Last week, I was treated to a workshop of Tina Treadwell’s latest musical If I Had You, at the Actors’ Church Covent Garden. Set against the hallow hall of the Actors Church, the Treadwell & D’Aqulia collaboration harkens back to nostalgic rom-coms in the language of a contemporary musical.
The plot is that of a Richard Curtis-esque 90s rom-com, with early thirties Doug Phelan and his overbearing mother at odds over his romantic life. After a trip down memory lane, he makes the unusual decision to track down his childhood sweetheart. This takes him to Italy, where he finds her singing alongside the famed Opera singer Fabio Gallo. Through a series of strange predicaments and unexpected twists and turns, the piece plays out in an unpredictable rom-com style.
There is something divinely charming about sitting in the Actors’ Church and hearing a reading of a new musical. The show might not be the most avant-garde expression of modern musical theatre writing, but that is not always what one desires on a rainy January evening. It certainly does, however, have moments that warm the heart and a good dollop of comedy nostalgia along the way.
By Tom Carter
If I Had You is a story of love, loss and hope set in the eternal city of Rome as one man’s heart takes him on the journey of a lifetime. It is a fantastical story that shows that love never goes away even though the years have.
Cast: Charlie McCullagh, Chelsea Halfpenny, Daniele Alan-Carter
Creative team
Music: Joel Spineti
Book & Lyrics: Kenny D’Aquila
Producers: Tina Treadwell, Kenny D’Aquila
Executive Producers: Totus Tuus Family Trust, Treadwell Entertainment Group
Casting: Debbie O’Brien Casting
General Management: Thomas Hopkins Productions
Tina Treadwell, Kenny D’Aquila, Totus Tuus Family Trust and Treadwell Entertainment Group present
IF I HAD YOU
Staged readings at the Actors’ Church, Monday 27 January 2025
