A hilarious musical farce at the Players Theatre, Thame..
Thame Players are starting September off with a bang, staging their production of Lucky Stiff, a wacky, hilarious romp of a musical farce, at the Players Theatre, Thame from 6th-10th September.
The plot revolves around love, murder, dogs and diamonds: Harry Witherspoon, an unassuming shoe salesman, is forced to take the murdered and embalmed body of his late Uncle Anthony, a former croupier, on vacation to Monte Carlo.
If Harry succeeds in passing his uncle off as alive, he stands to inherit $6 million, but if he fails, the money will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn – or to Uncle Anthony’s gun-toting ex-lover, Rita La Porta. Rita is also hot on the trail of the inheritance, having been Anthony’s former co-conspirator and embezzler of the $6 million. And hot on Rita’s trail is her brother Vinnie di Ruzzio, who has been blamed for the crime!
Based on the 1983 novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth, Lucky Stiff was the first collaboration between acclaimed lyricist and librettist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty, first performed off-Broadway in 1988. It won the Richard Rodgers Award for that year, followed by Washington’s Helen Hayes Award for best musical in 1990.
Tom Mackriell, who is directing the Thame Players’ production, said, “Lucky Stiff is an offbeat murder mystery with a difference, complete with zany characters, mistaken identities, love interests, disguises and, of course, the omnipresent corpse. There are also some great songs, including Something Funny's Going On, Fancy Meeting You Here, and the finale, Good To Be Alive. This is an unmissable show and an audience charmer. Do see it!”
Thame Players’ patrons can also benefit from a special-price dining offer arranged with the Black Horse Pub & Brasserie in Thame, based on a choice of two or three courses with a glass of house wine, on production of a ticket to see the show.
“This is a real giggle and guffaw show, long on craziness, full of fun, demanding nothing more than that you have a good time. And you will.” Gloria Cole, United Press International
“Best of all … is the music. The composer, Stephen Flaherty, and his songs, melodic and refreshing, are the real thing” Edith Oliver, The New Yorker.
Lucky Stiff will be performed from Tuesday 6th to Saturday 10th September inclusive at 7.45 pm at the Players Theatre, Thame OX9 2DP. Tickets are £8 on Tuesday and Wednesday and £10 (concessions £9) on Thursday to Saturday. Book online at www.thameplayers.co.uk or from the Information Centre at Thame Town Hall (check https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/visit-thame/information-centre/ for opening times).
Lucky Stiff is a Thame Players Theatre Company production, presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International, who also supply all authorised performance materials www.mtishows.co.uk. The British debut was at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln in 1994. This was followed by a showing at the Bridewell Theatre in London in 1997, where it has also been staged more recently by SEDOS in 2018.
The Black Horse, Thame OX9 2BL is offering all ticket purchasers a special low-price pre-show dinner, based on an option of two courses with a glass of house wine at £22 or an option of three courses with a glass of house wine for £26.
For more information and terms & conditions please contact helen.johns@thameplayers.co.uk.
Thame Players run the only dedicated theatre and cinema facility serving Thame, south-east Oxfordshire and west Buckinghamshire and have been a vibrant and successful amateur dramatics group for over 75 years. As an amateur theatre group they aim to provide high-quality, wide-ranging and accessible entertainment for Thame and local area. Shows are put on throughout the year at affordable prices, designed to suit a wide range of tastes and age groups.
Follow Thame Players onTwitter.com/thametheatre, Facebook.com/thametheatre and Instagram.com/thameplayers
