Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense
Written by David Goodale
Robert Goodale
Date premiered 10 October 2013 (2013-10-10)
Place premiered Richmond Theatre
Genre Comedy

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense is a play written by David and Robert Goodale based on the 1938 novel The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Wodehouse.[1] It made its world premiere at the Richmond Theatre in October 2013, then transferred later that month to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre where it is currently running. The production won the 2014 Laurence Olivier Award, for Best New Comedy.

Plot

The plot revolves around Bertie Wooster deciding to stage a one-man show revolving around his recent experiences at Totleigh Towers, only to discover on the evening that, in typical Wooster fashion, nothing has gone to plan and the show is not ready to be staged. In desperation, he enlists Jeeves and another valet, Seppings, to help him stage the production, with Bertie as himself and both Jeeves and Seppings playing multiple characters. Both in the story Bertie is narrating and the play as it is being performed, events quickly spiral out of control, prompting Jeeves to step in to make sure all ends well.

Production history

Perfect Nonsense is written by brothers David and Robert Goodale[2] and is based on P. G. Wodehouse's 1938 novel The Code of the Woosters.[3] In June 2013, it was announced the show would be performed for the first time in October that year,[4] with tickets going on sale immediately.[5] The first authorized stage play based on Jeeves and Wooster[6] is directed by Sean Foley,[7] with design by Alice Power, lighting by James Farncombe and sound design by Max and Ben Ringham.[8] The show had pre-West End try outs at Richmond Theatre (10–19 October) and the Theatre Royal, Brighton (22–26 October)[9] before beginning previews at the Duke of York's Theatre, London on 30 October, with the official opening night on 12 November 2013.[10] The lead roles of Jeeves and Wooster will be played by Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan.[11] Initially booking to 8 March 2014, the production was later extended by six months to 20 September, with Macfadyen and Mangan continuing in their roles until 5 April,[12] before being replaced by Mark Heap and Robert Webb[13][14]

John Gordon Sinclair and James Lance took over the roles of Jeeves and Wooster from 30 June 2014 and on the subsequent national tour, with the play's co-writer Robert Goodale replacing Mark Hadfield as Seppings.[15] It was announced on 18 August 2014 that the show will close in the West End on 20 September 2014.[16]

On 20 February 2014, it was announced that Perfect Nonsense will tour the UK, beginning at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford on 24 September.[17] It will continue to Cambridge, Newcastle, Norwich, Reading, Salford, Cheltenham, Southampton, Glasgow and Bath, where it will finish in December.[18][19] The third West End cast will tour the production with John Gordon Sinclair as Jeeves, James Lance as Wooster and Perfect Nonsense co-writer Robert Goodale as Seppings.[20] The tour will continue in February, with Jason Thorpe taking over as Jeeves and Robert Webb returning to the role of Wooster, with Christopher Ryan taking over as Seppings. It will visit Shrewsbury, Oxford, Sheffield, Harrogate, Chichester, Birmingham, Canterbury, Belfast, Malvern, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Woking, Truro, Edinburgh, Salisbury, Leeds and Cardiff, where it will finish in June.[21]

The tour continued in September 2015, with co-writer Robert Goodale, returning as Seppings, Joseph Chance as Jeeves, and Matthew Carter as Wooster. The tour will visit Bury St. Edmunds, Aylesbury, Buxton, Crewe, Mold, Worthing, Exeter, Northampton, Ipswich, Southend, Colchester, Inverness, Dundee, Kingston and Derby, finishing in November.[22]

In January 2016 Perfect Nonsense, opened at The National Centre For Performing Arts in Mumbai with, Robert Goodale, as Seppings, Joseph chance as Jeeves and Matthew Carter as Wooster.

In June 2016, it was announced that Perfect Nonsense would embark on an international tour with Robert Goodale as Seppings, Joseph Chance as Jeeves and Matthew Carter as Wooster. The tour began at Sydney Opera House, Followed by, Adelaide, Wellington, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chennai and Bangalore, finishing in November 2016

Principal roles and original cast

Character Original pre and West End performer Original 2014 UK tour performer
Jeeves Matthew Macfadyen[23] John Gordon Sinclair
Bertie Wooster Stephen Mangan[23] James Lance
Seppings Mark Hadfield[23] Robert Goodale

Awards and nominations

London production

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2014 Whatsonstage.com Awards Best New Comedy Nominated[24] [25]
Laurence Olivier Award Best New Comedy Won[26] [27]

References

  1. ↑ "Exit, pursued by aunt: Jeeves and Wooster play finally hits the West End". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Culture Stage West End Jeeves and Wooster to take to West End stage in Perfect Nonsense". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "What ho! Jeeves and Wooster head for West End". BBC News. BBC. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan to Star in New West End Play Perfect Nonsense". Playbill. Playbill Inc. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Matthew Macfadyen and Stephen Mangan to play Jeeves and Wooster". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Limited. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "West End theatre debut for Jeeves and Wooster". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Jeeves and Wooster head to West End". yorkpress.co.uk. York Press. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "About The Show". Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense. AKA Group. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "Macfadyen And Mangan To Star In Jeeves & Wooster PERFECT NONSENSE!". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Matthew Macfadyen & Stephen Mangan star as Jeeves & Wooster in West End Perfect Nonsense". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense". London Evening Standard. Evening Standard Limited. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "Jeeves and Wooster extends to Sep 2014, Macfadyen and Mangan continue". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. ↑ ."Mark Heap and Robert Webb to take over as West End's Jeeves and Wooster". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Pair will replace Stephen Mangan and Matthew Macfadyen in the production at the Duke of York's Theatre from 7 April". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "John Gordon Sinclair and James Lance take over as Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense to close on 20 September". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "West End's Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense to Launch U.K. Tour in Fall". Playbill. Playbill Inc. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense embarks on UK tour in September". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "UK Tour Announced". Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense. AKA Group Limited. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "John Gordon Sinclair and James Lance to join West End's Perfect Nonsense". The Stage. thestage.co.uk. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Robert Webb returns to Jeeves and Wooster on UK tour". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense"
  23. 1 2 3 "Jeeves and Wooster to make their debut in the West End". The Times. Times Newspapers Limited. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint win at WhatsOnStage Awards". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "The full 2014 WhatsOnStage Awards shortlists". Whats On Stage. WhatsOnStage.com, Inc. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  26. ↑ "Olivier Awards: how a tiny theatre in north London trounced the West End". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  27. ↑ "Olivier awards 2014: musicals lead nominations". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
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