Musicals Tonight, the New York-based classic musical revival series, will stage a world-premiere production of Noel Coward’s Hoi Polloi. Set in post-WWII London, the show was originally planned for production in 1949.
Hoi Polloi features music, lyrics, and a libretto by Coward; some of its songs were subsequently used in Coward’s Ace of Clubs and Sail Away.
With an adaptation by Barry Day, the Off-Broadway staging is directed and choreographed by Mindy Cooper with music direction by David Bishop. Performances are scheduled to run November 1-13 at the Lion Theatre, located at 410 West 42nd Street, New York.
The story follows London girl Pinkie Maclin and sailor Harry Hornby on 24-hour leave, who meet at Covent Garden Market.
The cast will be made up of Katrina Michael, Johnny Wilson, Josh Bardier, Ian Mcdonald, Marci Reid, Tom Gamblin, Deb Cardona, Kaitlyn Frotton, Conor M. Hamill, and Oakley Boycott.
Here’s how production notes bill Coward’s musical: “Pinkie and her brother Alfie have come to buy food for the week. Pinkie and Harry flirt under the watchful eyes of two vendors who know the Maclin Family well - Mr. Capper and Barmey Flo. They go to Putney to meet her father, mother and younger sister – Charlie; Fanny and Doreen, respectively. She then shows him the town and while doing so they bump into the same newlyweds several times – Julian and Linda Curtis. The Curtises invite them to a posh party and they quarrel over attending. They make up, have fun at the party and then must part the next morning. But he’ll be back and she’ll be waiting.”
For tickets and more information call Telecharge (212) 239-6200 or visit musicalstonight.org.
