The MADC proudly presents The Great Big Radio Show at The Manoel Theatre from 17 October directed by Polly March as its opening production of the new season.
Set in 1933 New York, 'The Great Big Radio Show!' is America's top rated variety programme due to go out live on radio at 8pm. But the star has not arrived! The Bandleader and his P. A. have to find a singer to take her place.
So off they head to the studio cafeteria in the hopes of finding a one from another show. There they find America's Singing Sweetheart, who tries to help out.
Meanwhile...Enter Freckles Murray, a jobless singer and violinist who went to auditioned at in a rather shady speakeasy, but was so alarmed that she snatched up her fiddle case and ran as the receptionist suggests she could cover for a missing waitress in the cafeteria.
She is persuade to sing LIVE on radio and perhaps also play her violin...That's how stars were made, then.
Meanwhile...the Producer has been desperately keeping the show live on air. Plagued by ulcers and all, this anxiety is not helping. A breakdown looms...as the main sponsor decides to stay on and watch the show. Could things get worse? Oh, yes.
JERRY played by Justin Mamo, POLLY by Mariele Zammit
Now enter the Gangsters, two bad guys in search of their missing machine gun which, of course, is in the violin case that Freckles Murray snatched up by mistake. They've got to get it back and breathless chases ensue.
Meanwhile...Enter Olga Schadenfreude, the mega-star who outshines Marlene Deitrich and Greta Garbo. She too agrees to sing on the show! All is well! .Or is it!
The well known story of boy meets girl, loses girl, finds girl (times four) moves at breakneck speed until the final happy ending...of course!
The Great Big Radio Show features Alan Montarnaro, Joseph Zammit, Katja Bruneis, Katherine Brown, Michael Mangion, Justin Mamo, Alex Gatesey Lewis, Luke Saydon, Nicola Azzopardi, Mariele Zammit and Andre Mangion.
Choreography by Alison Bird, and the Vocal Coach is Cathy Lawlor....You'll come away humming the tunes and tapping your way up the aisle!
Winner of the prestigious Vivian Ellis Award and The Quest for a British Musical, The Great Big Radio Show is an enchanting and affectionate pastiche of the great musical comedies of the 1930s. . It premiered at The Watermill Theatre and later played at The Bridewell, in London. There will be a revival in London next year.
Book and lyrics are by Philip Glassborow, with dance arrangements by David Rhind Tutt, and Geoffrey Thomas.
The show at the Manoel Theatre: 17, 18, 19 & 24, 25, 26 October at 8pm
Booking Online: www.teatrumanoel.com.mt Email: [email protected] Tel: 2124 6389
Tickets: €16 & €20 on the first weekend - €20 & €24 on the second