Dedication
I would like to dedicate this production to the memory of Richard Wilson who was Trinity’s Finance Manager from April 14 to Feb 17. After Spamalot he was encouraging me to do The Producers as my next show – which was typical of him in supporting others. He was an accountant – as Max says in the show – “it is the most noble profession – it even has the word Count in it!”
It took another year, but I finally heeded his advice – I hope he was pleased!
Notes
I was lucky enough to see the show in it’s original run and also be able to return to New York three years later when Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick went back into the show – and the experience was not diminished! Imagine my delight when I found that Nathan Lane was going to come into the London production to save the day after Richard Dreyfus had to leave with “bad back”. The only slight disappointment was that he had to leave early ironically also due to a back injury.
This being such a wonderful and magical experience I was initially apprehensive about doing the show at Trinity. As I mention above our late Finance Manager Richard Wilson was very enthusiastic about me following Spamalot with The Producers . I joke frequently that I have learned everything I know about show business from the show and indeed we have had to private screenings in my time at Trinity of the film which I referred to as staff training!
Also the wonderful and patient members of the team at Trinity have heard me quote to this show over and over again over the years so I think it is only right and proper that they see the source of my inspiration!
So I made an application for the rights and was accepted and worked on bringing the show to Trinity for about a year. It became the biggest of my summer shows.
I’m delighted to be working again with such a wonderful creative team who worked with me on Spamalot. David Fawcett is well known to local audiences for leading Beyond the Barricade but he is also a great director and has directed several of my summer shows including Boeing Boeing and the UK professional premiere of the Ken Ludwig comedy Leading Ladies.
Musical director is Tony Stenson who has been a fantastic collaborator over the last eight years both on my summer productions and Trinity’s Christmas shows. He is incredibly experienced West End MD having worked on the original productions of Cats, Starlight Express and Jesus Christ Superstar to name but a few! We are truly lucky to have his expertise and guidance!
Sally Anne Leigh is a wonderfully creative choreographer working in a very short space of time very calmly and patiently creating some terrific numbers. I often refer to her as Tunbridge Walls’s answer to Susan Stroman – so it is completely fitting that she is working on this show!
Why do the show now? With #times up and “me too” does such a piece of politically incorrect theatre have a place? My view is an emphatic “yes!” The show does not in any way condone any of these behaviours and is gloriously even-handed in what it sends up. Its overall message is that honesty is indeed the best policy.
As when the show originally opened we were in difficult times and escapism and laughter were needed more than ever. This show provides that in spades. But equally importantly it does have a serious point to make in that comedy is subversive and can rob tyrants of their power – as Mel Brooks has said “with comedy, we can rob Hitler of his posthumous power”
John Martin
