• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Edinburgh Fringe
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Edinburgh Fringe
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
Glory Ride in Rehearsal credit Piers Foley

Glory Ride in Rehearsal credit Piers Foley

Review: Glory Ride at The Other Palace

"Glory Ride could be a sure-fire hit once the writers get it over the finish line"

by Greg Stewart
November 14, 2022
Reading Time: 4 mins read

Fans of the Tour de France have a long wait until next summer before the next tournament takes place, but at London’s The Other Palace, the unbelievable story of an Italian Tour de France winner is being told in the UK Premiere of Glory Ride.  Backed by the original producers of Jersey Boys this new musical has already been in development in the US, and now a limited run of three staged concerts on the main stage of The Other Palace leave us hoping for a full run in the near future.

Glory Ride follows the true-life story of Gino Bartali (James Darch), who gave up being a champion cyclist following a family tragedy.  His celebrity status granted him some additional freedoms when fascism took hold in Mussolini’s Italy, and along with his accountant, Giorgio Nico (Matt Blaker) and the Cardinal (Ricardo Afonso) began smuggling forged documents out of Florence so that children who had escaped the Black Shirts could lead a new life.

Eventually, this audacious plan escalated until it wasn’t just passports but actual children that Bartali was ferrying to freedom.  It is of course, an incredibly moving story, which comes to a climax in the final moments of the show when the extent of Bartali’s achievements are revealed.

       

This staged concert version of Glory Ride, directed by Shaun Kerrison, is presented with real flair.  The costumes look authentic, and projections, that use Legnano adverts and posters help to set the scene, and occasionally fill in parts of the story in the absence of set and props, work well.

This is still a workshopping of the musical, and it does still need some tweaks, particularly with the book.  The first fifteen minutes of the first act feel like a race in itself, with Bartali’s early life and career speeding by quicker than the yellow jersey wearer, only for things to slow down quite considerably towards the interval.

You mightalso like

Glory Ride Jamie Coyne as Cosmo Joshua St. Clair as Gino Bartali Loris Scarpa as Lorenzo Photographer Marc Brenner

Review: Glory Ride at Charing Cross Theatre

Todd and Victoria Buchholz

Interview: Todd Buchholz and Victoria Buchholz on Glory Ride at Charing Cross Theatre

While this could be forgiven if it allowed extra time for the more exciting moments, instead there’s quite a lot of focus on individual characters.  Sometimes that pays off, such as in the case of Felix, the Black Shirt who longs to go back to being a violinist, beautifully portrayed my Marcus Harman with a show stopping solo number.

There’s much focus too on Mario Carita (Neil McDermott), Bartali’s former race partner turned head Black Shirt, but not enough on Adriana (Daisy Wood-Davis) leaving the love story aspect unexplored.

There are some very touching moments, particularly between brothers Cosmo and Lorenzo (Alex James Ellison and Yuki Sutton), but also some great comedy, driven mainly by Matt Blaker’s superb portrayal of the germaphobe accountant that steps well out of his own comfort zone.

Victoria and Todd Buchholz’s score is delightful and warm-hearted, with some real catchy tunes audiences will be humming on the way home.  Glory Ride has great potential as the story is so compelling, it perhaps just needs to up the ante a little in terms of the daring exploits of Bartali and his co-conspirators, to ensure the audience feel the tension.

       

With some re-working of the book, including expanding Giorgio Nico’s comedy role, and introducing a greater element of danger, Glory Ride could be a sure-fire hit once the writers get it over the finish line.

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Glory Ride Jamie Coyne as Cosmo Joshua St. Clair as Gino Bartali Loris Scarpa as Lorenzo Photographer Marc Brenner
Reviews

Review: Glory Ride at Charing Cross Theatre

Todd and Victoria Buchholz
Interviews

Interview: Todd Buchholz and Victoria Buchholz on Glory Ride at Charing Cross Theatre

Glory Ride Cast
News

Initial casting announced for the world premiere of Glory Ride

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Earl Carpenter as Phantom and Holly Anne Hull as Christine. Photo by Johan Persson
News

The Phantom Of The Opera Extends West End Run and Releases New Production Photography

Glory Ride will open at Charing Cross Theatre
News

Glory Ride to Open at Charing Cross Theatre

Titanic Rehearsals Pamela Raith Photography
First Look

First Look: Titanic The Musical in Rehearsal

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Underbelly Boulevard. Photo Tom Lee

Underbelly and Soho Estates Announce Underbelly’s First Permanent Venue – Underbelly Boulevard

The Wind in the Willows Shakespeare North

The Wind in The Willows to be Shakespeare North Playhouse’s 2023 Christmas Production

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly