The curtain goes up this week on The Algarveans’ spring comedy “A Bunch of Amateurs” by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, opening Lagoa Municipality’s Humorfest 2020.
Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero, Jefferson Steel, arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy Suffolk village and the cast are a bunch of amateurs. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested by the enthusiastic amateur thespians – who are not averse to a spot of ego, vanity and insecurity themselves. As acting worlds collide and Jefferson’s career implodes, he discovers some truths about himself and his relationships with other people … along with his inner Lear!
Originally conceived as a film in 2008 starring Burt Reynolds, Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond, it was premiered as a play at the Watermill Theatre in 2014.
However, as comic writers Hislop and Newman note: “As a piece about the redemptive power of theatre, ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ is perhaps more powerful and appropriate on the stage than on the screen.”
Director Paul Kloegman is no amateur himself, having enjoyed a career as both screen actor and director. As the cast like to boast, “he’s been on the telly and everything”.
Paul will ensure that the acerbic wit of Hislop and Newman metamorphoses into some hugely funny one-liners and are delivered with perfect timing by his cast.
“A Bunch of Amateurs” will be performed in English at the 300-seat Carlos do Carmo Auditorium in Lagoa on February 27, 28, and 29 at 7.45pm. Tickets at €12 are available at all Worten and Fnac stores as well as the Auditorium and Convento de S. José box offices, or online at www.ticketline.pt. For all enquiries, visit www.thealgarveans.com
