February 26, 2009 Issue
The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd
Lees-McRae Presents Classic Musical Comedy Friday through March 3
The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd is a musical comedy about the power struggle between the upper and lower classes.Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley wrote the musical comedy The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd in the 1960s about the upper and lower classes in Britain society. Well, things haven’t changed a whole lot since then.
The Roar of the Greasepaint’s satirical-yet-lighthearted look at the systems in place to separate the haves and have-nots continues to bear significance 40 years later, in Britain and throughout the rest of the world.
This Friday, February 27, through Tuesday, March 3, the Lees-McRae College Division of Performing Arts presents the musical at Hayes Auditorium on the Lees-McRae campus in Banner Elk. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Monday and Tuesday and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The play’s main character is Cocky, short for “cockney,” a slang term for working-class Londoners. Cocky engages in a symbolic “game of life” with an upperclassman named Sir, but Sir constantly changes the rules in his favor to keep Cocky in his place. Eventually, Cocky tries to emulate Sir’s actions to get ahead in the game, but by the end, he realizes he doesn’t need power to be happy.
Cast members rehearse a scene from The Roar of the Greasepaint, to be performed at Lees-McRae College’s Hayes Auditorium this Friday, February 27, through Tuesday, March 3. Photo by Brittney Fischer
“It’s a play that’s not done very often,” said Director Steve Parrish, assistant professor of performing arts at Lees-McRae. “To me, it’s just a good comment on the social classes of the world and how much things haven’t changed since 1965.”
The comedy is suitable for children, Parrish said, and features plenty of British satirical humor and lots of singing, dancing and slapstick in the Vaudevillian style.
Roar of the Greasepaint produced several popular musical numbers, including “A Wonderful Day Like Today,” “Who Can I Turn To?”, “The Joker,” “Look at That Face,” and “Feeling Good,” songs that have since been recorded by Tony Bennett, Dusty Springfield, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nina Simone and Barbra Streisand.
Parrish said this is the time of year that audiences dwindle, so he asks the High Country community to come out for a fun show and to support Roar of the Greasepaint’s 12-member cast and crew.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students and children. Seating is general admission and tickets will be sold at the door. For tickets or more information, call 828-898-8709.
Want To Go?
Date: Friday through Tuesday, February 27 to March 3
Time: 7:30 p.m. all days but Sunday/2:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Lees-McRae College Hayes Auditorium, Banner Elk
Cost: $12 adults/$5 students & kids
Lees-McRae Summer Theatre 2009
Every summer, Lees-McRae College showcases its performing arts program in a dynamic season of theatre that draws thousands of tourists, seasonal residents and locals to the tiny mountain town of Banner Elk. Under the direction of Dr. Janet Barton Speer for 25 years, Lees-McRae Summer Theatre is known as the “Broadway in the Mountains.”
The 2009 Summer Theatre season will feature three productions, and information about each show is listed below. Tickets, available for sale this spring, are $24 for adults and $13 for students and children. Saturday matinees are $19 for adults and $9 for students and children. For more information, call the Lees-McRae Box Office at 828-898-8709 or click to www.lmc.edu/web/SummerTheatre.
CATS
Wednesday through Sunday, June 17 to 21
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS became one of the most successful musicals of all time, spending 18 years on Broadway and 21 years in London.
The Secret Garden
Friday through Thursday, July 3 to 16
Based on the novel of the same name, The Secret Garden tells the story of a young, orphaned English girl who brings new life to a neglected garden and to her uncle and cousin.
Guys and Dolls
Thursday through Monday, July 30 to August 3
Guys and Dolls, one of the most frequently performed musicals, is about gamblers, missionaries, love and commitment.
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