A companion piece of sorts to alan bennetts 1991 play the madness of george iii, mr. Mr footes other leg tickets london from the box office. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london, and is published by picador. Kellys book takes its first epigraph from peter cooks famous sketch one leg too few, about the onelegged actor who applies for the role of tarzan. As a onelegged, crossdressing, gay, playwrightslashcomedianslashactor go to.
Mr footes other leg, transferred to the theatre royal haymarket from its original home at the hampstead theatre, was something of a curiosity. Ian kellys play mr footes other leg is a comedy about the life of the eighteenthcentury satirist, impressionist and. Ian kellys mr footes other leg charts the eventful life of an 18thcentury wit. The comedies and tragedies that colour footes tale are set out vividly in ian kellys new work, mr footes other leg. Featuring the multiawardwinning actor simon russell beale as foote, direction by the acclaimed richard eyre ghosts, the pajama game, guys and dolls and dazzling set and costume design by tim hatley, mr footes. Tickets are currently soldout, but returns may be available. Mr footes other leg hampstead theatre whatsonstage. Footes other leg grants the hanoverian king a vivid supporting role that is played with. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on. Mr footes other leg was amputated on a table in a scottish castle.
The plays prelude is an attempt to steal footes amputated leg from the hunterian collection, but the drama mainly covers the period from footes tutelage under. Mr footes other leg is directed by richard eyre with a superb supporting cast of sophie bleasdale as miss chudleigh, joshua elliott as mr hallam and jenny galloway as mrs garner. Mr footes other leg is a wild, and wildly funny, backstage comedy about a footenote to 18th century theatrical history. About the show simon russell beale stars as a lost legend of georgian theatre in mr footes other leg as it transfers to the theatre royal haymarket following a sellout run at the hampstead theatre. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlightingnotes. A boundlessly hilarious and rollicking production, mr footes other leg examines fame, tragedy, comedy and a lot else besides. Mr footes other leg by ian kelly ian kellys dazzling book, as much social history as biography, portrays 18thcentury london from. In 1776 footes was the most talkedof name in the englishspeaking world. This is the great comic biography the 18th century never gave us and the actor ian kelly, spotting an opportunity, has written a book on which this play is based.
Detail of an engraving by william greatbach after sir joshua reynolds. In 1776 footes was the most talkedof name in the english spe. Based on the biography of samuel foote, long neglected 18 th century comic and quondam proprietor of the theatre royal haymarket, where, by. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london kindle edition by kelly, ian. However, this character actor uses his painful infirmity as a running gag for the rest of his combative life.
The hampstead theatre production of ian kellys play mr footes other leg, about one of the 18th centurys larger than life theatrical figures, gets a west end transfer and neatly ends up in the actual venue the theatre royal haymarket where foote and his band of actors once plied their trade. It gives a wonderful insight into london of the eighteenth century, the georgian theatre and the talent of the hitherto largely unknown samuel foote. Mr footes other leg tickets at theatre royal haymarket london. Ian kellys enjoyable kerfuffle of a play features simon russell beale as a foulmouthed onelegged comedian called foote, a jar full of penises, a quick guide to the georgian theatre of charles macklin, david garrick and peg woffington, a rag bag of old gags the opposite of comedy is germany, a grisly onstage amputation and a visit from king george iii. Samuel foote, theatrical impresario and the subject of ian kellys book, mr footes other leg. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Review mr footes other leg, hampstead theatre a west. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg. Buy mr footes other leg by ian kelly from waterstones today. The star has accidentally stabbed another actor in the eye with a walking stick. Historian, actor, dramatist and author of the biography, mr footes other leg, winner of the 20 theatre book of the year award, ian kelly narrates the bizarre career of englands only onelegged transvestite comedy superstarand what his story tells us of our debt to 18th century culture.
This biography covers footes early success with a truecrime book about his. Mr footes other leg, which tells this extraordinary true story, is much more than a biography. Directed by richard eyre and written by ian kelly, the play is billed as follows, in georgian london no one is more famous than samuel foote. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london hardcover 11 oct. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london paperback ian kelly author. Ian kelly, who wrote this play, mr footes other leg, once generously donated two of the drawings that he created live on stage in the pitman painters as a charity raffle prize for a the west end whingers party. But ian kelly, who has adapted his own book for the stage, is an impressively goofy prince george later iii. Ian kellys mr footes other leg has also been adapted into a play by the author. You may not actually know his name, but the titular mr foote is a man credited with changing the stage landscape, his influence still. Both the biography and the play were written by ian kelly.
