Hornchurch offers comedy with a difference
January 15, 2009
The spring 2009 season at the Queen’s Theatre offers four productions by its resident cut to the chase… company under the artistic direction of Bob Carlton. They explore various aspects of comedy; the first is Alan Ayckbourn’s How the Other Half Loves, which opens on 30 January and runs until 21 February. It was one of Ayckbourn’s first West End and Broadway successes back in 1970.
Very different is Chris Bond’s play Sweeney Todd, on which the Sondheim musical and film are based. Chills as well as laughs are on offer as the Fleet Street barber wreaks vengeance on those he sees as his enemies, with considerable assistance from pastry cook Mrs Lovett. It takes to the stage between 6 and 28 March. A contrasting sort of theatricality treads the boards with Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, opening on 17 April and running until 9 May.
Die-hard enthusiasts for traditional Gilbert and Sullivan productions may raise eyebrows at the thought of The Hot Mikado (22 May to 13 June). This has blues, swing, gospel and jive as well as some of Sullivan’s most popular songs and Gilbert’s wit transposed to a 1940s setting. Prepare to tap your toes if not your fingers. By the way, theatre patrons who book for all four shows not only jump the box office queue but win a substantial price discount.
Children’s shows include The Ugly Duckling on 7 and 14 March (this is a foyer performance for the four to seven age group). Michael Morpurgo’s The Mozart Question on 4 May poses the issue of the abuse of great music for political ends and the artist’s response to such prostitution. It is most suitable for children over eight. Two to six year-olds can join Noddy on 20, 21 and 22 August. There’s a sign language interpreted performance on the Saturday.
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