Browse The Musicals
# - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Napoleon

Book by Andrew Sabiston & Timothy Williams
Lyrics by Andrew Sabiston
Music by Timothy Williams
Directed by Francesca Zambello
Set design by Michael Yeargan
Costumes design by Marie-Jeanne Lecca
Lighting design by Rick Fisher
Choreography by Denni Sayers
Assistant Director Denni Sayers
Projection Designer Jan Hartley
Sound Design by Martin Levan
Fight Director David Leong
Music Supervisor Seann Alderking
Musical Director David Charles Abell
Wigs and Make-up Design Michael Ward
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Opened October 17, 2000 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London

Synopsis

THE DREAM, THE AMBITION, THE LOVE STORY, THE BETRAYAL

The story begins with Napoleon at 26, a charismatic and attractive leader, driven by the dream of bettering the lot of the common man. Fueled by the principles of the French Revolution he believes that anyone, regardless of their class, can attain any height to which their ambitions may lead them. It is an unquestionably noble dream that over the course of a meteoric rise to power becomes a blinding obsession which leads him to betray not just the woman he loves, but himself as well.

At a lavish ball Napoleon first meets an alluring woman named Rose de Beauharnais. He is instantly captivated and goes about trying to win her with all the passion and determination he applies to getting anything he wants. She, on the other hand, couldn't be less interested; he is younger than she is and completely lacking any social graces. He steps on her feet when he asks her to dance and even has the audacity to tell her that her name doesn't suit her as well as the one he would give her - Josephine. It is the unlikely beginning of an improbable romance that is to bloom into one of the world's most passionate, tempestuous and ultimately heartbreaking love stories.

From the lowly beginnings of a true hero, to the coronation of an Emperor, to the shattering defeat of an obsessive tyrant, NAPOLEON's themes are universal: the human will to better oneself; the empowering effect of love found; the lingering emptiness of love lost; the price of obsession and power-lust.

NAPOLEON's world is one of opulence: the ballrooms of the Tuileries Palace; the Louvre's corridors of power; the cathedral of Notre Dame and the magnificent rose garden at Malmaison, Josephine's French chateau.

Song List

The Dream Within ............... Napoleon, Anton and Male Ensemble
Only In Fantasy ................ Josephine
On That First Night ............ Josephine and Napoleon
The Friend You Were To Me ...... Therese and Josephine
Sweet Victor Divine ............ Napoleon and Ensemble

Info

Original Cast includes: Paul Baker, Uwe Kröger, Anastasia Barzee, David Burt , David Arneil, Teddy Kempner, Nigel Richards, Sarah Ingram, Jody Crosier, Nicholas Pound, Lynsey Britton, Tom Sellwood, Andy Mace, Kristin Hellberg, Anthony Cable, Anthony Moulton, Vince Pirillo, Steve Bradford, Jacqueline Braun, Iain Davey, Heather Davies, Nicholas Dunbar, Chris Fennessey, Susie Fenwick, Hugh Futcher, Lydia Gl, Kristin Hölck, Gerard Leighton, Roy Litvin, Oliver Marshall, Anita Pashley, Louisa Shaw, Mark Stobbart

Related

Browse The Musicals
# - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Home | Licensing Agents | Reviews | Theatre Tickets

Return To Top