Lend Me a Tenor - 1986

Directed by Ken Ludwig. Opened at the Globe Theatre on 6 March, 1986. Cast: Max - Denis Lawson Maggie - Jan Francis Saunders - John Barron Bellhop - Edward Hibbert Tito Merelli - Ronald Holgate Maria - Anna Nicholas Diana - Gwendolyn Humble Julia - Josephine Blake Story: Denis originated the role of Max, a gofer with a Cleveland opera company in the 1920's who runs into trouble trying to keep a visiting Italian opera star tenor from killing himself with wine and women before the premiere.

Reviews: "...The understudy who becomes a star overnight can safely qualify as the most predictable cliche in showbusiness.  Lend Me a Tenor has some minor claim to originally (sic) only in that its instant star is not a singer, a hoofer or an actor, but an opera singer.  It manages to overcome the blight of familiarity by establishing early on that the character who is going to step into the shoes of a visiting Italian tenor really can sing.  As the meek amateur hoping to get a role in Cleveland's local opera, Denis Lawson is hardly likely to be bombarded with contracts from Covent Garden, but for an actor he has a surprisingly robust voice capable of coping with the standard repertoire of Verdi and Puccini..."  Milton Shulman, London Standard "...Denis Lawson as a would-be opera singer called Max, has a slight air of the young Charlie Chaplin in his beautifully expressive and comic body movements. ..."  Francis Wheen, Today "...But any shortcomings in the script are made resoundingly good by the performances.  Pocket-sized Denis Lawson as the substitute Othello shares a superb scene with the real tenor, Ronald Holgate, demonstrating how singers limber up before giving their all in the Verdi duet.  Mr. Lawson displays all the bewilderment of the born comic actor in extremis, while Mr. Holgate's magnificent presence makes him a ludicrous foil. ..."  unknown

Thank you!!!!! Alice's Requiem Rebel Pilots.com and Ebay for existing:-)