Following an acclaimed run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry journeys on into the West End for a limited run. Based on Rachel Joyce’s bestselling book and turned into a film adaptation starring Jim Broadbent, does this musical feel like going on the journey of a lifetime, or it is as painful as getting blisters on your feet from a hike?
I was gifted a press ticket in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Unlike Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
- Harold Fry: Mark Addy
- Maureen Fry: Jenna Russell
- The Balladeer: Noah Mullins
- Rex: Peter Polycarpou
- Queenie Hennessy/Fairy Assistant/Gorilla : Maggie Service
- Garage Girl/Ensemble: Nicole Nyarambi
- Sister Philomena/Farmer’s Wife/Rita: Jenna Boyd
- Wilf/Jim: Ashley Samuels
- Dog: Timo Tatzber
- Martina/Locum: Madeleine Worrall
- Rich & Ensemble: Craig Armstrong
- Silver Haired Gentleman/Napier: Daniel Crossley
Rating: ★★★★★
What is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry about?
Harold Fry discovers his former colleague Queenie Hennessy is dying of cancer. With that news, he heads to the nearest postbox to send her a letter. Then he moves onto the next one. Then the post office. Slowly his simple journey turns into 500-mile pilgrimage from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed that inspires many along the way. Meanwhile his left behind wife Maureen is on her own journey that could help mend their long broken marriage.
What are my thoughts on The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry?
We’re seeing many books and movies be adapted to the stage, but there’s something about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry that feels like a breath of fresh air compared to others.
Harold’s pilgrimage may be fascinating to watch along with the various faces he inspires – with some internet virality sprinkled in – but it’s the emotional journey that makes it, for a lack of a better word, moving. What seems like a grandiose fairytale is really about characters navigating the one life they have whether it’s finally telling someone they love them or saying thank you to someone for something they did years ago. Like her previous works, Katy Rudd’s direction keeps the story moving by balancing its whimsical premise with human emotion that avoids sentimentality. With Joyce herself co-writing the musical’s book, she shows an awareness of how to adapt her work to the stage while filling in blanks for non-readers.
What’s just as beautiful as the storytelling in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is its visuals. Ash J Woodward’s video design adds to the atmosphere with watercolour backgrounds adds to the fairytale feel of Harold’s journey, complemented by Samuel Wyer’s set design and Tom Jackson Greaves’ choreography that ooze creativity utilising simple props and movement to transport Harold from his home to various locations across the country.
Much like a certain musical this reviewer has never shut up about, what glues The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry together is its rousing folk score courtesy of Passenger. Songs such as Song for the Countryside and One Foot In Front of the Other capture the rustic country edge for Harold’s tale. However, he’s not afraid to experiment with other genres including toe tapping From the Rooftops and the bombastic Out of Luck (formerly titled You’re F*cked).
What’s the cast like?
Mark Addy provides an utterly soul bearing performance as the titular character. Rough around the edges and, his determination to reach Queenie by foot may make him an inspiring martyr others paint him as, but the reality is he’s a normal man struggling to process his long held grief, regret and self hatred. What he lacks in the singing department he more than makes up for with the emotional depth he provides Harold. When left truly alone, he captures the real pain behind Harold’s journey in every sense of the word: physical, emotional, psychological.
Jenna Russell meanwhile is a force as Harold’s left behind wife Maureen. While her husband is away on the journey of a lifetime, she’s on a journey of her own in a house filled with memories that loom over their deteriorated marriage. At first against Harold’s journey, once their face truths of why their marriage crumbled does it help her gain an understanding of his need to see Queenie.
Fresh from their breakthrough as Orpheus in the Australian production of Hadestown, the West End is blessed with a real star in the making with Noah Mullins as the Balladeer. First appearing as something of a forest sprite narrating Harold’s journey, their role completely changes once their real identity is revealed as a looming specter haunting Harold’s life.
Peter Polycarpou also shines in a surprisingly non-musical role as Harold and Maureen’s neighbour Rex with reflecting on his own grief while making abruptly hanging up from a Facetime call laugh out loud hilarious. Main cast is capped off by a wonderful ensemble who juggle multiple characters and are given their own showstopper including Jenna Boyd as the Farmer’s Wife, Nicole Nyarambi as the Garage Girl with her YOLO attitude to life and Daniel Crossley as the Silver Haired Gentleman struggling to express his real love for the man he’s been paying for sexual favours. Plus Timo Tatzber amps up the cuteness factor puppeteering a dog named…Dog.
What are my overall thoughts?
In many ways, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry feels designed to make you cry – I should know because my eyes were misty with tears by the end. However, is that really a bad thing when the emotion behind it is honest? Life-affirming. Heartbreaking. Honest. Those are a few words I can use to describe its beautiful storytelling, music and cast. This really is a contender for one of my favourite musicals this year. All else I can say is go and see it as soon as you can.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until April 18th. Buy your tickets now.
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