REVIEW | Glory Ride - A New Musical
★★★★
Written by Philip.
With journeys both physical and emotional, Glory Ride, an original new musical by daughter-father writing duo, Victoria Buchholz and Todd Buchholz, manages to guide the audience through the Italian countryside and through the era of Mussolini and World War II. This workshop production presented at The Other Palace takes you back in time to an era we should never forget.
Set in the city of Florence, the show tells the story of Gino Bartali the famed Italian cyclist who won the Tour De France in 1938 and again in 1948. From early beginnings as a young man who dreamed of having a bike, to a man revered for his cycling prowess and a man holding a secret in the years that followed. The main story follows Bartoli, Cardinal Della Costa , Giorgio Nico and Adriana Bani as they formulate a plan to help a group of 800 children wanted by the facists in charge. With clever forgery, a place of sanctuary and a pair of strong cycling legs the group tries to evade the black shirts led by Major Mario Carita to save these children from arrest and ultimately save their lives.
James Darch as Bartali, brings a real likeability to the character and shows the turmoil in Bartali’s mind expertly. Paired with his soaring vocals and his charming nature, the audience cannot help but share the emotional journey with him. Darch is wonderfully matched by Daisy Wood-Davis who brings a real drive to Adriana Bani. From stealing rubber to standing tall against the Black Shirts – Adriana is ballsy and fearless. Wood-Davis gives light and shade to her portrayal and balances the courage with true vulnerability. Neil McDermott gives a chilling turn as Mario Carita. A man who truly believes he has good reasons to commit atrocious acts. He captivates the audience with his need to defend Florence, only breaking this resolve towards the end - to the relief of all. In that moment McDermott skilfully shows the humanity in us all. In contrast Ricardo Afonso’s calm Cardinal Della Costa, keeps steadfast in his mission to save lives throughout the show. Alfonso is truthful and fascinating giving a real 3 dimensional look at a man desperate to protect the vulnerable and see his mission from God through. Afonso’s moving solo in Act 1 also allows for him to show off his powerhouse vocals. Matt Blaker gives a hugely funny look at Giorgio Nico, only for his mask to slip to deliver a heartfelt section in Act 2 – allowing the audience to truly see the real Nico. Blaker navigates this change with care and truth. The hugely talented ensemble adds depth and colour to the show and really help to bring life to the story.
Musically, Glory Ride is full of hopeful upbeat melodies. The music of Victoria and Todd Buchholz pulls you along and propels you forward as you move through the piece. However, at times, the music does not feel entirely right for the scene. At times of heartbreak and sorrow the music moved the plot on too quickly not allowing the audience or the key players to stop and take stock of what had happened. With that being said, the cast sing the score exceptionally well. As for the book, the shows tries to tell a lot of story in a short period of time which means some of the story is lost. Some of the time jumps that take place could easily be made more obviously with a slightly bigger budget. However, the story being told is an important one. The writing is full of heart and love and that carries through from page to stage.
One thing that I did take slight issue with is the use of accents. Half of the cast were using an Italian accent and half were decidedly British. In the workshop stage of any new musical, all kinds of delivery are played with however I feel a choice as to whether or not to use accents should have been decided on before. The constant changes are a distraction especially as all the characters were based in the same region. Otherwise, the direction by Shaun Kerrison was really well done. Kerrison used the small space exceptionally to give fluidity to a piece that is constantly travelling through time and place to place.
Overall, I really enjoyed Glory Ride. When I was trying to stay detached, it pulled on my heartstrings and really drew me into the world. I was rooting for not just Bartali but for all those who opposed those in power. With a slight tweak of some of the music and look at how better to portray some of the time jumps in the piece I can see this piece gloriously riding into further life in the not too distant future. Bravo to all involved!
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