Following Jimmy Valentine

Based on "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry

De: Jeff Flaster

Narrado por: Hadley Fraser, Kerry Ellis, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker, Jacqui Dankworth, George Blagden, Alison Arnopp, Simon Shorten

A full-cast audiobook musical told entirely through story and song.

Notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine (Hadley Fraser: "Phantom", "City of Angels") swears he's going straight this time. But Jimmy has baggage that won't fit in his suitcase of burglar's tools. Soon after his release from prison, he's back to his old habits.

Disillusioned New Orleans detective Jen Price (Kerry Ellis: "Wicked") wants to catch Jimmy Valentine—and feel like a hero again. But Jimmy isn't the villain she'd hoped he'd be. While hiding in a small town, Jimmy falls in love with Annabel Adams (Celinde Schoenmaker: "Guys and Dolls"). For the first time, Valentine dares to believe in a new life.

But is it too late?

Author Jeff Flaster's reinvention of O. Henry's classic short story combines world-class performances with a score that blends classical, jazz and classic rock into melodic storytelling that stays with listeners after the final note.

Cast album available on major music-streaming platforms.

Starring:
Hadley Fraser as Jimmy Valentine
Kerry Ellis as Jen Price
David Hunter as Reflection
Celinde Schoenmaker as Annabel Adams
Jacqui Dankworth as Collette Adams
George Blagden as Emil LaRue
Alison Arnopp, Simon Shorten, and David Beck as all other roles

Creative Team:
Directed by David Beck
Produced by Sarah Golding, Wireless Theatre
Casting by Fiona Thraille and Sarah Golding
Broadcast Assisting by Liis Miik and Teresa Milewski
Musical Arrangement and Musical Director - Patrick Stockbridge
Musicians - Patrick Stockbridge, Jamie Stockbridge, Abigail Jackson, Miranda Lewis-Brown
Sound Design - Ross Burman
Recorded at Jukebox Studios with Steven Kobong

©2025 melodic.com (P)2025 melodic.com

Following Jimmy Valentine

I went into Following Jimmy Valentine not really knowing what to expect. I spotted the O. Henry credit and before this I honestly thought O. Henry was just a candy bar. Turns out it is that too, so I guess classic literature isn’t my strong suit! So I came to this adaptation pretty fresh, knowing only that it was a redemption style story for the main character.

The whole thing leans hard into original songs and stage show flair. The numbers follow the style where characters sing about what they are doing or what they’re feeling, be it stitching shoes or wrestling with their conscience. That classic musical vibe where feelings turn straight into lyrics. If you enjoy that style, the production commits to it with confidence. The sound effects give it a dramatisation feel rather than a traditional audiobook, and most of the time it works fine in that lane.

Jimmy Valentine’s inner voice pops up now and then, like his conscience checking in. It adds colour, although that conscience has less faith in him than he does. It creates a nice tension even if the story does not always dig as deep as I expected.

Since I do not know the original short story, I can only assume this follows the usual arc of a man going straight and trying to outrun his past. Here it felt a bit undercooked for me. The redemption angle never quite settles in. I kept thinking it might land more fully on an actual stage, where songs and glances could fill the gaps. In audio, some of the beats felt a little light.

The cast itself is solid. Everyone delivers what is needed, and no one feels miscast. The production is clean, the music sits well in the mix, and the whole thing has an easy clarity that helped me stay with it. The musical approach has its charm, though it also keeps things predictable, since songs tend to spell out what characters want or feel in that moment.

Overall, Following Jimmy Valentine is pleasant enough as a musical short story with a theatrical spirit. It did not leave a huge mark on me, but I can see the appeal for listeners who enjoy ensemble audio pieces with original music and a gentle throwback tone. I am curious to read the original O. Henry story just to see how closely this sticks to it, because I suspect the bones of the tale might land differently on the page than they do in this sung version.