Theatre turns back the clock (From Warrington Guardian)

Theatre turns back the clock

KNUTSFORD Little Theatre stages a rare production next week.

Stop The World I want To Get Off - last performed in Knutsford in 1961 - opens at the Queen Street theatre on Monday for six nights.

"When we decided to revive the show, we wondered whether to update the script to reflect current events," said theatre spokesman Graham Browne.

"But thank goodness we stuck to the original and the jokes about the Cold War, Red China and the unions are as fresh and funny today as ever they were."

Filled with brilliant music and clever songs, the show charts the life of Littlechap (John Smith) from the cradle to the grave.

Long-suffering

His long-suffering wife Evie is played by Gilly Godwin, who also plays a selection of the many girlfriends he meets on his business trips abroad.

Each of the girls has a song about her political views, and the German girl's song is one of the show's high points, reminding us of Mel Brooks' Springtime For Hitler.

Tyranny is lampooned unmercifully, and at one point Death himself is told to pick on someone his own size.

In his quest for fame and fortune, Littlechap breaks many hearts, only belatedly realising what a treasure Evie has always been.

At the end of the show, with a knighthood and Nobel Prize to his credit, Littlechap reviews his life and finds it rather empty.

"This is a chance of a lifetime to see a wonderful but rarely performed show," said Mr Browne.

Theatre-goers can buy two tickets for the price of one for the Monday performance.

Tickets are on sale at the Tourist Information Centre in Toft Road or from the ticket secretary by calling 01565 631237.