Park Theatre – until 17 February. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
3***
Rothschild & Sons does what it says on the tin – you learn a little about Rothschild and his sons, not his wife, or his daughters – this is truly a boy’s own musical.
Reviving this 1970 show seems a strange choice. It may be written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, but this is no Fiddler on the Roof.
The musical follows Mayer Rothschild from his beginnings as a peddler and rare coin collector in the Frankfurt ghetto catching the eye of Prince William of Hesse with his confidence and salesmanship, through his training his sons in commerce and banking, to their international financial dealings during the Napoleonic wars. There is a lot of financial talk, mostly framed in comedic parroting from the sons, but you’ll find out more about bonds in this production than any other musical. The quest for money and influence can be unpalatable, so the Rothschilds’ demands for the declaration of rights for the Jewish people in Europe, and the abolition of ghettos adds a moral compass to the story, with Mayer’s determination to see change in an unfair society.
The sons are pretty interchangeable (except for rebellious Nathan, cue father/son conflicts and journey towards understanding of each other), and are a great team, with their harmonies swelling gloriously, especially in Everything. Gutele, Rothschild’s wife, spends most of the musical popping out sons and then moaning about what Rothschild is doing with them, basically wasting Glory Crampton in a woefully underwritten role. Gary Trainor is full of energy, like an overexuberant puppy as young Nathan, maturing from a reckless and headstrong novice into a strong and canny financier just like his dad. Robert Cuccioli as Mayer is solid and delivers a wonderfully emotional rendition of In My Own Lifetime.
The problem is that the musical numbers are variable, with only two truly memorable songs, although the band, led by the energetic Ben van Tienen do a fine job.
Rothschild & Sons is worth a look as a companion piece to Fiddler, with another strong patriarch fighting for his family, but strong performances and musicianship aside, this show just isn’t in the same league.