Dream team Lloyd Webber and Rice back together again
THEY are surely the most famous names in musical theatre — and it can be revealed that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber are writing songs together again.
The pair are renowned for a trio of mighty musicals they created: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (first performed in 1968); Jesus Christ Superstar (1971) and Evita (1978).
But they have collaborated only occasionally since — writing the song You Must Love Me for the 1996 film of Evita, starring Madonna; and with Rice contributing ‘additional lyrics’ for Lloyd Webber’s 2011 musical The Wizard Of Oz.
Now, though, they have teamed up again: to write songs for a play which Rice’s son Donald is producing.
Called Sherlock Holmes And The Twelve Days Of Christmas, it will feature the great detective puzzling over the work of a serial killer who is dispatching his victims using methods suggested by the carol — think partridges and milkmaids.
Tim, 79, told me: ‘Andrew and I wrote one song together late last year and we are working on a couple more. The show is a comedy rather than a full musical — but we will do four or five songs in all.’
He continued: ‘Andrew and I have always got on and I have really enjoyed writing the words. The show is successful without the songs — they just add to it. The hope will be to have it on this Christmas.’
The play has been written by the comedian Humphrey Ker, along with David Reed. Ker is best known for his role in persuading Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (a friend of Ker’s since their time together on the US TV show Mythic Quest) to buy Welsh football club Wrexham. News of the renewed collaboration between Rice and Lloyd Webber comes as a delightful surprise, since just over a year ago Tim was playing down the possibility of their working together again. At that time, he said: ‘I’ve got a couple of ideas, which might need the odd song, but I don’t see us sitting down to do a massive mega-musical again.’
The men’s partnership began after Rice wrote Lloyd Webber, 76, a letter, describing himself as a ‘with it’ lyricist and offering his services.
But, after Evita, they went their separate ways, with Lloyd-Webber creating Cats, Phantom Of The Opera and Starlight Express; and Tim doing Chess and The Lion King (working with Elton John on the film and the musical).
Next month, Tim is to embark on his tour: My Life In Musicals. It will be packed full of songs and will include conversations with the lyricist about his career.
Meanwhile, a new production of Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express opens in June at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.