
CHEAP & CHEERFUL
Devised and written by Alan Ayckbourn - Music by Denis King and Simon Cryer
Alan Ayckbourn’s answer to “What to do for our Christmas show when we can’t afford to do a pantomime?” is an affectionate take on Twice Nightly Variety and the very worst of the “end of the pier” shows, complete with Reg ‘Mr. Mirth’ Pittock, The ‘Fabulous’ Jackie Bunstone Dancers, Astrkanoff - Juggler Extraordinaire, and the Incredible Raymondo!
“The programme and advertising built up the illusion this was a genuine variety show with the expected acts and dancing girls. However, once the show began, the various acts failed to turn up, leaving the host Reg Pittock to desperately draw a show from a deputy stage manager, an usher and a member of the audience, leading to an increasingly bizarre set of acts including a near fatal disappearing act, a sock puppet rendition of Hamlet, an imaginary dog-show and a sing-a-long. Apparently several members of the audience were expecting a real variety show and walked out of the theatre. The reaction for this lightweight and extremely silly piece was generally positive though and in Reg Pittock, Alan created one of his most memorably monstrous comic characters (who is also name-checked on the television in the play Private Fears In Public Places). - Simon Murgatroyd www.alanayckbourn.net
PERFORMANCES
First performed at The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, 18 December 1998
Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Design: Pip Leckenby
Choreographer: Sheila Carter
Lighting: Kath Geraghty
Musical Director: Simon Cryer
CAST (2 M, 2W)
Robert Austin, Julian Forsythe, Dorothy Atkinson, Nicola Sloane
MUSICAL NUMBERS
- TEN TIMES TABLE
- TURTLE FINGERS
- WHEN SUSIE PARTNERS ME
- UNCLE TED
- IN THE RAIN
- IT GREW ON ME
- BRING ON THE GIRLS
- WHY CAN’T WE FALL IN LOVE
- BITCH
- KISSING LUCY (Bouncing Ball Finale)
KINGS’ COMMENTS



Fact of the Day
As a young King brother touring the country in Variety, Denis, over a period of two years, attended more than 20 different schools.

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