Devon. I’m in Devon. And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
This evening, at the Plymouth Arts Cinema I had the honours of introducing a screening of the modern silent that made a big noise, The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius, 2011). You remember? The one that won FIVE Oscars? With the dashing Jean Dujardin and the yet more dashing Uggie the Dog?
Raise one Gallic eyebrow if you know the film I mean.
But this screening, delightful as it was is just the amuse-bouche, my friends, the appetiser for a glorious feast. In just a few weeks, a live stage adaptation of The Artist will begin a strictly limited run at Theatre Royal Plymouth, and I have high hopes that this will be a beautiful show. Please devour this glorious concept trailer:
I’d advise you to watch the trailer twice. First time round it is all too easy to miss the puppet Uggie. Yes, with adorably wagging ears.
There is likely going to be a lot of dancing in the show, if this energetic rehearsal video is anything to go by.
Here’s the official blurb:
Now the beguiling love story is reinvented for the stage in a dazzling celebration of silent cinema that blends cutting-edge theatre-making with iconic music of the period.
The world premiere stage production will begin its journey with a strictly limited run at Theatre Royal Plymouth from Saturday 11 May 2024 with public booking from 9 June 2023.
The Artist is a McOnie Company production produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth, The McOnie Company, Playful Productions, Bill Damaschke, Stephen and Nancy Gabriel and Underbelly.
I honestly do think this could be very special.
