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Sting's pre-Broadway musical mounts a successful first sail

"The Last Ship"
Bank of America Theatre
Chicago, IL
June 25, 2014

Sting & Trudie Styler

Curtain Call

Story and red carpet/curtain call photos By Andy Argyrakis
Publicity photos courtesy of Broadway In Chicago

After almost a year of build-up, "The Last Ship" finally pulled into the docks of Chicago prior to this fall's Broadway run, complete with opening night appearances from composer and lyricist Sting, book writer John Logan ("Skyfall," "Hugo"), producer Jeffrey Seller ("Rent," "Avenue Q"), choreographer Steven Hoggett ("Once," Green Day's "American Idiot"), along with famous friends James Taylor (accompanied by his wife Kim and their son Henry), Styx's Dennis DeYoung with his wife Suzanne, plus a non-pictured Paul Simon and AC/DC's Brian Johnson (amongst others).

Besides walking the red carpet outside the Bank of America Theatre, several members of the creative team also appeared at a curtain call after the performance with Sting leading a reprise of the musical's title track, visibly moved that all their advance awareness and fine-tuning finally paid off. Naturally, everyone was greeted with a rousing standing ovation, but after seeing the two act triumph being received so rapturously regardless of the celebrity connection, it's sure to make major waves in the Big Apple.

Based in the English seafaring town of Wallsend, the story centers around Gideon (Michael Esper), who initially seems like he'll be following in his father's footsteps of working in a shipyard, but winds up paving his own path and traveling the world for 14 years. After the passing away of his pop, the globetrotter returns home with a wealth of life experience, but is quickly slapped with the harsh reality that the town he left behind has changed for the worst.

For starters, the shipyard where many of his peers were employees is on the verge of being shut down, followed by the fact that his previous love interest Meg (Rachel Tucker) is now a single mother who's seeing Arthur (Aaron Lazar), the very man instigating the closure. While some of these elements play out predictably, there are several clever twists as Jackie (Jimmy Nail) and the hearty lads from his longtime crew go about getting one final ship out to sea, all in honor of the town's beloved Father O'Brien (Fred Applegate), who's faith in them all was enough to reverse the town's sinking morale.

All the while, songs like "Shipyard," "Dead Man's Boots," "We've Got Now't Else" and "Show Some Respect" from Sting's album that shares the show's namesake resounded with a memorable quality, augmented by a few seamless gems from the troubadour's past ("Island Of Souls," "When We Dance," "Ghost Story"). In fact, a Tony Award (or several) are probably in 16 time Grammy Award winner's future, who alongside his well-matched collaborators, should take comfort in this show's successful first sail.

"The Last Ship" continues at the Bank of America Theatre through July 13. For additional details, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com and www.thelastship.com.