Twist of Lemmon - St. James Studio
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ACCLAIMED US actor and composer, Chris Lemmon’s autobiographical play, Twist of Lemmon, will receive its UK premiere at St James Studio.
Celebrating the loves, times, trials and tribulations of his father, the Hollywood legend and multiple nominee and Oscar winner, Jack Lemmon (Some Like It Hot, Missing, The Odd Couple, Save The Tiger, Mister Roberts, Glengarry Glen Ross), it runs from Wednesday, June 1 to Saturday, June 18, 2016.
In Twist of Lemmon, Chris Lemmon becomes his father and his friends and shares some of the stories and music that brought them close together when everything around them conspired to drag them apart.
Described as a great father and son tale from the golden era of Hollywood, Twist of Lemmon is directed by Hugh Wooldridge, who has recently specialised in devising, directing and producing large-scale events around the world including the Richard Rodgers Award celebrating Andrew Lloyd Webber in Pittsburgh, An Evening with Hal Prince in Munich, Sondheim Tonight in New York, and Who Could Ask For Anything More? – the centenary celebration of Ira Gershwin at the Royal Albert Hall.
Growing up the one question I was asked more than any other was what is it like to be Jack Lemmon’s son. My father was one of the world’s most beloved actors. What people don’t know, however, is that he played the piano, really quite well, and that being a musician was his dream. But acting… that was his passion, and the whole world adored him for it.
So what was it like being this guy’s son? And whether it be genetics, or just the way of the world, are you born with the same dreams and aspirations? How do you follow in the footsteps of a giant. Especially when that giant is your dad?… For me it began by trying to understand, not only who he was to me… but really who I was to him…
These are the words Chris Lemmon speaks just before he becomes Jack Lemmon in this one man stage show. Told entirely in the voice of his father, the touching narrative explores this unique, yet universal father/son journey. The impact of worldwide superstardom, divorce, separation – yet the yearning desire on both son and father’s part to fight against the tidal forces tearing them further and further apart, to finally become the very best of friends, against all odds, shortly before Jack’s untimely death in 2001.
With some of the greatest music of the era, as well as a number of his personal compositions, pianist and actor Chris Lemmon tells this heart-wrenching, and ultimately heart-warming story that, according to the press release, promises to make you laugh and cry, and then laugh some more….
Chris Lemmon was born in Los Angeles, the son of actress Cynthia Stone and actor Jack Lemmon. With a talent for music, he was encouraged by his father to study piano. Lemmon considered playing piano professionally after having graduated from the California Institute of the Arts, with degrees in classical piano and composition, and in theatre. He appeared as an actor in numerous stage productions, including the West coast tour of Barefoot in the Park, directed by Jerry Paris, the original West coast production of Shay by Anne Commire, and A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters with Stephanie Zimbalist.
He portrayed Richard Phillips in two situation comedies, Duet (1987) and Open House (1989), and also co-starred as Martin “Bru” Brubaker in the TV series Thunder in Paradise, which featured American professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Lemmon is also a screenwriter and producer. In 2006, Algonquin Books published Lemmon’s tribute to his father, A Twist of Lemmon, which was re-released in 2008 as a paperback by Applause Theatre and Cinema Books.
He has appeared in 25 feature films including three with his father: Airport ‘77 (1977), That’s Life! (1986) and Dad (1989). He will star in the upcoming film Publicity Stunt, a comedy which he co-wrote, to be shot in Connecticut and directed by Joel Zwick.
In 2015, he adapted his 2006 tribute to his father, A Twist of Lemmon, to the stage. The show, which Lemmon has performed all around the United States, follows the relationship between Lemmon and his father as seen through his father’s eyes.
He is married to actress Gina Raymond and they have three children.
Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, Twist of Lemmon has projections by Simon Clarke.
Tickets: Studio Floor: £ 25; Studio Gallery: £ 30; Studio Upper Gallery: £25; Studio Standing: £15; On The Door: £25; Access Rate: disabled patrons and registered access companions may purchase Studio Floor tickets at 50% of the above price. To book, call the box office on 0844 264 2140, e-mail boxoffice@stjamestheatre.co.uk or visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/.
Times: Wednesday to Saturday at 8pm; Saturday matinee at 3pm.
Also at St James Studio: Forever Plaid, a humorous ‘heavenly’ journey through some of the greatest close-harmony songs of the 50’s (April 5 to April 24, 2016).