Finborough Theatre
DEATH OF LONG PIG * * * *
by Nigel Planer Daily Express
Directed by Alexander Summers
Designed by Alex Marker
Lighting by James Smtih
Sound by Andy Evans
Costume by Penn O'Gara
Cast:
Amanda Boxer
Nicole Dayes
Colm Gormley
Sean Murray
Anthony Ofoegb
"A meditation on cultural identity…I left the theatre impressed by Planer's curiosity and intelligence" Benedict Nightingale, The Times
"Sean Murray makes Stevenson's death scene frighteningly realistic… it is particularly gripping considering the intimacy of the theatre." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"The excellent cast" Chris Waywell, Time Out
The world premiere of an exotic and darkly comic new play from playwright, actor and novelist Nigel Planer
Tuesday, 7 July - Saturday, 1 August 2009
Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.00pm.
Saturday Matiness at 3.00pm (from 18 July)
Tickets £13, £9 concessions, except Tuesday Evenings £9 all seats, and Saturday evenings £13 all seats.
Previews (7 July and 8 July) £9 all seats.
Performance Length: Approximately 2 hours.
"Long Pig; A white man to be eaten"
"Here where the living eat the dead, the dead may eat the living too. Their spirits are all around us now, carved in the rock, in the shells, in the trunk of the Pandanu ree..."
Deep in the polynesian island of the Pacific Ocean, hungry spirits circle the homes of writer Robert Louis Stevenson and artist Paul Gauguin.
The path to Stevenson's grave, his 'Road to Paradise', is complete; he can pass on anytime he likes. But, having spent thirty years in rigorous combat with the grim reaper, is he finally ready to concede defeat? His islander maid, Java is terrified his spirit will get waylaid on its journey back to Edinburgh and stay to devour her soul.
Gauguin too, is ready - he has bought rum, arsenic and morphine for his sucide cocktail and is certain he's not long for this world. It seemed easy enough to avoid being arrested by the gendarme, but he'll be damned if they give him a Catholic burial in consecrated ground.
Set in the strange and supernatural surroundings of Samoa and Tahiti, Death of Long Pig explores the duality of experience from the perspectives of two great artists as they usher death into their island homes. As the final hour approaches, they face the eternal question: is it how we prepare for death that really governs the way we live?
Playwright, novelist and actor Nigel Planer was co-founder of London's Comedy Store and Comic Strip clubs and went on to star in the TV classics The Young Ones and The Comic Strip Presents as well as countless other TV and fim productions including Shine on Harvey Moon and The Grimleys. His books include two novels - The Right Man and Faking It, as well as the best-selling A Good Enough Dad, and the spoof theatrical biography I, An Actor (with Christopher Douglas). After appearing at the Birmingham Writers' festival in 1996, he toured the country as a performance poet and published the short collection of poetry Unlike the Buddha as well as regularly contributing to The Guardian poetry spot in the 1990s. His first play, On the Ceiling opened at the Birmingham Rep and transferred to the Garrick Theatre in 2004. More recently, it was revived at the Landor Theatre and will be a Saturday night play on Radio 4 in February 2009 starring Phil Daniels. As an actor, Nigel has worked on numerous new plays in theatres such as the Hampstead, Young Vic, King's Head, The Traverse and the Bush, and is also an unlikely West End musical star, having played in the original London Companies of Wicked, We Will Rock You, Chicago and Evita (1978), as well as appearing in the smash hit political satire Feelgood by Alastair Beaton in 2001.
The Press about On the Ceiling "A Stoppardian portrait of two men on the margin of great events...one that suggests it is only the envious minor artist who can apperciate the audacity of genius...fast paced comedy." Michael Billington, The Guardian.
"Glorious, a truly original piece...no reviewer should give away the ending - it is enough to say that it is slow, breathtaking and completely magnificent." Pat Ashworth, The Stage.
Director Alexander Summers trained with Cheek by Jowl and was Resident Assistant Director at the Finborough Theatre where he directed A Letter to England, the first play by Pearson Award Bursary winner Anders Lustgarten, and assisted on Nicholas de Jongh's Plague Over England, the Time Out Critics' Choice productions of Ours, Lucifer Saved, Men Withough Shadows, The Lower Depths, The Ladies Cage and Love Child. Other directing includes Myth, Propaganda and Disaster (Contact Theatre, Manchester), Much Ado About Nothing and The Man With The Flower in his Mouth (both Bridewell Theatre), Troubleshooters (Soho Theatre), Coriolanus (Brockley Jack Theatre), For the Public Good (Barons Court Theatre), The Lover (John Thaw Studio, Manchester), Glengarry Glen Ross (Manchester Fringe Festival Award Winner), artistic programming of A Cautious Path (Tristan Bates Theatre) and Assistant Director on Uncertainty (Latitude Festival 2008)
Alex Marker is Resident Designer of the Finborough Theatre where his acclaimed designs have included Soldiers, Trelawny of the 'Wells', Hortensia and the Museum of Dreams, Albert's Boy, Lark Rise To Candleford, Red Night, The Representative, Eden's Empire, Love Child, Little Madam, Plague Over England, Hangover Square, Sons of York and Untitled.
