Forgotten Musicals: 'The Stripper' (1982)
Book by Carter Brown
Lyrics by Richard O'Brien
Music by Richard Hartley
History:
The
Stripper is a stage musical
produced in 1982 by the Sydney Theatre Company, adapted by Richard
O'Brien from the 1961 book of the same name written by Carter Brown.
Much of the Rocky Horror creative team was involved in the show. In
addition to Richard O'Brien composing lyrics, Richard Hartley wrote,
arranged, and directed the music. Hartley was originally part of the
four-piece band for the 'The
Rocky Horror Show' and went
on to arrange the score for the London Stage and film adaptations, as
well as composing the incidental music for the 'Doctor Who' story,
'Mindwarp'.
O'Brien had read a lot of Carter Brown detective stories and he'd come up with a script that was far too long. Rehearsals were not going well and all the actors were having trouble with the lines. The dialogue was very repetitive, and so the director, Brian Thomson (also a 'Rocky' alumni) started working on it. However, O'Brien wasn't having any of it, and refused to have his script touched and got so annoyed that Thomson eventually refused to have him in the theatre. The original cast included Terence (Jason's Dad) Donovan.
O'Brien had read a lot of Carter Brown detective stories and he'd come up with a script that was far too long. Rehearsals were not going well and all the actors were having trouble with the lines. The dialogue was very repetitive, and so the director, Brian Thomson (also a 'Rocky' alumni) started working on it. However, O'Brien wasn't having any of it, and refused to have his script touched and got so annoyed that Thomson eventually refused to have him in the theatre. The original cast included Terence (Jason's Dad) Donovan.
There
have been two UK productions of The Stripper. The first in 2009 at
the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch and the most recent in 2016 at the St
James's Theatre, London.
Plot:
California
1961, and there’s trouble in Pine City. This is a case for
Lieutenant Al Wheeler. Patty Keller, cousin to the title character
Deadpan Dolores, is dead, but did she jump, was she pushed, or did she
fall? Detective Al Wheeler is drawn into the mystery and the world of
The Arkwright Happiness Club and the Club Extravaganza, where he
meets "the girl the says it all from the neck down" -
Deadpan Delores. She didn’t usually keep things under wraps, so
what was she hiding ? With a nose for crime and an eye for the
ladies, Wheeler will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth. Set
in the early 1960's in California USA, this show captures the
detective novel feel with style.
In a Nutshell:
With dames aplenty, and a stripper who's concealing more than you'd expect, can Lieutenant Wheeler solve the case ?
Production:
Not unsurprisingly it was the 2016 revival at the St. James Theatre (now The Other Palace) that I saw. The studio theatre seated just over a hundred people and the whole room became the Club Extravaganza,
meaning that you felt like you were more a part of the show than just an audience
member, particularly with some interaction with the audience, particularly
from the main character, Lieutenant Al Wheeler.
Just five cast members in all played twelve characters, with some
clever staging and some very quick costume changes making for a seamless
show. These included Marc Pickering & Hannah Grover (both of whom I had enjoyed in 'The
Toxic Avenger'). There was also a great five piece band stage right, in full view
of the audience rather than hidden away, adding to the atmosphere. The songs varied from a torch-song to one the filthiest songs that I've ever heard in a musical ('Man of Steel' - which is certainly not about Superman).
'The Stripper' ran at the St. James' Theatre in London from 11th July 2016 to 13th August 2016.Signature Song:
Once
again I find it difficult to choose - my emotional side wants 'Men Like That' and my filthy side wants 'Man of Steel' with its classic rhyme "I don't want to beg your pardon; Baby you give me a _____'.
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