(b London, 28 May 1930). English composer, lyricist and librettist. The son of a distinguished barrister, he was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. As an undergraduate he wrote the musicals Lady May and Bang Goes the Meringue and, upon leaving in 1951, decided to become an actor. He went to the Bristol Old Vic Stage School and then joined the company at Bristol's Theatre Royal. For a brief period he was an actor, but turned to writing in collaboration with other company members. Following the success of this first show, Christmas in King St, Slade became the company musical director and house composer. His first London success was through his music for The Duenna which transferred from Bristol in 1953. The following year Salad Days, a light piece written with Dorothy Reynolds to play to the strengths of the Bristol company, achieved spectacular success in London, running for a record 2289 performances. Using simple songs, a plot presented through affectionate caricature, and with accompaniment from two pianos, its small scale and engaging naivety has proved enduring and resulted in many revivals. Ellis's Bless the Bride was an acknowledged influence and Slade adopted some of its period lyricism, although did not follow that show's musical model in subtle characterization or extended forms. Free as Air (1957) shows a similar unpretentious approach, with Slade's diatonic and often pentatonic melodies, and uncomplicated harmonies. By the time of Trelawny (1972), although a more adventurous score than previously, his directness and simplicity was viewed as predictable and outdated. He never repeated the success of Salad Days, but maintained his associations with Bristol for whom he has written much incidental music. He has also contributed music for productions at Stratford-upon-Avon and the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
(selective list)
dates those of first London performances unless otherwise stated
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Musicals (where different, authors shown as lyricist; book author): Christmas in King St (Christmas entertainment, J. Slade, D. Reynolds and J. Cairncross), Bristol, Theatre Royal, 24 Dec 1952, rev. as Follow that Girl (2, Slade and Reynolds), Vaudeville, 17 March 1960; The Merry Gentlemen (Reynolds), Bristol, Theatre Royal, 24 Dec 1953; Salad Days (2, Slade and Reynolds), Vaudeville, 5 Aug 1954 [incl. I sit in the sun, The Time of My Life, We said we wouldn't look back]; Free as Air (2, Reynolds and Slade), Savoy, orchd P. Knight, 6 June 1957 [incl. Let the grass grow]; Hooray for Daisy (Reynolds), Bristol, Theatre Royal, 23 Dec 1959; Wildest Dreams (2, Slade and Reynolds), Vaudeville, 3 Aug 1961; Vanity Fair (2, R. Miller; R. Miller and A. Pryce-Jones, after J. Thackeray), Queen's, orchd D. Gornley, 27 Nov 1962; Nutmeg and Ginger (Slade, after The Knight of the Burning Pestle), Cheltenham, Everyman, 29 Oct 1963; The Pursuit of Love (Slade, after N. Mitford), Bristol, Theatre Royal, 24 May 1967; Winnie the Pooh (Slade), Phoenix, 17 Dec 1970 [after H. Fraser-Simson: The Hums of Pooh]; Trelawny (2, Slade; Slade, A. Woods and G. Rowell, after A. Wing Pinero: Trelawny of the Wells), Sadler's Wells, orchd A. Ralston and A. Gould, 27 June 1972; Out of Bounds (Slade, after A.W. Pinero: The Schoolmistress), Bristol, Theatre Royal, 26 Dec 1973 |
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Incid music, incl. The Duenna; Love for Love; She Stoops to Conquer; The Merchant of Venice |
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Television: The Comedy of Errors (comic operetta, L. Harris and R. McNab), 16 May 1954 [staged London, Arts, 28 March 1956]; Love in a Cold Climate, 1980 |
GänzlBMT
GänzlEMT
S. Morley: Spread a Little Happiness: the First Hundred Years of the British Musical (London, 1987)
JOHN SNELSON