Sparkling Eyes

Cambridge Evening News Review https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/whats-on/review-sparkling-eyes-at-the-adc-cambridge-9266699/

Cast – Stamford Showstoppers

Directed by Nicola Sandall

Composers & Lyrics – Jon Graham, Nigel Gibbons, Keith Foley, Fergus Black, Sean Cranitch, Claire & Ian Winfrey, Kate Wishart and Douglas Butler

Book – Ian Winfrey

A note from one of the writers of Sparkling Eyes

The musical was written during the pandemic by local musicians and writers, who had been working on a new English Opera that was cancelled due to Covid. This was a great disappointment.

They decided that if you can write an opera – no problem to knock off a musical while everyone has so much time on their hands during lockdown.

Plans for the musical’s plot changed as our chief lyricist, a retired GP, volunteered to work on test and trace, so I took over writing the plot and dialogue. Inspired by a lady in our village who had her 100^th birthday during the lockdown and was heard to say “I was born during the last pandemic I hope I live through this one” I decided to write a show set in the 1920s that she might have seen. The aim was to provide light hearted family entertainment.

Initially the other writers were sceptical of the whole idea – I put this down to lockdown blues. They said “you write the first three songs” then we’ll start writing. So I did and this started a flood of songs and some lovely dance music including tangos, quicksteps and rumbas. The took care of the music.

The plot for musical is about three sisters who inherit a necklace called ‘The Sparkling Eyes’ from their ballerina mother. They are unaware of its true value as it was given to their mother by Tsar Nicholas of Russia. The 1929 financial crash has left the eldest sister impoverished and when she discovers an old letter from the Tsar she guesses the necklace’s value. She tries to the steal the necklace but is foiled by the unsuitable boyfriend of the youngest sister. He lacks credibility when describing the actions of the eldest sister and the youngest sister sides with her family and dumps her boyfriend. Several misunderstandings then take place the result of which you will have to come and see the show to discover the ending!

A film of one of the performances is available on request.

Click here to download the script – Reminder – Downloading and using material without the owners permission is an infringement of copyright. Please contact us before downloading. https://freedommusicals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SparklingEyesScriptV5.pdf

Click here to download score https://freedommusicals.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sparkling-Eyes_Full_Score.pdf

Rehearsal Tracks

The Overture