Beyond the Rainbow

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Beyond the Rainbow: A West End Italian Escapade

"Beyond the Rainbow" brought a slice of Italian whimsy to the West End, opening at the Adelphi Theatre on November 9, 1978, and running for six months with 238 performances. Adapted from David Forrest’s novel After Me, the Deluge, this musical comedy featured music by Armando Trovaioli, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and a book by Garinei and Giovannini. Starring Johnny Dorelli as Father Silvestro and Roy Kinnear as the Mayor, it spun a tale of divine chaos in a mountain village. As of March 23, 2025, it remains a quirky footnote in Theatreland’s history, a testament to the era’s appetite for lighthearted fare.

From Rome to London

The show began as an Italian musical comedy in Rome in 1974, where it ran for three and a half years under Garinei and Giovannini’s direction. Its English adaptation landed in London with Trovaioli’s score—famed for hits like “Volare”—and Bricusse’s lyrics adding a British twist. The Adelphi, a venue known for spectacle, hosted this West End venture after the duo’s earlier success there with When in Rome in 1959. Dorelli, reprising his Roman role, joined Kinnear, a comedic stalwart, to anchor a cast that included Janet Mahoney and Geoffrey Burridge.

A Village in Divine Disarray

Set in the fictional San Crispino, "Beyond the Rainbow" follows Father Silvestro, a young priest who receives a bizarre phone call claiming God will flood the village unless its residents repent. Chaos ensues as Silvestro navigates lovesick Clementina, her miserly Mayor father, dim-witted Toto, and Consolation, a dubious fundraiser. Songs like “Come Join Us at the Table,” “Pity,” and the titular “Beyond the Rainbow” pepper the plot with humor and heart, culminating in a flood-free resolution that’s more farce than fable.

A Modest West End Run

Opening amid a bustling 1978 season, "Beyond the Rainbow" clocked 238 performances, a solid six-month stint but no blockbuster. Critics found its charm in Trovaioli’s melodies and Kinnear’s antics, though some deemed the comedy broad. Dorelli’s earnest Silvestro and Mahoney’s Clementina shone, supported by a lively ensemble. While not a record-setter like The Mousetrap, it drew audiences seeking a break from heavier fare, closing in spring 1979 to make way for new Adelphi offerings.

A Faint Refrain

By March 23, 2025, "Beyond the Rainbow" lingers as a West End curiosity, its Italian roots and breezy tone out of step with today’s epic musicals. No cast recording survives, and revivals are scarce, leaving its legacy to theatre archives and nostalgic recollections. It reflects an era when the West End embraced diverse imports, offering a fleeting splash of Roman holiday cheer before fading beyond the rainbow of modern memory.