The Life and Times of Michelangelo

Just over two months ago, I was invited by my good friend Mr Peter Jones to produce his next musical with him (his sixth, my third). The theme was set to be a celebration of English life, centered around the honest gentleman's game of cricket.

While Pete was working on the plot, script and songs (no doubt getting in all the puns possible about stumps and balls) I had been having thoughts about staging and cast. The set had been coming together in my head over the summer; I was looking forward to a clean, crisp and simple set (a far cry from the monstrosity I'd worked on this last Easter).

Fast-forward to today, and a phone call arranging our meeting in London tomorrow:

Peter:
"Just checking, Michael - You haven't started planning the set have you?"

Me (scrapping all my thoughts):
"No - why? What's happened?"

Peter:
"Well just last week I was thinking how much I hated English life, and I couldn't face the thought of spending nine months of my life writing and producing a musical about it"

Me:
"Okay.... so what's the new idea?"

Peter:
"Michelangelo. His life and work."

[pause]

Me:
"Wow, that sounds great."

Peter:
"I know you'll think of something great for the set. We need his studio, the Sistine chapel, that sort of thing. Hey, maybe we could both learn to paint, that would be handy."


So much for 'clean, crisp and simple'.