A Pirate Productions production.
Music by David Shire: Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.
Directed By Allison Kingsbury & Philip Dutton.

Performed 11th to 14th June 2015 at the Château de Bettembourg.

The excitement of young love and the confusion of growing up (or is it the other way around?) are explored in this intimate revue from one of the most respected teams in the contemporary musical theatre, Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire (Baby, Big).

Using songs from their various early musicals (produced or otherwise), this bold, extroverted journey takes a winsome cast of three (Pirates version has a cast of nine) through the maze of modern relationships with its heart firmly on its sleeve. As with all of Maltby and Shire’s work, each song is an impeccably crafted story, original, engaging, bursting with character, and showcasing the versatility and charisma of its performer.

From tender ballads to hysterical husband-hunting laments, from wry comments on trendy marriages to ecstatic shouting-from-the-rooftop celebration, Starting Here, Starting Now has an appealing freshness that has made it a perennial favourite throughout the world.

Words from Erik Abbott

The cast takes us along on their musical journey, with solos and duos and trios and full-cast numbers. All are delivered with confidence, though some stand out more than others, generally because of the songs themselves. My favourite was the poignant Autumn, beautifully sung by Sarah Carty. With her stunning voice Carty delivers a haunting performance, making the song a real high point. Jelena Negatina also does a fine job with What About Today, a paean to the desire for love that both encompasses the wistfulness of longing and embraces the strength that can be found in it. Negatina has an excellent voice and an engaging presence and her performance here is another stand-out moment. The group numbers are solid. I especially enjoyed Just Across the River and A New Life Coming. The finale, One Step, recalls One from A Chorus Line in its staging and choreography. The two shows opened about the same time in New York, with the latter becoming a watershed in musical theatre history. 

Starting Here, Starting Now is a warm and comfortable visit to a time when musicals were gentler and relationships were at least thought to be less complicated. In the hands of the Pirates, the visit is a welcoming one. 

Words from Geoff Thompson

This production was a significant change / evolution for Pirates in that it did not involve (m)any costume changes or stage/set/scenery changes, with costumes based on elegant black trousers and white tops, sometimes including jackets. The backdrop visual projections were significantly effective and helped create the sense of location and atmosphere.

But it most certainly did have the charm of intricate music and witty lyrics, all significantly telling their own stories. The songs were all based on themes relating to love and exploring a variety of romantic relationships which ensured smooth continuity throughout the two acts. Although the songs were mostly taken from stage musicals, the feeling and sensation of the musical revue was more of a concert than a stage production.