Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - National Theatre
A brand new production of Tom Stoppard’s classic “Every Good Boy
Deserves Favour” will be performed on the stage of the National’s
Olivier Theatre in 2010, backed up by the sounds of a full orchestra in
the form of the Southbank Sinfonia, who will bring Andre Previn’s score
to life.
“Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” is set within the confines of a Soviet
asylum, where Alexander Ivanov, a dissident, has been locked away with a
promise of release if he admits that his statements against the
government were due to a mental disorder of which he is now cured.
Inside his cell, there is another patient who is also called Ivanov and
who is genuinely mentally disturbed, believing that he is surrounded by
an orchestra.
Alexander’s son begs his father to admit to the disorder, so that his
father may be freed and can join him once more. However, the dissident
struggles with the notion of freeing himself based on a lie and
Stoppard’s play begins to ask questions concerning the price of liberty
and whether denying the truth is really worth it.
This is a rare opportunity to catch this play, which is often difficult
to manage due to a full orchestra occupying the stage alongside the
actors. It makes this production a special and unique opportunity to
catch this show. It promises to be a unique insight into one of the most
famous plays by Stoppard, who teamed with the legendary composer Andre
Previn to complete this work. This legendary team up was matched by
another team up in the cast, with the 1977 premiere featuring Ian
McKellen and Patrick Stewart as Alexander and the Soviet doctor
respectively. This show also showcased the London Symphony Orchestra,
with Previn conducting live at the Royal Festival Hall, performed to
mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
Tom Stoppard is an English playwright who has penned a great deal of
well known and frequently performed plays, including “Arcadia” and
“Indian Ink”. He is an award winning artist who continues to impress
with his work, with “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” being amongst his
most well known.
“Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” is at the Olivier National Theatre from
Wednesday 13th January 2010 to Wednesday 17th February 2010.