First Produced by the Queens Theatre Hornshurch, and directed by the legendary Bob Carlton, This adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel takes as it's premise the notion that Passepartout, after his adventures as manservant to Phileas Fogg, has returned to one of his earlier jobs - as a circus acrobat.
As the roustabouts strike the big top before moving on to the next town, a new foreman demands to know why they are "late” finishing a break.
“We go by the Frenchman,” he is told.
Further questioning reveals ”the Frenchman” to be, of course, Passepartout. In order to explain the workers’ faith in the infallibility of his watch above all others, the workers tell the tale of how he came to own it... the story of a journey "Around the world in Eighty Days"!
AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, adapted by Robin Kingsland. First produced by the "Cut to the Chase" Co.at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Director: Bob Carlton. Designer: Rodney Ford. Cast: Neil Boorman, Richard Brightliff, Simon Jessop, Paul Leonard, Natasha Moore and Marcus Webb.
A cast of six actors (5M 1F) play between them not only Fogg and Passepartout, Princess Aouda and bumbling detective Fix, but a multitude of minor characters - Brahmins, policemen, judges, opium addled sailors and elephant traders. Even Wyatt Earp makes a brief appearance asthis energetic, fast-moving adaptation brings to the fore the story of the softening of Fogg’s stiff, starched heart.
