Aspects of Love is a musical with music and book by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart. It is based on the 1955 novel by David Garnett.
The piece focuses on the romantic entanglements of actress Rose Vibert, her admiring fan Alex Dillingham, his underage cousin Jenny, his uncle George, and George's mistress, sculptor Giulietta Trapani, over a period of 17 years. The "aspects" of the title refers to the many forms that love takes in the show: love between couples, both as romantic infatuation and as married people; children and their parents; and hints of same-sex attraction (Giulietta and Rose).
Most of the musical is sung, making the show sung-through with only minor amounts of dialogue.
Lloyd Webber was introduced to Aspects of Love in 1979, when he and Tim Rice were approached to write a few songs for a proposed film version. When nothing came of it, he suggested to Trevor Nunn that they collaborate on a stage adaptation. In 1983, they presented a cabaret of numbers they had written, but it was not until five years later that they tackled the project in earnest.'Aspects of Love' background andrewlloydwebber.com, retrieved 16 January 2010 The musical features the song "Love Changes Everything".
As with many of his shows, Lloyd Webber first presented Aspects of Love in a workshop presentation as part of his Sydmonton Festival (July 1988). The cast was led by Michael Ball as Alex, Susannah Fellows as Rose, Dinsdale Landen as George, Grania Renihan as Giulietta and Diana Morrison as Jenny.
Productions
West End (1989–1992) The West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Gillian Lynne, musical direction by Michael Reed, opened on April 17, 1989, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, where it ran for 1,325 performances. The original cast included Ann Crumb as Rose Vibert, Michael Ball as Alex Dillingham, Kevin Colson as George Dillingham, Kathleen Rowe McAllen as Giulietta Trapani, Diana Morrison as Jenny Dillingham and Sally Smith as The Chanteuse. Roger Moore was due to star as George in the production but left two weeks before opening night. He later stated in an interview he was unable to cope with the technical side of singing in Aspects of Love, and the production required someone with experience of singing with orchestras. Following his departure, his understudy Kevin Colson took over the role.Roger Moore During the run, the role of Rose Vibert was also played by Susannah Fellows, Carol Duffy, Helen Hobson, Clare Burt, and Sarah Brightman; Alex Dillingham by David Greer, David Malek and Michael Praed; Giulietta Trapani by Becky Norman and Grania Renihan.
Broadway (1990–1991) The Broadway production, with the same creative team and the four leading members of the London cast, opened on April 8, 1990, at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed on March 2, 1991, after 377 performances and 22 previews. John Cullum joined the cast later in the run, and the closing cast starred Sarah Brightman and Barrie Ingham. The reviews were lacklustre and New York Times critic Frank Rich wrote in a negative review "Whether Aspects of Love is a musical for people is another matter."Rich, Frank."Review/Theater; Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love, The New York Times, April 9, 1990 When the musical closed, the entire $8 million investment was lost, which, according to The New York Times, made it "perhaps the greatest flop in Broadway history".Bernstein, Richard. "Aspects, the Musical that Had Everything, and Lost Everything", The New York Times, March 7, 1991
UK Tour and West End Revival (1993) In 1993, Really Useful Group and Apollo Leisure breathed life into the show with a new production directed by Gale Edwards, with designs by Roger Kirk, and choreography by Jo Anne Robinson. The show opened at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, toured the UK and then headed into the West End and re-opened at the shows original venue, the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. There were many differences from the original, especially in the stage design, which used a revolve and beautiful butterfly gauzes to help the flow from scene to scene. Kathryn Evans played Rose, with Alexander Hanson as Alex, Gary Bond as George, Lottie Mayor as Jenny and Karen Skinns as Giulietta. The cast also included Paul Bentley, Benjamin Lush, Helen Viner-Slater, Alisdair Harvey, Nicola Dawn, Martin Callaghan, Russell Wilcox, Heather Davies, Nathan Harmer, Leslie Meadows, Gail-Marie Shapter, Myles Faraday, Kate Marsden, Natalie Holton, Angela Lloyd and Peter King. A further tour of the production in 1994 was led by Kevin Colson as George, Anne Wood as Rose, Jay Marcus as Alex, Jacinta Whyte as Giulietta and Elizabeth Price as Jenny.
Subsequent Productions In 1991, a 'chamber' version of the show with Keith Michell as George was mounted in Canada. It subsequently toured in America and a similar production was staged in Australia. Aspects of Love was also produced in Japan, the Philippines, Hungary, Finland, and Denmark.
A production directed by Gale Edwards toured Australia in the early 1990s. It starred Peter Cousens as Alex, Delia Hannah as Rose, and Martin Crewes as Hugo. It also featured Kevin Colson reprising his role of George.Aspects of Love Australia
The musical toured the United States from 1992 to 1993. The cast starred Ron Bohmer as Alex, Linda Balgord as Rose, Keith Michell as George, and Kelli James Chase as Giulietta. Sarah Brightman reprised her performance as Rose at the Los Angeles stop at the Wilshire Theatre."Aspects of Love", ibdb.com, retrieved 16 October 2023
A new UK tour – the first production in 15 years – began on 31 August 2007. It starred David Essex as George Dillingham, with Matt Rawle as Alex, Shona Lindsay as Rose, and Poppy Tierney as Giulietta. The production was directed by Nikolai Foster, with musical direction by Andrew J. Smith. It opened at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne, and toured for 36 weeks through 8 December 2007. Rawle was replaced by Tim Rogers.Lathan, Peter."Review Aspects of Love", britishtheatreguide.info, 2007, retrieved 16 January 2010
The show played a limited engagement at The Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa from May 22 to June 28, 2009. The touring production was re-directed by Nikolai Foster and starred Samantha Peo, Robert Finlayson, Angela Kilian and Keith Smith.South Africa listing Really Useful Group, January 28, 2009
A London revival ran at the Menier Chocolate Factory from July 15 to September 11, 2010, with new direction by Trevor Nunn. The cast featured Dave Willetts as George, Rosalie Craig as Giulietta, Katherine Kingsley as Rose, and Michael Arden as Alex.Bosanquet, Theo.Nunn Revives Aspects of Love at Menier, 15 Jul whatsonstage.com, 18 February 2010
In 2012, a Dutch production toured the Netherlands, produced by Stage Entertainment.
