Jubilee - Tabard Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ALMOST-normal is presenting the European premiere of Jubilee at the Tabard Theatre, where it runs from Wednesday, June 13 to Saturday, July 21, 2012.
Jubilee tells the story of a fictional royal family who, when an imminent revolution threatens their throne, decide to relinquish their responsibilities and pursue their dreams.
And so the King sets off and meets socialite Eva Standing; the Queen becomes infatuated by the swimmer-come-actor Charles Rausmiller; the Prince pursues singer Karen O’Kane; and the Princess is charmed by playwright, composer and actor Eric Dare.
When it becomes clear that the impending uprising is nothing more than a hoax, how do the royals react? Do they succumb to duty or continue to pursue passion and freedom?
Jubilee is described as a right-royal 1930’s romp through early celebrity culture with parodies and asides of such greats as Nöel Coward, Bing Crosby, Elsa Maxwell and George Gerswhin.
Jubilee, which has a book by Moss Hart and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, featues songs such as A Picture of Me Without You, The Kling-Kling Bird on the Divi-Divi Tree, Me and Marie, Just One of Those Things and Begin the Beguine.
Neil Bull directs a cast that includes Amy Cooke-Hodgson, Adam Dutton, Barry Joseph Keenan, Catherine Nicole, Robert Paul, Adam Pendrich, Hannah Powell, George Reeve, Holly Tyler and Emma Williamson. Choreography is by James Houlbrooke, with orchestrations and vocal arrangements by Larry Moore.
Jubilee originally opened in 1935 but within five years the production arrangements were lost, leaving the show un-produced in over 40 years. After the arrangements were reconstructed in 1985 the show has only ever been performed in concert versions in the UK, most recently in Cardiff in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
It is, therefore, fitting that 77 years after first opening, a musical inspired by George V’s Silver Jubilee is now receiving its British and European fully-staged performance premiere for Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Almost-normal’s previous productions include Lucky Stiff, which was staged at the Landor Theatre earlier this year.
Tickets: £18 £16 concessions – available from the box office on 020 8995 6035 or online at www.tabardweb.co.uk/jubilee.htm.
Times: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday matinees at 4pm.
The Pirates of Penzance runs at the Tabard Theatre from May 16 to June 10, 2012.