Richard eyre directs this riotously funny show that follows the comedian and satirist samuel foote at the dawn of the age of celebrity. Ian kellys play mr footes other leg is a comedy about the life of the eighteenth century satirist, impressionist and. Satirist, impressionist and dangerous comedian, he has become acontinue reading. The mr foote of the title is samuel foote, the 18th century performer and former theatre royal haymarket manager who used the loss of his left leg to great comedic effect on stage. Actors earned pennies coaching hopefuls during breaks between performances.
Review of mr footes other leg at the theatre royal haymarket. Based on kellys own awardwinning biography which goes by the same name and why wouldnt it. Kellys book has mastered this and colourfully paints in the finer details of a. Matthew sweet on farcical scenes from the 18thcentury stage. Mr footes other leg by ian kelly, 9780330517843, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In january i went to see mr footes other leg, at the theatre royal haymarket.
Mr footes other leg is playing at the hampstead theatre until 17 october. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london by kelly, ian 11 october 2012 on. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london, a 2012 biography of the. Footes other leg on his awardwinning book of the same name and in the script he tackles celebrity, crossdressing, the role of royalty, sexual freedom, obsessive gambling, breast cancer, adultery and aristocracy and that is only in the first act. Its partly a play in three acts there is a dramatis personae, or helpful programme note on characters, partly a greek drama full of hubris and nemesis with the author as chorus, and. The essential gift book for any pet lover reallife tales. Footes other leg transfers to the theatre royal haymarket by oliver mitford wednesday, october 7 2015, 18. Mr footes other leg west end transfer following its sold out run at hampstead theatre, mr footes other leg, starring simon russell beale, will transfer to the theatre royal haymarket for a limited run from 28 october. Mr footes other leg tickets are not currently available. Mr foote s other leg by ian kelly an extract from the opening of the book foote had two legs to begin with.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. We meet foote as a teenager taking acting lessons backstage from a leading star. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg is a riotously funny play exploring our obsession with celebrities, through the true story of. Samuel foote 172077 was a star of the 18thcentury stage who avoided the censors by extemporising his performances. Mr footes other leg hampstead theatre 18 september 2015 4 stars. Mr footes other leg is transferring to theatre royal haymarket from 28th october. In georgian london no one is more famous than samuel foote. Mr footes other leg is a 2015 stage adaptation of mr footes other leg.
Transferring from the hampstead theatre to its rightful home the theatre royal haymarket plays a starring role mr footes other leg is a rollicking zing of a play there are some pretty big theatre names in this production about a big theatre name. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mr footes other leg. He was born with the full set and may have been buried with both when he was interred, clandestinely and at night as it turned out, in the cloisters of westminster abbey. This is a book vibrant with facts newly revealed by energetic scholastic archaeology. Kellys book takes its first epigraph from peter cooks famous sketch one leg too few, about the onelegged actor who applies for the role of. Being celebrated is not the same as fame mr foote, therein lies the death of kings. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg is a riotously funny play exploring our obsession with celebrities, through the true story of the oscar wilde of the eighteenth century. One book i must now get is the awardwinning account of his colourful life, in and out of the theatre, that ian kelly wrote before the play. The leg, in this case, refers to the one that he still possessed, after a riding accident in 1766 robbed him of a limb. How samuel foote lost his leg is one of the many extraordinary and gruesome elements in the story of a unique character in the most colourful period of british history. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london, a 2012 biography of the 18thcentury actor samuel foote. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london ebook.
Part 18th century theatrical romp, part meditation on mortality, part satire on celebrity, its frequently shifting focus made it a. Mr footes other leg is a treat for all eighteenthcenturyists, and is surely about to get a much wider audience. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Today wed call him a standup comedian specialising in improv. It premiered at hampstead theatre in september 2015, in a production directed by richard eyre and featuring simon russell beale as foote.
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