NT : What's On : Productions : Once in a Lifetime
Once in a Lifetime
by Moss Hart and George S Kaufman
As the talkies hit the headlines, three New York actors abandon their clapped-out vaudeville act to make it big in Hollywood. Jerry and May have a brilliant idea: a voice school for the brainless stars of the silent movies. Their sweet pal, George, tags along for the ride. He’s dumb enough to impress the mighty Glogauer, head of Glogauer Studios, and when Jerry and May are drummed out of town, George comes up smelling of roses.
We can’t fail. We’re pioneers in a new field. The talkies are the thing of the future and there’s going to be no stopping them. Got that?From the great masters of American comedy comes the best ever play about the movies. A vast cast and all the visual extravagance of Hollywood’s golden age: an irresistible comic treat.
'A well-oiled laughter machine.' Daily Telegraph 'Edward Hall's irresistibly glamorous production explodes like a great, glittering firecracker.' Sunday Times
Cast credits:
George Lewis : Adrian Scarborough
May Daniels : Victoria Hamilton
Jerry Hyland : Lloyd Hutchinson
Helen Hobart : Issy van Randwyck
Susan Walker : Caroline Sheen
Mrs Walker : Marcia Warren
Herman Glogauer : David Suchet
Miss Leighton / Stilton Girl : Serena Evans
Lawrence Vail : Jonathan McGuinness
Rudolph Kammerling : Tim McMullen
Porter / Miss Fontaine's Chauffeur / Moulton & Carpenter : Alan Cooke
Coatcheck Girl & Ensemble : Akiya Henry
Cigarette Girl & Ensemble : Sarah Annis
Florabel Leigh / Lily & Ensemble : Rachel Stanley
Phyliss Fontaine / Bridesmaid : Lisa Donmall
Miss Leigh's Chauffeur / Mr Flick & Ensemble : Nick Fletcher
Weisskopf / Scenario Writer & Ensemble : Paul Cawley
Policeman / Electrician / Biographer & Ensemble : Nicholas Tizzard
Policeman / Electrician / The Groom & Ensemble : Jack Tarlton
Meterstein / Scenario Writer/ Ernest & Ensemble : William Osbourne
Bishop / Newspaper / Fulton & Ensemble : Matt Zimmerman
George's Secretary / Miss Leigh's Maid / Miss Chasen & Ensemble : Kate Best
Bellboy / 1st Page & Ensemble : Joshua Dallas
Stilton Girl / Voice Class Girl / Bridesmaid & Ensemble : Inika Leigh Wright
Stilton Girl / Miss Newton / Bridesmaid & Ensemble : Alexis Owen Hobbs
Stilton Girl / Miss Fontaine's Maid / Bridesmaid & Ensemble : Emma Tunmore
Bridesmaid / Office Girl / Ensemble : Edwina Cox
Stilton Man / Page / Carpenter & Ensemble : Adam Shipway
Stilton Man / Truckman & Ensemble : Paul Basleigh
Jummerling / Office Worker / Ensemble : Michael Rouse
Production credits:
Director: Edward Hall
Designer: Mark Thompson
Lighting Designer: Hugh Vanstone
Sound Designer: Paul Groothuis
Music arranged and directed by: Martin Lowe
Musical Staging: Rob Ashford
Associate to Rob Ashford: Chris Bailey
Dialect Coach: Joan Washington
Company Voice Work : Patsy Rodenburg
photo Getty Images
Once in a Lifetime finished on: 11 March 2006
