The Cat Stevens musical ‘Moonshadow’ had its world premiere in Melbourne last night with Yusuf in attendance for the opening night and after-party.
Cat Stevens fans will love what ‘Moonshadow’ is. The sci-fi setting has a very human plot, and as Yusuf told us the day before, is based a lot on his own story.
The story centres on main characters Stormy and Lisa who as childhood friends become separated but meet again years later. Stormy is dragged into a dark world with an evil witch and becomes obsessed with his own stardom but awakes from his nightmarish hell before its too late to reclaim his life.
What must be incredible for Yusuf is to sit in the audience and watch a Cat Stevens show and to judge his creation as a spectator, not as a performer. Think about it, for the first time ever Yusuf can watch a Cat Stevens show. That must give him and incredible new insight into the inner workings of songs. Some of those songs like ‘Matthew & Son’ and ‘A Bad Night’ date back to 1967.
It was interesting hearing ‘If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out’ and ‘Don’t Be Shy’ included. Their prior use had only ever been in the movie ‘Harold & Maude’.
Like the big (I won’t dare say the great word again Yusuf) artist orientated shows like Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You before it, ‘Moonshadow’ gives Yusuf a platform for his music to be performed long after he is done doing it.
For fans of Cat Stevens music there are new songs you can only hear currently in the musical. The show opens with the brand new song ‘World Of Darkness’.
‘Moonshadow’ featuring the music of Cat Stevens is in residence at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne until September.
Songs from Moonshadow in order of performance:
Night Planet Overture
World of Darkness
Remember The Days (Of The Old Schoolyard)
Shamsia Theme
Maybe There’s A World
Matthew and Son
But I Might Die Tonight
Bitterblue (instrumental)
Shamsia (instrumental banjo)
Maybe There’s A World (reprise)
Doors
Father & Son
Wild World (part 1)
On The Road To Find Out
If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out
A Bad Night
Wild World (part 2)
Whispers
18th Avenue (instrumental)
How Can I Tell You
Ruby Love
Don’t Be Shy
Life
Longer Boats
Home In The Sky
This Glass World
Sitting
Crazy
Sad Lisa
Stormy’s Song
The First Cut Is The Deepest
Can’t Keep It In
Grandsons
Zalims Theme
Maybe There’s A World (short reprise)
Silly Little Ego
The Wind
Shamsia
Doors (reprise)
Father and Sun (theme)
Matthew & Son (reprise)
Changes IV
Moonshadow
Morning Has Broken
Peace Train (curtain call)