The new 'definitive' script was staged at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay from February to March 2014. Produced by Tynemouth Operatic Society, it was the first non-professional staging in the UK to use the new script and full orchestra. It was the first staging in the world of the new 'definitive' version by Lord Lloyd Webber, bringing together elements of several productions to present the show as he wishes to see it staged.
In July 2018, a new revival opened at the Hope Mill Theatre, ManchesterTheatre review: Aspects of Love britishtheatreguide.info, 2018, retrieved 12 February 2019 before transferring to the Southwark Playhouse London in January 2019.Aspects of Love Southwark Playhouse, 2019, retrieved 12 February 2019 It featured Kelly Price as Rose, Felix Mosse as Alex, Jérôme Pradon as George, Madalena Alberto as Giulietta and Eleanor Walsh as Jenny.
Second West End Revival (2023) A West End revival, directed by Jonathan Kent and produced by Nica Burns, opened at the Lyric Theatre, London, on May 12, 2023, for a limited run until November 11. On June 30, 2023 it was announced the production would close nearly three months earlier than originally planned, on August 19. Michael Ball, who played Alex in the original 1989 London production, starred as George, Danielle de Niese as Giulietta. Jamie Bogyo played the role of Alex. Dave Willetts was Ball’s alternate playing the role on Mondays.Dave Willetts Will Sub for Michael Ball Mondays in West End Revival of Aspects of Love In this production Alex's song 'Love Changes Everything' was also sung by George, allowing Michael Ball to reprise his signature song from the original production.
Cast and characters +CharacterWest EndBroadwayFirst West End RevivalSecond West End Revival1989199019932023Rose VibertAnn CrumbKathryn EvansLaura Pitt-PulfordAlex DillinghamMichael BallAlexander HansonJamie BogyoSir George DillinghamKevin ColsonGary BondMichael BallDave WillettsGiulietta TrapaniKathleen Rowe McAllenKaren SkinnsDanielle de NieseJenny DillinghamDiana Morrison Deanna DuClosLottie MayorAnna UnwinHugo le MeunierDavid GreerDon GoodspeedJames BullerVinny Coyle
Notable replacements West End (1989-1992) Rose Vibert: Clare Burt, Sarah Brightman, Susanna Fellows, Helen Hobson Alex Dillingham: David Malek, Michael Praed
Broadway (1990-91) Rose Vibert: Sarah Brightman Alex Dillingham: Marcus Lovett Sir George Dillingham: Walter Charles, John Cullum, Barrie Ingham Hugo le Meunier: Jonathan Dokuchitz
Plot
Act One
At a train station in Pau, France in 1964, 34-year-old Alex Dillingham reflects on his love life over the past 17 years ("Love Changes Everything"). A woman (Giulietta Trapani) replies to him that "it's all in the past."
Flashing to 1947, Rose Vibert, a 25-year-old actress, complains that their production of The Master Builder is a flop. The producer, Marcel, tries to placate Rose by introducing her to a fan, 17-year-old Alex ("A Small Theatre in Montpellier"). Alex and Rose have a brief tryst at his uncle George's villa in Pau ("Seeing is Believing", "The House in Pau"). George Dillingham, in Paris with his mistress, Giulietta Trapani, an Italian sculptor, returns to his villa to see for himself what Alex and Rose are doing ("An Art Exhibition in Paris", "A Memory of a Happy Moment"). Rose is attracted to George, who is overcome when he sees Rose dressed in a gown belonging to his beloved late wife, Delia, also an actress, and remarks how much Rose resembles Delia ("In Many Rooms in the House at Pau").
He advises Alex that all good things have to end, and that his interlude with Rose will be a memory. Alex insists that his relationship with Rose is real love ("On the Terrace"). George leaves, and Rose leaves to rejoin Marcel. Alex realizes that Rose had never taken him seriously ("At the House at Pau").
Two years later, Alex, now a soldier, visits his uncle in Paris, and is shocked to find that Rose is now George's mistress. He accuses her of chasing his uncle's money, but Rose protests that she really loves George. She admits that she did love Alex once, and the two, drawn to each other again, fall into bed ("George's Flat in Paris").
The next morning, an agitated Rose tells Alex to leave before George returns. Alex, enraged, pulls out his gun. Rose throws a candlestick at Alex, and the gun goes off, shooting Rose in the arm, and she faints ("First Orchestral Interlude"). After George arrives, he and Alex each try to convince the other that the other is the right man for Rose. George wins the debate, insisting that Alex should begin a new life with Rose, and Alex finally agrees ("She'd Be Far Better Off With You"). George then heads to Venice to see his former mistress, Giulietta. However, Rose orders Alex to leave, having chosen to stay with George. Alex leaves, and Rose and Marcel follow George to Venice. Rose intends to confront Giulietta and reclaim George. In Venice, Giulietta and Rose bond while discussing George's foibles. They both express surprise that the other woman is not at all what they'd imagined. George returns and says that he has lost most of his money ("Stop. Wait. Please").