The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company

Harlequin Goes To The Moon

By popular demand, The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company makes a welcome return to St. Leonards this summer with its unique brand of comedy. Expect an evening of pure entertainment with their brand new tale, ‘Harlequin Goes to the Moon’, which contains all of the usual ingredients that make their shows so entertaining. 

Affectionately known as ‘The Rudes’, the Company’s success relies on excellent scripting, wonderful storytelling, harmonious singing and live music from its skilled and talented troupe of performers, sporting their signature white faces and dressed in beautiful costumes designed specifically for the show.  Of course, never shirking from provocatively addressing serious themes or commenting on current affairs, The Rudes will make you think, raise a quizzical eyebrow or two, as well as causing laughter of the out loud variety.’Harlequin Goes to the Moon’ is a tale of romance, love, whimsy, lust and greed.  The story goes like this…

Catalina, the daughter of the great astronomer, Il Dottore Pazzo, is madly, desperately, in love with the delicious Federico, the son, rather inconveniently, of Il Magnifico Buco del Culo, a Florentine banker, who has reinvented the meaning of ‘mean’. No banker before, nor since, was meaner, more spiteful, more greedy, more inexplicably nastier than he! No way will Federico marry the daughter of an astronomer, who is so poor his pants are as ragged as a half-plucked chicken! In fact, Il Magnifico has forbidden the couple from touching even their little fingers – and to ensure this does not happen, he has threatened his servant, Harlequin, and his wife’s maid, Colombina, with ‘death by stretching’ if there is any contact between the devoted pair.

Harlequin is terrified – who wouldn’t be? – so, decides to steal Pazzo’s moon ship, a contraption of rotating cogs and wheels, levers, paddles and sails and fly to the moon, where he will no longer be kicked around, but will set up his own government, become Emperor and make the rules. The stable boy, Paglia, who spends most of his time gazing at the moon like a smitten hare, takes little persuading to go with him.

‘Harlequin Goes to the Moon’ promises to be another appetising helping from The Rudes with new songs and script by Pete Talbot and, for the second year running, musical arrangement and direction from Grant Gordon, musical producer, playwright and musician, best known as bass player for ‘The Divine Comedy’.

The troupe will be performing at St Leonards Gardens on Sunday 16 June at 7.30pm (open from 6.00pm for picnics). Bring your own low backed chairs or blankets – and some warm clothes, just in case.

Tickets can be bought from Plenty Provisions, Grand Parade, from The Central Box Office (01323-501260) or online wwww.therudemechanicaltheatre.co.uk.

Note: Concessions will only be available in advance (at least a £1 off every ticket & group rates). On the night they will be £13 for adults and £7 for children.

More information about the company and alternative venues here.

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