Six Nights in Naples, 2016

I had a wonderful time, and I hope there will be many more than Six Nights in Naples!

West End and Broadway star Kim Criswell

(Lucia the diva)

 

Six Nights in Naples, 2015

Phillips ... knows just the right moment to surprise us with a plot development to sustain his yarn spinning along in high gear. The balance between music and dialogue, where one takes over from the other, is judged to a tee.

Musical Theatre Review, November 2015

Read the full review here

 

Alfie The Musical, 2014

Eden Phillips' book and witty lyrics ... and John Cameron's catchy music provide … a cracking evening full of tuneful ballads and lively ensemble numbers that would not look out of place in the West End.

Musical Theatre Review, November 2014

Read the full review here

 

Alfie The Musical

As for the women, Eden Phillips's book and lyrics carefully provide space for the voicing of their sorrows.

Daily Telegraph

An engaging and uplifting affair.

The Times

Four stars ****

John Cameron and Eden Phillips's music and lyrics are made to measure for a musical that makes you feel blissed out.

The Watford Observer

Four stars ****

A gripping small-scale chamber musical that is almost as seductive on stage as Alfie is at juggling his female partners on the bed-sheets. ``

What's On

Four stars ****

The lyrics are witty, often risqué, and very funny.

Bolton Evening News

The Postman and the Poet

The music is wonderful and the singing is fantastic. If you like an Evita/West Side Story flavor you will like this one.

Nick, Amazon.com

I purchased this album knowing very little about the composer, but was drawn to it being familiar with some of the performers on the recording.
I have been absolutely blown away by the album. I don't know if there's been a production mounted as yet, but I can only imagine it's just a question of time. The songs are beautiful and as expected, the singers used to deliver them match the brilliant material.
Any musical theatre fan will be able to appreciate the superb score and first class production on this recording. I really hope someone out there 'discovers' it and mounts a full West End production... I will be the first in line to buy a ticket... especially if they manage to get Joanna Ampil on board.

Pablo King, Amazon.com *****

Having received this score as a gift from a close friend, who had seen the film (Il Postino), I was told that this would be 'up my street' and I must say he was right! The score is beautifully put together, not knowing a great deal about musical theatre, but having an ever growing appreciation for it, this album has not left my CD player. The singers deliver the songs wonderfully, that coupled with the vibrant instrumental pieces, make this album a must have for any musicals fan.

Kate, Amazon.com *****

The discovery of THE POSTMAN AND THE POET (CD) is the discovery of a treasure. … Acoustically, this musical is a true listening pleasure from the first to the last second. In addition to reflections of Boublil/Schonberg's musicals Les Miserables and Miss Saigon in the overture and ensemble numbers, composer Michael Jeffrey has developed a style all of his own – Latin rhythms, fitting to Chile, can be heard in the very peppy "Taca Taca" (and "Dance at Rosa's") and also in "Poetry is Poison". There are many musical highlights on this double CD.

In the leading role of the poet Pablo Neruda is Ethan Freeman. For over 20 years he has been the crème de la crème in German musicals, and has appeared on Broadway and in London's West End. He exhibits his power to express emotion in his only solo "Speak from the Heart". The same quality applies to "Stolen Words" sung by Simon Thomas (Mario) and Joanna Ampil's (Beatriz) singing "You're a Man".

The presentation of the CD should also be mentioned. Although a concept album, one still gets a double CD and a 60-page booklet with the libretto, background information and several photos. It only remains to be hoped that this powerful musical will one day find its way onto the stage and the CD recording will have been just the appetizer. This could be such a beautiful musical. More please!

Musical Schatz

Spooky, but the day before this arrived for review, I had been reading a review of the album online, and it wasn't that great, so I wasn't really rushing to listen to the two CD's. Well I don't know what that reviewer had been listening to but I really liked this musical ...

