This brand new musical created by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams follows the colourful story of bolshy Annie Londonderry, played by Liv Andrusier, as she pitches her column ideas to the New York World, roping in secretary Martha played by Katy Ellis, to act out her cycling adventures.
It starts as a one sided conversation, taking place in an elaborate mahogany office in 1895, but one gets the sense Annie prefers it that way, with words flowing out of her a million miles a minute in a broad Boston accent. She doesn’t take kindly to interruption, dragging the unsuspecting Martha into her spiel when she asks too many questions, persuading the shy secretary to play the role of characters Annie met along her journey – the men who challenged Annie to a bet, an obstinate french customs official, a fellow cyclist and love interest. Ellis rises to this challenge, bringing Martha out of her shell and thoroughly absorbing the audience into the story.
Amy Jane Cook’s set is full of marvellous surprises, accentuating Annie’s show(wo)manship. The music is jaunty with fantastic arrangements by Macy Schmidt, dramatic numbers allowing Andrusier’s voice to shine, only momentarily let down by the band not lowering the volume during some verses, meaning the rapid-fire lyrics are sometimes lost. Significant chunks of the story are told within the lyrics, zipping the audience across borders and anecdotes, a refreshing change from the stream of radio-ready hits that have been dominating musical theatre. Energy crackles through Andrusier as she sings about the opportunity for liberation bicycles offer. Ellis’s voice is as sweet as her character, and the two combine to create some glorious harmonies, blending so smoothly you can hardly tell where one begins and ends.
Directed by Sarah Meadows, this snappy show is a mere 90 minutes, evolving from a tale of daring from an untold feminist icon, to a brief contemplation of the injustices of life and the necessity of escapism. Annie describes herself as versatile, and that might be an understatement.
This project has been a long time coming for Freya and Jack, who started writing pre-lockdown, and now that it has come to fruition (opening in London at the end of 2022), I look forward to it receiving more recognition. Ride is playing at The Curve until 15th July, before relocating to the Southwark Playhouse. Don’t miss your chance to see it in Leicester https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/ride/
*****
Katie Reviews 