Five Reasons To See … Maurice’s Jubilee
Olivier Award winning actor Julian Glover is about to tread the boards in Manchester in Maurice’s Jubilee, a new play by Nichola McAuliffe, before heading to Richmond in February. We caught up with him to find out five reasons why you should go along.
1. It’s uplifting
This play is about three old people – well, two old and one nearly old! Plays concerning elderly people are, more often than not, deeply depressing or pitying or mocking – sometimes all three! Maurice’s Jubilee is none of these things. It is funny, tender and, so I am assured, uplifting.
2. Direct from Edinburgh
We first performed the piece at the Edinburgh Festival last August. Audiences there were flatteringly enthusiastic. And, considering the subject matter, very rewardingly contained more young people than elderly,who seemed even more amused, touched and stirred than their seniors, though the latter’s appreciation was understandably very vociferous too!
3. Universal Themes
The resonances of Maurice’s Jubilee touch many different kinds of people, as it concerns universal human conditions – families, marriage, relationships,enduring and fragile love, dreams, ambition and fantasy.
4. Illuminating Lighting
It Is right and proper that audiences in the theatre should not notice ‘the lighting”, only the effects it produces. But it must be said that our production’s brilliant lighting designer, Mark Jonathan, has created a wonderful,invisible plot, which includes the slowest fade I have ever come across in my long career! And our Director, Hannah Eidinow is the most sensitive, intellectually and emotionally acute guide and teacher of this delicate and rewarding play.
5. Nichola McAuliffe‘s writing
Nichola McAuliffe is not only superb in her role, but has written three complex and (I suggest) fascinating characters. She has created in Maurice a charming man, who is also cantankerous, tactless,witty, interested in other people and life generally, kind and crabby. We all have contrasting, sometimes perplexing characteristics and Nichola and the third of our triumvirate, the exquisite Sheila Reid, display, in their performances, a multiplicity of these. Such characters are the most interesting and, if one pulls them off, satisfying to play, and I hope we carry the audiences with us and that they relish the journey – I think most will recognise a mother/father/Aunty/friend/mrs Bloggs next door!
Come and see for yourself!
Maurice’s Jubilee is at the Manchester Opera House from 24 – 26 January, and Richmond Theatre from 19-23 February
