Parade

Genre: Musical
Opened 24 Sep 2007
Written: Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, Book by Alfred Uhry, Co-Conceived by Harold Prince
Directed: Rob Ashford
Produced: Donmar Warehouse
Cast: Lara Pulver (Lucille Frank), Bertie Carvel (Leo Frank), Helen Anker (Mrs Phagan and Sally Slaton), Mark Bonnar (Hugh Dorsey and Mr Peavy), Norman Bowman (Detective Starnes and Tom Watson)
Synopsis: Atlanta, Georgia, 1913. A Jewish man from Brooklyn stands accused of the murder of a young factory worker. Based on the true story of Leo Frank convicted of the murder of thirteen year old Mary Phagan, Parade recalls the press frenzy and public hated surrounding the trial, and his wife's crusade for justice. In a time of religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, the musical explores the endurance of love and hope against all the odds.

What the critics had to say.....
NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "I cannot remember when the narrative and plotting of a musical last kept me engaged, let alone gripped...Parade makes a devastating, emotional show." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "An admirably ambitious, musically daring piece that deserves praise for attempting to intertwine the political and the personal, even if in that respect it's uneven as a piece of music drama." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "The music and lyrics of Jason Robert Brown serve to reinforce rather than subvert the gripping story Alfred Uhry's book has to tell....Musicals primarily deal with romance: it is refreshing to find one that deals so eloquently with the roots of southern prejudice."CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAGH says, "Here at last comes an original musical of real substance." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "A powerful, engrossing evening."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Independent
The Guardian
Daily Telegragh
The Times