UNITED KINGDOM: A pig is the star of veteran impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh's latest West End production 'Betty Blue Eyes'

Record ID: 730608

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: A pig is the star of veteran impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh's latest West End production 'Betty Blue Eyes'
  • Date: 15th April 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF CURTAIN CALL WITH CLOSE UP OF ANIMATRONIC PIG BETTY
  • Embargoed: 30th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA8HCKPYW3Z4F8MHSYEV8W9W5NF
  • Story Text: The musical, which premiered on Wednesday (April 13) evening, is based on the 1984 film comedy 'A Private Function' by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray and adapted by American writers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman.
    While many Britons are eagerly awaiting the forthcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the town citizens in this play are also preparing for a royal wedding.
    Back in 1947, when meat is rare and food rationing is still in force in Britain, the dignatories of a small town decide to raise a pig illegally. The animal is to be served as the main dish at a royal wedding banquet in honour of the newly married Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
    However, their plan is foiled when a disgruntled local, Gilbert Chilvers, who hasn't been invited to the party, decides to steal the pig.
    The cast, headed by Reece Shearsmith ('The League of Gentleman') as Gilbert and former Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire as his wife Joyce, received standing ovations from the audience.
    British comedian Jimmy Carr later said he was impressed with Shearsmith's singing talent.
    "Who knew -- he could sing and dance", Carr said. "I just thought he could be sort of mildly scary and sardonic. But he was brilliant, really, really brilliant. He was amazing."
    Betty, the blue-eyed animatronic pig, also produced a small surprise, to the delight of the audience. While it happily grunted and squeaked during the play, it later gave a short vocal performance of its own, courtesy of pop star Kylie Minogue.
    "We were talking about the finale of the show and I thought 'Wouldn't it be lovely if Betty as a little surprise sang just a couple of bits of her, of the great title song of the show'", Sir Cameron Mackintosh later explained. "I thought 'Who could give the most magical voice to Betty? Someone eternally young, someone with a lot of fun and delightful.' And I went 'Kylie Minogue!' ... And Kylie just went 'What a great idea', and as you heard tonight she's a total delight. And the idea of the take, the way she did it. She said 'I wanna try something', and what you heard tonight is what she tried."
    The opening night also saw a strong celebrity turn-out, with stars including Helena Bonham-Carter, Stephen Fry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Titchmarsh in the audience. Former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff was also there, joined by his new girlfriend Hayley Roberts.
    Some guests later spoke of the great timing for the musical's release. With the current economic climate and the upcoming Royal Wedding, there are some strong parallels to today.
    "Cameron Mackintosh must have asked William and Kate to get married this year," actress Helena Bonham-Carter joked at the after-show party. "To tie in with this musical and the recession. It is so bang on, it's weird. It's a bit spooky but anyway."
    Richard Eyre, who directed the musical, says that just as in 1947 the upcoming Royal Wedding could perhaps help lift the spirits once more in austerity-hit Britain.
    "It's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? But you know that paradox is -- at the heart of the show. And it's somehow at the heart of this country."
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