R2OK!

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5789 Location: Hampshire

We've just booked to see the London premiere of this play by the late Jack Rosenthal at the Menier Chocolate Factory - a lovely little theatre in Southwark. It is about the trials and tribulations of putting on a musical and stars Tom Conti.

The MCF productions never fail to be hugely enjoyable and we always opt for the “meal deal” so we can partake of the truly delicious food in the restaurant. We first saw their production of La Cage Aux Folles there which is now a hit on Broadway after a good run in the West End.

Not going till late April though so it's a while to wait.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19380 Location: Cheshire

That sounds like a wonderful night to look forward to Eileen!

I think Tom Conti was a guest of Steve Wright one day this week, Monday or Tuesday I think. I expect he would have been talking about the play.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5789 Location: Hampshire

Thanks for that Helen, I might try to trawl through if I have time. I see that he is on the Arts Show tonight so must remember to leave the radio on after FNIMN.

ColinB · Guest

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6851

I have always been a fan of Jack Rosenthal, a very talented writer and from the tribute I watched after his death an uncommonly decent man.

I listened to his memoirs adapted (by his own daughter, Amy) on Radio 4 a few years back and he told of his differences with Barbra Streisand when he was over in America co-writing Yentl with her

From the web

In 1983 Jack Rosenthal co-wrote the feature film Yentl with Barbra Streisand. The experience proved an ordeal....

Years later, he agreed to help with the dialogue on another Streisand vehicle, Prince of Tides. Later, he described it thus: "Halfway through, I bit the thigh bone of a roast duck in a Chinese restaurant, smashing my molar to fragments inside my gum.

"That was the least painful part of the three weeks."

Hope you enjoy the play,Eileen ..look forward to a review.... Very Happy

ColinB · Guest

Of all the things Jack Rosenthal created for TV (early episodes of Coronation Street included), the most memorable for me was his single play called "Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill" about a day in the life of a TV "extra" as he played out his bit-part in a location scene which was being directed by a highly-stressed, frustrated drama director (played by Jack Shepherd). Circumstances conspire to prevent Mr. McGill from delivering his big walk-on scene and in the end everything falls apart. Just when it looks like they might get a good take in the can, the sound recordist hears a Boeing 727 (or whatever it was) at 30,000 feet and they have to go for yet another take.....

Brilliantly written brilliantly played and the whole thing was just so memorable as an example of the "single play for TV" of a kind that just doesn't get made now.