Whistle Down the Wind (musical)
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Whistle Down the Wind is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind. The lyrics are by Jim Steinman, known for his work with Meat Loaf.
It premiered at The National Theatre in Washington DC on 12 December, 1996, to negative reviews, and the production canceled the Broadway opening that had been scheduled for April 17, 1997. A reworked and more successful West End production opened at the Aldwych Theatre on July 1, 1998, running for 1044 performances.
Based on the novel of the same name by Mary Hayley Bell, the setting was moved from Lancashire to small town Louisiana in 1959. It tells the story of three children -- 16 year old Swallow, sister Bluejay (known as Brat), and younger brother Robin (known as Poor Baby) -- as they approach their first Christmas since the death of their mother. Discovering an escaped criminal hiding in their barn, they become convinced that he is Jesus, and agree to keep his location secret. The plot contrasts the innocence of the children with the fervour of the town's residents to inflict punishment on the supposed evil in their midst.
Notable songs from the show include "No Matter What" (released as a single by Boyzone), "Whistle Down the Wind", "A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste", and "When Children Rule the World". An album was released in 1998 featuring 12 of the songs from the show covered by artists such as Tom Jones, Meat Loaf, and Bonnie Tyler.