockbuster.
Legacy in West End Theatre
"Hello Again" never rivaled giants like "Les Misérables," but its 2001 West End debut and 2019 revival highlight its enduring cult following. LaChiusa’s work, with its Sondheim-esque complexity, influenced fringe musicals, paving the way for nonlinear storytelling in shows like "The Last Five Years." Staged globally Germany, Sweden, Australia it remains a composer’s musical, cherished by theatre buffs. Its 1994 Off-Broadway cast recording and a 2018 film adaptation by Tom Gustafson extend its reach, but in London, it’s a rare, glittering footnote of innovation.