... The whole package has plusses and minuses, as you would expect with a new musical that hasn't yet had a stage production. To dwell too much on the minuses would be to do the piece an injustice ... The cast are all musically excellent and I really wish that I could be watching it live on stage. The arrangements are wonderful and a special mention must go to Craig Barna who carried out the orchestrations and conducts the National Symphony Orchestra for the CD.

Nick Wakeham, Musical Theatre Review

Dorothy Fields Forever

David Kernan and Eden Phillips' show is wonderfully performed at the King's Head, a venue that consistently pulls the proverbial rabbit from the hat on the musical front. For all the big budget, blockbuster shows in the West End, the King's Head seems so often to have the last word – "Dorothy Fields Forever" is no exception.

Tom Keatinge, londontheatre.co.uk

First things first: Dorothy Who?
It's sad to have to explain, and there's no need once you see the show, since her work sings for itself, without the need to advertise or trumpet its virtues ...
First seen at the tiny Jermyn Street Theatre in February, this effervescent fringe treat makes a highly welcome return to the slightly larger King's Head, whose dinner theatre ambience is perfectly suited to the show's intimate charms. ... Director David Kernan and co-deviser and writer Eden Phillips have cleverly weaved some 40 songs into a brief biographical tale of her life. With the writer herself embodied by the mature, stately presence of Angela Richards, much of the narration is given in the first person, a device that allows us to see the woman behind the songs as well as the songs of the woman.
Richards is ably supported in putting those across by Rebecca Lock, Robert Meadmore, Kathryn Akin, Stori James and pianist/singer Nathan Martin.

whatsonstage.com *****

... Watching the show it struck me that anthologies are often more enjoyable than full blown musicals: you get the plums without having to sit through the duff stuff. And Kernan, aided by choreographer Nick Winston, stages the songs neatly with a talented cast of five.

Angela Richards endows Fields herself with a wry detachment and delivers one of her lyrics, He Had Refinement, in the highly comic baby-voiced style of Judy Holliday. And she is elegantly supported by the self-satirising Robert Meadmore and the slit-skirted Rebecca Lock. Joy at the end was unconfined at a show that serves up old standards while also taking us into fresh Fields and pastures new.

Michael Billington, The Guardian *****

... It's a very happy show to be in, and I know everyone says this about their fellow cast members, but we really do have an amazingly talented group.

Angela Richards, interview for Playbill

Read the full interview here

Love in a Cold Climate

The rain may rain each day/The darling buds of May/May be frosted before they begin/But surely it can't be a sin/To be in love/Love in a cold climate...

Love in a Cold Climate lyrics,

by Eden Phillips

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The Guzunder Gang

The Guzunder Gang were my childhood heroes. I would recommend this book to all the fellow people who would like their children to have FUN and learn manners.

Online reviewer, www.books.google.co.uk

Some of the most catchy music and lyrics for children I have ever heard. I still know the words and hum along to tunes I haven't heard for five years – the sign of a truly good song.

Melissa Roskell

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Little Story Teller

I loved this as a kid and have now given it to my daughter

Online reviewer,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJdaMXkpBRs

I used to listen to it over and over again and drive my sister crazy singing the magic mountain song. In fact I still sing it to her!!

Lorna,

www.storytellerwebsite.wordpress.com/the-collection/little-story-teller/

Credit list

Lyrics

Alfie the Musical; The Postman and the Poet; Six Nights in Naples; Love in a Cold Climate; The Guzunder Gang; Little Storyteller; The Fairy Tales Collection; Tales on Tape; Remember When; PC Play and Learn

Scripts

Diageo; Chancery; Alfie The Musical; The Postman and the Poet; Dorothy Fields Forever; Love in a Cold Climate

Personal acting reviews

Borstal Boy

Christmas Carol

Doctor Who; Doctor Who 2

Ireland – North and South

Potter's Picture Palace

The Herries Chronicle

Rattle of a Simple Man

Tolstoy and Music

BBC 1

Interplay Theatre Company

 

Journalism

Women's Journal 1982–1987

A model pupil, 1980's

Two for the Pot, 1980's

Weight and See, October 1986

 

Murder Casebook