Feature: DOWN IN DARKEST PERU... THE OTHER PADDINGTON MUSICAL

 

The rush of excitment felt by practically the entire country regarding the arrival of Tom Fletcher's Paddington on the London stage set my mind racing to times past when a different vision of Paddington was seen on UK stages.

This Paddington Bear (in his Magical Musical) was penned by Shirlie Roden, a Welsh born composer and singer who had been carving out a living in the rock world as backing singer to The Kinks and performing with various bands.  Producer Bill Kenwright spotted her potential and commissioned her to write Jeanne, a rock musical about the life of Joan Of Arc, which would come to fruition a few years later.  However, the writing sessions for Jeanne were distracted when Bill asked Shirlie to write a musical for Paddington Bear, the rights to which he had acquired from Paddington's creator Michael Bond.  At the time Bill was having a huge touring success with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Bill wanted the same warm family feel to the new Paddington show.  Thus recording began at Redan Recorders based in Bayswater where an album of the songs was to be recorded ahead of the stage production. Shirlie's ability with pop earmworms resulted in songs that Bill and his team felt were well worth persuing, and such pop luminaries as Carl Wayne and Amii Stewart were among the featured singers on the album.  Paddington Bear's Magical Musical - the album - was released in 1982 as Kenwright began plans to stage Paddington in earnest the following year.  Auditions were held and the cast pulled together from Joseph alumi and the result of some star finds.  Simon Bowman - who would later go to to originate the role of Chris in Miss Saigon - was the Narrator, guiding the audience through the various events of Paddington's arrival in London.  Paddington himself was - as today - a combination of Sue Hodge (later Mimi La Bonque in the hit sitcom 'Allo 'Allo) in the costume and John Townley who both played keyboards and sung Paddington's lines from the orchestra pit. Townley had previously performed the role of Paddington on the record.  

The show took the audience through the adventures of Paddington from being adopted by the Brown family, inventing a new exercise regime 'Bearobics', through discovering snow for the first time, a shopping expedition in Portobello Market,  playing rugby with the Peruvian reserves and the sudden arrival of Aunt Lucy.  It was a pop bonanza with Paddington at its very centre, which audiences lapped up.

The musical toured the length of the UK,  playing all the theatres where Joseph had triumphed, and as with Joseph had an onstage choir of local children added to the touring cast at each venue.  Shirlie's infernally catchy pop songs and the warmth the audience felt towards the little Peruvian bear gained excellent reviews from the local papers in the towns where the production played.  Many to this day recall the songs and write to the composer saying it was a truly memorable show and asking for it to be revived.  The little bear had made a great impression with his first full scale show.

 Shirlie Roden

1984 saw the a revised version of the Paddington songs issued as Paddington Bear's Gold Record (complete with yellow vinyl)  and a series of singles were also released on the back of the success of the stage show. Even the celebrated actor Martin Shaw (known for the television hits The Professionals, Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently) got in on the act, by recording of a version of Paddington's finale anthem as 'Cross My Heart And Hope To Die'.

Over the years Bill Kenwright tried several times to resurrect the show, but complex problems with the rights to the character always proved too great, much to his frustration. For those of us who witnessed Paddington's musical tour of the country, the new show will have big boots to fill.  Paddington Bear's Magical Musical invaded our ears and filled our hearts, never has the little bear sounded finer.  When I eventually sit in the Savoy Theatre willing Tom Fletcher and his cast to triumph, a little part of me will still be with Paddington in 1983 and will never leave me. Cross my paws and hope to die.

Rob Henderson-Cope 

Below you can listen to the entire Paddington Bear's Magical Musical album (© Shirlie Roden 1982)

www.shirlieroden.com