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The Press on Death of Long Pig
"A meditation on cultural identity…I left the theatre impressed by Planer's curiosity and intelligence" Benedict Nightingale, The Times
"The two halves of the play examine cultural and personal attitudes to death, the contrast between Europe and the Pacific islands, and the artists' differing conduct setting is exotic - the South Pacific islands in the late 19th century. The characters are attractive - Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin. The subject is profound - the way we approach death" Sarah Hemming, Financial Times
"His passion for Polynesia and detailed knowledge of the subject shines through" Theo Bosanquet, Whatsonstage.com
"With a strange and supernatural setting, endearing yet provocative characters and a brave exploration of normally taboo subjects, this play should prove to be another consummate success for the Finborough." Welcome to Your Area
"This is no boring history lesson, but an opportunity to observe the artist, facing death, battle-scarred by the compulsion to create against reason." Sandra Giorgetti, British Theatre Guide
"London has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge theatre and the determination of its fringe theatres to show exciting and innovative new plays has certainly helped keep this reputation intact. Under the careful watch of artistic director Neil McPherson, the Finborough Theatre is continuing this trend by promoting a rich variety of writers." Welcome to Your Area
"This is a finely observed piece of comedy, as perhaps we would expect from writer Nigel Planer" Michael Spring, Theatreworld
"The tiny Finborough Theatre, perched above a Chelsea pub, is particularly noted for new writing. This gem is the work of Nigel Planer best known for being the zaniness of TV's The Young Ones." Paul Callan Daily Express
"A very sharp-edged performance by Amanda Boxer." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"A huskily emotional Amanda Boxer" Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard
"Anthony Ofoegbu raises some needed laughs as the genial servant Bob whose English is littered with Stevenson-inspired expressions such as "tickety-boo" and "old chap"." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"Anthony Ofoegbu is an engaging servant and then neighbour, and both of these characters reveal much about colonisation." Sandra Giorgetti, British Theatre Guide
"There is much pathos in Sean Murray's portrayal of a man not yet convinced he is ready to die. You sense his sad moments of desperation and flashes of anger." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"Sean Murray makes Stevenson's death scene frighteningly realistic… it is particularly gripping considering the intimacy of the theatre." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"Stevenson's sudden demise is quite shocking to watch" Natasha Tripney, The Stage
"Sean Murray, who plays both roles, gives a quite searing performance as the Catholic Church-loathing, Establishment-hating post-impressionist." Paul Callan, Daily Express
"Sean Murray does a fine job of portraying both men - capturing the empathetic and politically astute aspect of Stevenson and the shambolic chutzpah of Gauguin" Theo Bosanquet, Whatsonstage.com
"The excellent Sean Murray as a chirpy, death-defying Stevenson in the first half and a bitter, suicidal Gauguin in the second" Benedict Nightingale, The Times
"Sean Murray plays both [characters] in impressively full-bodied style" Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard
"Sean Murray's compelling, charismatic performance, as both the playful Stevenson and the more combative Gauguin" Natasha Tripney, The Stage
"Sean Murray as Louis and 'Pigo' (Gaugin) manages to create the two different personalities powerfully" Emma Catty, MusicOMH
"Newcomer Nicole Dayes is one to watch, transforming from the novelist's timid maid to the painter's demanding, self-assured mistress in a flash" Kate Bassett, The Independent
"Nicole Daye's Teha'amana, an exotic beauty who looks as if she's just sauntered out of his paintings" Benedict Nightingale, The Times
"The excellent cast" Chris Waywell, Time Out
"The cast, in Alexander Summers' production, is strong, with Murray leading the way as a mercurial Stevenson and a maverick Gauguin" Sarah Hemming, Financial Times
"Director Alexander Summers' production is suitably atmospheric." Natasha Tripney, The Stage
"Alex Marker's fine design transforms the space into a Victorian colonial retreat, and the atmosphere therein, is involving." Theo Bosanquet, Whatsonstage.com
"Alex Marker's neat design intensifies the sultry atmosphere" Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard