He is thrilled when the audience is hushed and listening to the lush lyrics of his popular hits "Someone Like You," "Letting Go," "This Is the Moment," "Once Upon A Dream," and "A New Life." It was a rocky journey to Broadway for Leslie Bricusse, the veteran book writer and lyricist, and composer Frank Wildhorn. But on the road, their songs became the anthems of every lounge singer and beauty contestant. And there's no revenge like success.
Bricusse, who wrote the stage adaptation of Victor/Victoria with Henry Mancini and Wildhorn and who's adapting his movie hit "Dr. Doolittle" for the stage, is an old hand at this. His stage musicals include Stop the World - I Want To Get Off and The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell Of The Crowd. Not counting his numerous British awards, Bricusse has been nominated for four Tonys, eight Oscars, and six Grammys. He's won two Oscars -- Best Song, "Talk To The Animals"; Best Score, "Victor/Victoria" -- and a Grammy. "There have been standing ovations at every performance," Bricusse says proudly of J & H. "And we're selling out. The gods have smiled upon us."
Bricusse also points proudly to his composer. "A lot of credit goes to Frank. He's contemporary and knows the music business inside out. His music crosses all barriers: pop, R&B, classical, theater. His first influences were Lerner and Loewe. He's got a wonderful gift of melody and a strong sense of theatricality." Bricusse finds the 28-year difference in their ages to be a plus. "Frank's brought me into the `90s, working with all this new technology. And having done it all before, I brought him some experience. " Growing up in England during World War II, Bricusse "adored Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly and became besotted by their films." He began writing revues at Cambridge, which led to first screenplay, and meeting Bea Lillie, "a profound influence on my life. She became like my mother."
Another influence was Anthony Newley. "We met dating the same young lady. He was a successful film juvenile and I sent him some of my song, which he recorded." It led to along-time collaboration."
In all he's done, what's the most important thing he's learned. "I hope you have a lot of time because the list is very, very long. Really, the most important thing is that I never stop learning. However many mistakes you make, you may not repeat those, but you will fine new ones to make. What you get right means nothing at all, because there'll always be adequate space for you to get it wrong the next time." Bricusse added, "You have to keep taking things one at a time. Like the lyric of 'A New Life' in Jekyll & Hyde, each day is a brand new life. That's the wonderful thing about our profession. No matter how many times they count you out, just get the hell back up and get in there and fight."
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