This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story

The original cast of This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story, including Javier Parisi

In recent years since her death in 2015, there's been a petition for a movie idea featuring the life of Cynthia Lennon. You can check it out here, sign it if you wish. The difficult thing about this idea though is that if there's a movie idea, I want it to be right: as you probably know this from the blog that I am rather protective of John and Cynthia's love story. In my opinion, it has to be done right and not fall into the cliche trap of the general perspective of "got together, got pregnant, John wasn't happy, Cynthia too clingy, loveless marriage, drugs, hello Yoko" deal. I would want someone to hear Cynthia's voice and show for it: show the tenderness, innocence, affection, make their private love story turning into public, the depth, and care. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no connections with the entertainment business. 

Anyway, the good news is that instead of a movie, there is a play. Bad news is that it's only in Liverpool. I am in America and money is tight- I just can't magically get a plane ticket, transportation, hotel, food money, play ticket, and, as it's performing during Beatles International week, souvenirs! As well as buying a new suitcase just for souvenirs. All I could do is find reviews online from those who have seen it and pray for an international tour. Doubtful, but who knows? The playwright is Mike Howl, who is from Liverpool and witnessed John and Cynthia during their dating years as a Cavern regular. 

“I want to get across how important she was in John’s life, and not just because of their son Julian. John used to write to her every single day while he was out in Hamburg, playing in the nightclubs of the Reeperbahn. Her friends told me they saw some of these letters. I do think that without Cynthia’s love, John would have gone completely off the rails. Their relationship helped to keep the Beatles together for as long as they were.”

Mike Howl, 2019

“The key point for me is that they both fell madly in love when she was 18 and he was 17. It was equal on both sides. I was in the Cavern Club a lot as a teenager and saw them there. I was in the right place at the right time, so it has always bothered me that no one has looked at Cynthia’s influence before.”

Mike Howl, 2019

“I was told lots of lovely stories, including how Cynthia went out to Hamburg to visit as a naive teenager. The first half of the play is snapshot moments from their lives together, with some original songs. There is a scene in which John is working on the song You’re Gonna Lose that Girl in their home and Cynthia joins him to sing it. She would have been 80 this year, and I feel she must take her place in the Beatles story now."

Mike Howl, 2019

Mike reached out to Julian and got his approval; he also got support from John and Cynthia's friend, Helen Anderson who was originally going to do the backdrop and costume designs before resigning by August 19, 2019- a few days shy of it's debut- for professional and creative reasons. 

“He said he was pleased someone was finally writing about how talented his mother was, since all the world has written about his father and no one has paid her any attention.”

Mike Howl, 2019

Another blunder was the resignation of the actor playing John Lennon who had spent 3 months in England rehearsing and posing for publicity photos, a great impersonator, Javier Parisi, from Argentina. After being immediately cast for the play (also to mention that he's Julian's favorite 'Dad' impersonator as well as Helen's), he was saddened that John's music and legacy wouldn't be included (probably due to licensing and publishing copyrights) as well as other internal and contract problems and misunderstandings on the same day Helen announced her departure. It's a shame, really, sounding like he spent three months in England to do something but turned out to be for nothing other than learning more about John in his home country. Jordan Barkley also dropped out for unknown reason.

Anyway… This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story was held at Hope Street Theatre from August 21 until the 26th.

The cast of This Girl: The Cynthia Lennon Story

Cast:

Cynthia … Christina Rose and Mikyla Jane Durkan

John … originally Javier Parisi … Adam Byrne and Peter Durr

Stuart Sutcliffe … Lew Freeburn

Helen Anderson/Astrid Kirchherr … Florence King

Mimi Smith/Doctor … Karen Sharples

Dot Rhone/Maureen Starkey … Ciara O'Neill

Phyllis Mackenzie … Rachel McGrath

Julian … originally Jordan Barkley … Ginger Lee and Lee Clotworthy

Jonathan Hague … Lee Clotworthy

Lillian Powell … Maggie Green

Paul McCartney … Louis Holmes

Brian Epstein … Mike Sanders

Jim McCartney/Roberto Bassanini … Kevin Thomas

Noel Charles … Addae G.