Stereophonic - the play that blew Broadway away!
“I must be famous. I went to my gynaecologist and has my legs in a stirrup and he asked me for an autograph.”
Diana
” I just want to get my Grammy and never see his face again.”
Grover
If the 1970s was the golden age of Rock, then what could be more thrilling than being in the recording studio where these epic songs were made. I’m thinking about the film of the Beatles recording in the Abbey Road studio just before they split, with Yoko Ono sitting there doing her knitting while the band plays. Stereophonic takes a group of five, three men, two guitarists one of whom sings, a drummer and two women, a singer composer and a key board player/singer and cocaine.
The author David Adjmi says his play is not derived from Fleetwood Mac and their “Rumours” Album, songs written by different members of Fleetwood Mac and opening up the sores of their disagreements. However, a case brought by an engineer who wrote with one other, the memoir of working with Fleetwood Mac on “Rumours” was settled out of court, and as is the case too often, these settlements are not disclosed.
Will Butler of the indie rock band Arcade Fire, has written original songs that sound as if they are from that prolific rock era and they are played live onstage. It is 1976 in Sausalito, California and the band has not yet found success. David Zinn’s set has the glass sided recording booth, with the living area in front for the sound decks and two engineers, the rookie Charlie, a figure of fun (Andrew R Butler) and the more experienced Grover (Eli Gelb). Although Grover might not be truthful as to whom he claims to have engineered for, he is constantly judging the quality of what they have recorded.
The first we see of bassist Reg (Zachary Hart) is when stoned out of his mind, he falls into the living room area and demands the cocaine bag which is the size of a bag of flour. The play has opened with the others complaining about Reg’s antics in the middle of the night, smashing crockery and shouting at his girlfriend Holly (Nia Towle). Now Reg is wrapping himself in a blanket and feeling depressed. So here we have the first dysfunctional relationship.
Peter (Jack Riddiford) is in a relationship with Diana (Lucy Karczewski) and they argue about the length of the songs Lucy has written. At the beginning of the play, the group hasn’t been successful but the album is getting into the top 40 and Diana’s song is making an impact on the charts and going into the top ten. Simon (Chris Stack) is the British drummer, an isolated figure who has left his wife and children in England while he records in America for six months.
There are so many tender egos in this group of musicians. In Sausalito, they all live in the same house but as Reggie’s behaviour gets more and more demented, Holly decides to move out and Diana feels abandoned. Holly explains to Reg that her motive is, “not having to wipe your face at 3 am and cleaning up your vomit.” Reg finds a different and reformed life style and of course tells everybody about being a vegetarian as the way off drugs. There is an historical tension where Diana agreed to take a shop job so that Peter could develop the group musically until they found there was a market for their music. Peter has controlling tendencies which come to the fore in the last act when they mo0ve to Los Angeles to finish the album.
We see them working on the songs, trying a different speed or different instruments. There is constant negotiation getting all band members to agree or concede, bringing Grover into the decision. When the band plays, the lighting shifts to focus on the music area and darkens the lower stage.
All Will Butler’s songs have been released, recorded by the original cast. “Masquerade”, “Bright” and “Domino” are memorable which give this play an extra audience pleasing dimension. The play lasts for over three hours with the interval and I think it would be worthwhile to listen to the songs beforehand.
Stereophonic has more elements than a juke box musical because there is more about the group dynamic which sees these diverse players ultimately put the music first. I did enjoy Stereophonic but found the Tony awards overdone.
Song List
Seven Roads
Bright v1
Masquerade
Bright (Fast)
Drive
Champagne
East of Eden
Domino
‘It’s made of teak’
In Your Arms
BVs
Exorcist II
Campfire Masquerade
Bright (Take 22)
Production Notes
Stereophonic
Written by David Adjmi
Original Songs by Will Butler
Directed by Daniel Aukin
Cast
Starring:
Andrew R Butler
Eli Gelb
Zachary Hart
Lucy Karczewski
Jack Riddiford
Chris Stack
Nia Towle
Creatives
Director: Daniel Aukin
Set Designer: David Zinn
Costume Designer: Enver Chakartash
Lighting Designer:
Sound Designer: Jiyoun Chang
Orchestrations: Will Butler, Justin Craig
Musical Director: Justin Craig
Fight Director: Kare Waters
Information
Running Time: Three hours 15 minutes with an interval
Booking until
11th October 2025
Theatre:
Duke of York’s Theatre
104 St Martin’s Lane
London WC2N 4BG
Phone: 03330 096 690
Website: atgtickets.com
Tube: Charing Cross
Reviewed by
Lizzie Loveridge at the
Duke of York’s Theatre on 14th June 2025
