Mind your language, Penelope
One of the grandes dames of British stage and screen will be mangling her words at Chichester Festival Theatre at the beginning of its winter season. On purpose.
Penelope Keith, star of The Good Life and To The Manor Born on TV, and more recently of Entertaining Angels at Chichester, will play Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's 18th century comedy The Rivals.
This is the role that gave rise to 'malapropism' to describe a grotesquely misapplied word – as in 'She's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile'.
The touring production, running from November 1-6, will be directed by Peter Hall and reunites Ms Keith with her To The Manor Born co-star, Peter Bowles.
The season also features new drama by award-winning companies, family shows, classical and contemporary dance, stand-up comedy, music from around the world, poetry and literature.
As previously indicated in The Guide, artistic director Jonathan Church's production of Terrence McNally's award-winning solo play Master Class, about opera diva Maria Callas, will be performed at CFT by Stephanie Beacham (November 22-27).
Another popular actress, Chichester resident Patricia Routledge, will appear in another music-related piece. Admission: One Shilling is the story of wartime National Gallery concerts by Myra Hess and will also feature pianist Piers Lane (January 29),
A drama highlight promises to be The History Boys, Alan Bennett's portrayal of a group of sixth-formers attempting to gain entrance to Oxbridge.
It will be staged in the Festival Theatre (January 19-29), and school life is also depicted in Teechers, written and directed by John Godber, in the Minerva Theatre (November 30 to December 4).
Acclaimed company Kneehigh revive their award-winning production of The Red Shoes, about a desperate heroine who cannot stop dancing, in the Minerva (November 2-6).
And award-winning companies Frantic Assembly and the National Theatre of Scotland co-produce Beautiful Burnout (November 16-27), also in the Minerva Theatre. Written by Bryony Lavery, this is a powerful piece of physical theatre about a young boxer.
The programme also includes Gilbert and Sullivan (HMS Pinafore) from the Carl Rosa Company (November 15-20), and Tchaikovsky ballets (Swan Lake and The Nutcracker) from Moscow City Ballet (January 4-9).
A week of Christmas concerts, compiled and presented by actor and director Philip Franks, will feature the Portsmouth Band of the Royal Marines and Chichester Cathedral Choir (November 20 to December 4).
And Guide Award winners Chichester Festival Youth Theatre will stage a
new musical adaptation of Alice In Wonderland (December 18-January 1).
A new CFT production of classic children's novel Goodnight Mister Tom, adapted by David Wood, will open at Chichester from February 2-5 before a national tour.
Priority booking is open now for Friends of the Theatre. To join and receive discounted tickets, call the box office on (01243) 781312 or visit cft.org.uk/friends.
General booking opens next Tuesday at cft.org.uk, and counter and telephone bookings open for all next Thursday.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 04 February 2012
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