Stoppard staged
THE Rushen Player’s will stage Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin next week.
The play will be staged from Wednesday (October 17) to Saturday (October 20).
More famously known for writing Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead, Stoppard wrote The Real Inspector Hound almost 60 years ago following his experiences of being a theatre critic in Bristol. It is a comparatively short play that follows the actions of two theatre critics named Moon and Birdboot.
The pair are watching a ludicrous set up of a country house murder mystery, in the style of a whodunit.And, by chance, they become involved in the action causing a series of events that parallel the play they are watching.
The play was initially named The Stand-ins and later, The Critics.
It is a parody of the stereotypical parlour mystery in the style of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, where the critics watching the play interweave personal desires and obsessions with their bombastic and pompous reviews.
The current title is a direct reference to the ending of The Mousetrap, a play well known for guarding the secrecy of its ending.
The serious side of Stoppard’s play examines the ideas of fate and free will, as well as exploring the themes of a play within a play. It is also an example of farce and satire. There are elements of Hamlet, The Royle Family, Early Doors, Monty Python and Victoria Wood.
So an excellent evening’s entertainment is promised.
This production is being directed by Jack Verity, who first played the role of the womanising Birdboot, at the Rose Theatre, Ormskirk, in 1969.
While Jack started his theatrical career alongside well-known British actor Jonathan Pryce, currently playing King Lear in the West End, he finds himself relegated to playing the part of the dead body in this production.
He is, however, ably helped by Brian Matthews who, incidentally, played the other the theatre critic, Moon, almost 40 years ago. ‘Remarkably, he still remembers his lines!’ said Jack.
Other parts are played by Tony Wright, Norma Ruocco, Steve Blower, Jane Foxon, Robert Clayton, Susie Beswick and the evergreen, Dennis Cross.
The show starts at 8pm each night. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Erin Arts Centre on 835858 or on the door.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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