Review: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London

After seeing Into The Woods, is was back over the river (after some delicious Nepalese dumplings) and into the West End, to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for the first time in a few years. I think I was last year for Heathers. 

One tip for you before we get going if you see any show at the Haymarket - do not sit in Gallery at the very top. Those bench seats are not very comfortable or good for your back... Moving right along....

This production had its premiere in Chichester last year, before moving to the West End for a limited run

It has since received two Olivier award nominations, less than perhaps expected: one for Best Musical, the other for Best Actress in a Musical. If it were in any other year... well, we'll never know. 

Based on the book by Rachel Joyce (who also wrote the book to this musical), and music and lyrics by Passenger, this is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

 Harold Fry is a retired man (played by Game of Throne's Mark Addy), living the simple day to day life in Devon with his wife Maureen (played by Jenna Russell (Piaf)). One day, a letter comes through from an old friend and colleague, Queenie, letting him know that she is terminally ill and residing in a hospice in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Rather than sending her a letter back, Harold decides on the spot to walk the whole way there and say goodbye to her in person. What Harold and Maureen do not expect during his walk, is for them both to face their past and previous demons that they had held onto for years. 

Now, I've not read the book (but have since bought it at the Covent Garden Waterstones), but the story is what sucks you in, feeding you morsel by morsel to keep you on the edge of your seat. You do root for Harold to get to Berwick-Upon-Tweed especially as it flashes back to the time when he was working with Queenie (played at this performance by Assistant Choreographer Nell Martin, who performed her own track as well as Queenie!). 

Then, in the second act in particular, as more and more starts to unravel, the show messes with your emotions in the best way: uplifting and inspiring, shocking and heart-breaking in equal measure. In fact, the emotional climax slaps you in the face in how devastating it is. 

The only nitpick I would give though is a greater look at Harold travelling through town to town, even if it is just signs towards various towns. It does feel a bit rushed, so for example, we're in Derbyshire one minute, and then Durham the next. 

Passenger makes his musical theatre debut with this show, with a folk inspired score. 

Reminding me of folk elements in musicals such as Ballad Lines or Come From Away, or for a more mainstream inspiration, Mumford and Sons. It may not stick with you as closely as the book, hearing it in the context of watching the play happen in front of you works so well. Hopefully we get to have a cast album soon, so we can carry on listening to these songs. 

 If you were to ask me for my favourite, I would say Out of Luck for making the entire audience laugh. Closely followed by Girl in the Garage for the complete opposite reason. 

They say the biggest Olivier snub of them all is for Mark Addy's performance - and yeah, going off what I saw, I do have to agree with that one

While Harold Fry is a surprisingly small sing, it is a meaty as acting role. Addy is absolutely devastating, in watching his past unravel before you and recognising his own failings. Just as devastating, back in Devon, is Jenna Russell as his wife Maureen, who is a mess of emotions from the minute she hears that her husband is going to see this woman who he hadn't seen in many years - let alone the small fact of him walking all the ways. She never fails to grip you in your seat and captivating. 

The final person who captivates you is Noah Mullins. They play the mysterious Balladeer, the Narrator of the story, as well as another role which I will not spoil. But rest assured he also shatters your emotions while sounding like an absolute angel. Please cast him in Hadestown - he's played Orpheus before, in Australia, as has Chichester's original Balladeer Jack Wolfe (Next to Normal) in New York.  

If you're looking for a new British musical with a huge heart, that is Harold Fry all over

 The limited run ends 18th April, which means you have just over two weeks left to see this gorgeous new musical. I hope that after its West End run, more audiences get the chance to see Harold Fry's story.