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Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
A CLASSIC comedy from George S Kaufman and Howard Teichmann,
The Solid Gold Cadillac, is to open at a yet
unnamed West End theatre on September 27, 2004 (previews from
September 22) following short runs at the Yvonne Arnaud (September
1-11) and Malvern Festival Theatre (September 13 - 18).
Patricia Routledge is wily pensioner, Mrs Laura Partridge who,
for want of something better to do, attends the AGM of a company
in which she owns a few shares.
It's only when the directors try to pass a massive pay rise by
proxy vote that she makes her presence known, by voicing her opinion
in no uncertain terms.
Routledge became a household name with her portrayal of Hyacinth
Bucket - pronounced Bouquet, of course - in the BBC sitcom,
Keeping Up Appearances. But comedy apart, she is equally
at home with drama and musical theatre, and her work has been
highly acclaimed.
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In 1988, she won an Olivier Award
for her performance in Candide and has had parts written
specifically for her by Alan Bennett in A Woman Of No Importance
and A Lady of Letters; likewise solos for both Take
Care of This House and Duet For One, from Leonard
Bernstein.
And she has recently been awarded a CBE for her services to the
arts.
Playing alongside Ms Routledge, will be the inimitable Roy Hudd
whose radio programme, The News Huddlines, has been running
for an incredible 29 years.
But Hudd, too, has had a long and distinguished career in theatre,
appearing in productions such as Oliver!, Babes in the Wood,
Hard Times and A Midsummer Night's Dream. And in
1982, he received the Olivier Best Actor Award for his part in
Underneath the Arches.
Hudd also has the distinction of having parts specially written
for him. In his case, it was Dennis Potter's Ben Baglin from Karaoke.
The Solid Gold Cadillac will be directed by Ian Brown,
Artistic Director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, whose other
credits include, Trainspotting, at the Glasgow Citizen's
Theatre; Steaming, at the Piccadilly; Fool for Love,
at the Donmar Warehouse, and the Olivier Award-winning, Good
Night Children Everywhere.
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