To: "'VOCALIST'" <vocalist>
Subject: RE: WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND!again
Date sent: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 10:33:55 +0100
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I don't know much about the Lloyd-Webber musical, but I did read the book a
long time ago, and this is what I remember.

Scene: England during the 1930's(?). A group of children find a man sleeping
in a barn, whom they take to be Jesus (I can't remember how they arrive at
this misunderstanding). He is in fact an escaped convict, a murderer. The
children provide him with food and companionship but keep his presence a
secret - he will tell them when it is time for him to reveal himself.
Remorse overcomes the convict and he kills himself by setting fire to the
barn.

That's all I can remember. I read the book twenty years ago when I was in my
early teens, and I do remember finding it very moving at the time. When I
heard Andrew Lloyd-Webber had decided to work his magic on it I was sad (he
does tend to trivialise most of what he touches, and there were some big
questions in the book), although I admit it would be a perfect subject for
the stage.

I'm sorry I didn't write before. I assumed others would be better informed
than I. I hope this is of some little help.

Regards / vriendelijke groeten

Laurie Kubiak
Commercial Analyst - Europe & Africa SMMS
Sales and Contract Support, Shell Services International
Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA
Telephone: +44 171 934 3853; Fax: +44 171 934 6674
Mobile: 07771 971 921: E.mail: Laurence.l.Kubiak-at-is.shell.com
Office: LON-SC 631