Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 6 March 2018

Andrew Lloyd Webber, turning 70, looks back and forward

By MARK KENNEDY day, though he cheers
NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew the imagination of current
Lloyd Webber's 70th birth- hits like "Hamilton," ''Dear
day is coming up and it Evan Hansen," ''Come From
turns out there is something Away" and "The Band's Vis-
the composer really wants it." None seem safe bets:
on his special day. More "Every single one of those
work. four would be considered
The man behind such to be written by somebody
blockbuster shows as who terminally insane," he
"Cats," ''The Phantom of said, laughing.
the Opera" and "School His 480-page autobiog-
of Rock" has shows in Lon- raphy ends in 1986 with
don's West End, Broadway "Phantom": "I resembled a
and on tour, but he'd like jelly about to enter a pizza
to be composing another oven." But he doubts he'll
one. "The biggest birthday write a second volume.
present to me would be to By the end of the first, sev-
know that I've found anoth- eral key relationships have
er subject. Genuinely, that's frayed and betrayal is felt.
what I would most want for "On the way down some-
my 70th birthday: To know times is when you see
I'm writing," he said. peoples' true colors. I don't
Lloyd Webber may actually In this Jan. 28, 2018 file photo, Andrew Lloyd Webber arrives at the 60th annual Grammy Awards want to write about that. I
be close to another musical in New York. never want to write about
subject but doesn't want to Associated Press the bad side of people or
jinx it by revealing details. things," he said.
"Knowing me, I'll find some masked," is being released live televised NBC version mega-producer Camer- Jonathan Burnham, the
speed bump along the this month, along with a of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Mackintosh. They did book's editor at Harper-
line," he said. massive, four-CD collection starring John Legend and not consume four bottles Collins, said the book of-
It's typical of this restless, of his songs, performed by Sara Bareilles, and a new of burgundy over a long fers charming anecdotes
self-described perfectionist the likes of Barbra Streisand, musical featuring his songs lunch. "It was three bottles along with Lloyd Webber's
that he's looking forward as Lana Del Rey and Madon- at the Paper Mill Playhouse and two kirs," he writes. thinking about music, in-
his past is being celebrated na. NBC plans a primetime in New Jersey in Septem- One of the book's most fas- cluding the mechanics of
in words, performances tribute March 28. ber. He was the subject of cinating sections involves putting on musicals.
and music. The Lloyd Webber-mania a Grammy Awards tribute, the troubled creation of "What makes the book so
His autobiography, "Un- also includes an upcoming and winter Olympic fans "Cats," which became a valuable and entertaining
would have noticed Lloyd global phenomenon. Lloyd is his voice, which is un-
Webber soundtracks for Webber had to put his own shackled," Burnham said.
several skaters. money into the show and "It's like spending a delight-
The book, which he jokingly watched its progression ful series of evenings with a
refers to as a "medium sized nervously. witty friend who's lived lots
doorstop," covers the years There were warning signs: of interesting experiences."
from his birth to the birth of The show was his first with- The CD collection of 71
"The Phantom of the Op- out lyricist Tim Rice, with songs proves Lloyd Web-
era." It's honest and very whom he's had success with ber's range, including a
funny. "Joseph and the Amazing song he wrote for Elvis Pre-
"I just hope it shows a little Technicolor Dreamcoat" sley, orchestral suites, and
more about me to people and "Evita." He was working tunes performed by every-
who perhaps don't know with a then-unknown pro- one from Donny Osmond
me," he said in his apart- ducer in Mackintosh and a to Beyonce. Lana Del Rey
ment overlooking Central director who'd never done performs "You Must Love
Park. "I just hope I've told a musical. Lyrics came from Me" and Nicole Scherzinger
some of the funniest stores a dead poet, T.S. Eliot. The does "Memory."
and they're not too boring musical director resigned "I'm rather unfashionable
for people." after having a nervous now because I'm not sure
Readers will learn how breakdown. that melody is as fashion-
close he was to being cast "We were asking people to able as it was," he says.
as Mozart in the Oscar-win- believe that human beings "What I do is melody and I
ning film "Amadeus," the were cats. It appeared to still believe there's a place
time he scribbled the title have no story-line," Lloyd for that." With that, one of
song in "Jesus Christ Super- Webber said. "There was music history's most suc-
star" on a paper napkin, not one ingredient that cessful composers is itching
how Judy Garland inspired anybody could see was to get to the airport, and
"Don't Cry for Me Argen- anything other than a rec- back to work in England.
tina" and the moment he ipe for the worst disaster "I've already said I'm the
accidentally exploded a that had ever happened most boring person I've
bottle of Champagne all in the history of musical ever met. I do not intend to
over Barbra Streisand's hors theater." Lloyd Webber is bore people any further,"
d'oeuvres. positive he'd be unable he said. "I just want to get
He also corrects the record to get backing for a show to the theater and get on
about his first meeting with like that on Broadway to- with the next case."q