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At the age of 17, Henry Fraser had a diving accident that left him paralysed from the shoulders down. This musical is based on his memoir that traced his youth as a star rugby player and his subsequent journey towards a new life as a painter of distinction.<\/p>\n
With music and lyrics by Nick Butcher and Tom Ling and a book by Joe White, Luke Sheppard’s production defies all expectations.<\/p>\n
The casting of two actors as Henry 1 (Jonny Amies) and Henry 2 (Ed Larkin) is a stroke of genius, especially as Larkin is a disabled actor.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> All I want is a great production of Pygmalion \u2013 George Bernard Shaw reviewed<\/strong><\/p>\n Henry’s brothers are utterly convincing as a tight fraternity. Trick Caroline plays Lady Linzi Hateley as Henry’s mother delivers her key song of shock and despair with a wounding energy, and Alasdair Harvey as Henry’s father Andrew is deceptively moving as a man trying to maintain an equilibrium he doesn’t feel.<\/p>\n What might have lapsed into Hollywood schmaltz is saved by shards of humour that punctuate the piece, notably through Agnes (Amy Trigg), the wheelchair-using physiotherapist who cajoles, encourages and bullies Henry back into life.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/38\/590x\/secondary\/4973261.jpg?r=1695395042525\")
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