La Cava

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Introduction to "La Cava"

"La Cava" premiered in London’s West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre on June 8, 2000, following previews from May 23, and ran for 165 performances, closing on October 21, 2000. With music by Laurence O’Keefe, lyrics by John Claflin and O’Keefe, and a book by Dana Broccoli, this musical adapts Broccoli’s 1997 novel, inspired by the 8th-century Visigoth tale of Florinda "La Cava." Directed by Steven Dexter, it starred Julie-Alanah Brighten as Florinda and Paul Keating as Julian, backed by a £4 million budget from Broccoli and Polygram Entertainment. Despite its grand scope and lush score, its brief run marked it as an earnest but underappreciated West End venture, overshadowed by flashier contemporaries.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

Laurence O’Keefe, later known for "Legally Blonde," composed the sweeping score, with John Claflin co-writing lyrics that blended romance and tragedy. Dana Broccoli, widow of James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, penned the book, drawing from her novel rooted in Spanish legend. Steven Dexter directed, with Anthony Van Laast’s choreography animating battle and dance. Julie-Alanah Brighten led as Florinda, Paul Keating shone as Julian, with Marilyn Cutts as Eligia and Oliver Tobias as King Roderic. Producers Broccoli and Polygram, with designs by Les Brotherston and lighting by Jason Taylor, aimed for epic spectacle, though the team’s ambition outpaced audience draw.

A Spanish Saga of Love and Betrayal

In 711 AD Spain, Florinda, a noblewoman, serves as lady-in-waiting to Queen Eligia, wife of King Roderic. Sent to study with Count Julian, governor of Ceuta, she falls for him, sparking a forbidden romance amid looming Moorish threats. When Roderic rapes Florinda, Julian her father in legend, here her lover swears revenge, aligning with Muslim forces to topple the Visigoth king. Songs like "I Will Hold You" and "The Choice" fuel the escalating drama, blending personal passion with political upheaval. The tale ends in chaos kingdom lost, love shattered as Julian’s vengeance ushers in Moorish rule, a tragic footnote to Spain’s history.

Performance and Reception

Opening with high hopes, "La Cava" earned mixed reviews after its lavish debut. The Guardian’s Michael Billington found it “intriguing but dramatically inert,” praising O’Keefe’s “soaring” melodies but not the pacing. The Stage lauded Brighten’s “radiance” and the “impressive” staging, yet its 165-show run cut short from a planned year reflected tepid box office returns. Critics noted its historical ambition clashed with a crowded 2000 season boasting "The Lion King" and "Mamma Mia!" A cast recording captured its lush sound, but audiences didn’t warm to its heavy narrative, leaving it a noble effort that couldn’t sustain West End momentum.

Legacy in West End Theatre

"La Cava" stands as a West End curiosity its 165 performances a flicker beside giants like "Les Misérables." Broccoli’s passion project, born from her novel, aimed to echo "Evita"’s historical sweep but lacked its populist pull. After London, a planned U.S. tour fizzled despite a Chicago tryout, and no major revivals followed. O’Keefe’s score hints at his later success, while the cast album retains a niche following. A bold swing at epic storytelling, it’s less a triumph than a testament to risk a medieval tale that dazzled briefly before fading from London’s theatrical spotlight, overshadowed by lighter, longer-lasting hits.