A story that needs to be told; a show which both educates and entertains, and importantly celebrates some of the lesser known historical figures who risked their own lives to help others.
Glory Ride is the new inspiring musical that draws its narrative from the remarkable true life story of Italy’s most celebrated cyclist, Gino Bartali, and the valiant endeavours of him and his allies, Cardinal Ella Della Costa and Giorgi ‘Nico’ Nissim during the Second World War.
Together, these three heroes managed to save the lives of over 800 Jewish refugees fleeing persecution. Bartali played a pivotal role in this humanitarian effort, carrying forged documents hidden in his bicycle to help refugees reach the border, and later smuggling those in need in a trailer through the mountains away from Florence. Following concert performances at The Other Palace last year, Glory Ride will run until 29th July at Charing Cross Theatre.
Set, video and costume designer PJ McEvoy has done a fantastic job visually building the world of the play. A well-crafted set depicting the cobbled buildings of Florence transports the audience to Italy, and the authentic costumes of the cast fit right in. The use of projections, including archival footage reinforces the true story behind the performance.
Though, at times, some of the lyrics are a little hit and miss, there are several songs which truly do pack a punch in this production. ‘Tomorrow In Italy’ was a particularly inspirational tune, and a catchy one too, while ‘Green Eye Shades’ was a jazzy comedic number. I was also impressed by Felix’s (Ruairidh McDonald) moving solo, a tale of a musician forced to become a Black Shirt, who longs to escape his life of violence and return to playing the violin. The execution of the songs was fantastic across the board, with the full cast wielding powerful voices. Amy Di Bartolomeo, playing the role of Adriana Bani gave an exceptional performance acting through song.
Josh St Clair portrays Bartali with a powerful honesty. From cocky fresh-faced celebrity and charming love interest, to heartbroken brother and exhausted yet determined freedom-fighter, the audience are rooting for him every step of the way.
Fed Zanni is another standout in this show as Major Mario Carita, Bartali’s former friend turned adversary. He manages to show us the complex human side of someone who has undoubtedly become the villain.
Although some of the acting is undeniably powerful, certain moments felt a tad jarring and bordering on caricature. In particular, the portrayal of the Black Shirts as almost pantomime-esque villains felt somewhat out of place in a story that deals with such sensitive themes, detracting from the overall impact of the production.
In terms of the flow of the story, I felt that the first act touched a little too fleetingly on several defining moments of Bartali’s life. There could have been more done to build the audience’s relationship with certain characters. As it was I found that I wasn’t as emotionally invested in the characters, but more so the story in general and the historical context behind it. Additionally some of the facts became blurry.
Despite some unclear moments, Glory Ride is a powerful production with a lot of potential. It is a story that needs to be told; a show which both educates and entertains, and importantly celebrates some of the lesser known historical figures who risked their own lives to help others. While it may not have been a theatrical tour-de-force, I would still recommend giving it a watch.