Imagine, if you will, the second lockdown putting pain to the opening of your show a day into rehearsals, and then deciding to put together a filmed version in 3 days.

That’s exactly what’s happened with Falling Stars, a new musical revue celebrating the composers, collaborators and publishers of the 1920’s, and the result is charming, evocative and incredibly atmospheric.

Conceived and written by star Peter Polycarpou, the show centres around a book of songs found in the back of East Finchley antique shop and through stories and song, Polycarpou and Sally Ann Triplett guide us through music from Chaplin, Irving Berlin, Fredric Weatherly and Arthur Freed, to name a few! It was an education as most of these songs were new to me, and I think were the ones I enjoyed most: “Roses Of Picardy” and “You Know You Belong To Somebody Else” (So Why Don’t You Leave Me Alone) being particular highlights. There’s a wonderful balance of humour with cheekier numbers like “Yes We Have No Bananas” and “When It’s Nightime In Italy, It’s Wednesday Over Here” alongside the slower, emotional ballads. Whatever the mood though, what abounds is a passion for and understanding of the material that’s truly infectious.

Knowing Peter for the variety of musicals I do, most of them more well known, I had an absolute ball hearing him sing these songs: his voice has a warmth and richness to it that suits them wonderfully, and it’s a joy to see playfullness and humour come to the fore when needed too.

The segues between tunes though occasionally quite wordy, are delivered with charm and sincerity that kept me engaged, and the dynamic between him and Triplett is full of fun!

Speaking of Sally Ann Triplett, she came into my life through the recent online streaming of Godspell where I was astonished by the emotional depth she gave to her number. I got that quality in spades again here and she radiates class.

The treasure trove of music and performance is complimented beautifully by Andrew Exeter’s lighting and the sparse props, the whole effect is deliciously haunting especially the moments of silhouette! Michael Strassen’s direction moves seamlessly between dialogue and music, and that allows the viewer to rest easy and just lose themselves in this glorious tribute: I wish it every success for its rescheduled outing at the Union Theatre in January 2021!

Falling Stars is available to stream until 29th November – Tickets here