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The Steam Industry in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents
Country Magic
Adapted by Phil Willmott from Arthur Wing Pinero's forgotten 1922 fable The Enchanted Cottage
Directed by Phil Willmott. Designed by Robin Don. Associate Design by Ruth Hall.
Lighting by Peter Bragg. Costume Design by Penn O’Gara.
Cast includes: Daniel Abelson. Andrew Boxer. Paul Critoph. Sarah Feathers. Victoria Gee. Jamie Hinde. Moir Leslie.
Lachlan Nieboer. Nicola Wright.
Country Magic, the world premiere of Phil Willmott’s adaptation of the classic love story by Arthur Wing Pinero, opens for
a four week run on 14 April 2009 (Press Night: Thursday, 16 April) at London’s Finborough Theatre.
Oliver Bashford returns from the First World War crippled and hopeless about his future. Unable to face the high-society
lifestyle he once enjoyed, he hides himself in the countryside where he encounters a lonely, seemingly unattractive local
girl, Laura Pennington. Forced to protect himself from the interference of his social-climbing parents, he proposes
marriage, although neither loves the other. The reluctant couple, however, fall under the spell of a neighbour blinded in
the war whose optimism and belief in the power of love instigates an extraordinary, perhaps even magical, change in the
couple. With his encouragement, Oliver and Laura do fall in love and, as they do undergo a mysterious and inexplicable
transformation. But can this fragile and private enchantment survive the cruel scrutiny of sceptical outsiders?
A heart-warming testament to the redemptive power of love, The Enchanted Cottage was a huge popular success in a
London scarred by the unimaginable horror of the Great War. Described as a fable by its author, it is rooted in the
dreams of a generation of men whose youth was stolen from them by the carnage of trench warfare. Filmed in 1924 and
again in 1945, it was equally successful in raising spirits during the darkest hours of the Second World War, but has not
been revived in its original form since 1948. This production marks an exciting attempt to recapture the spirit, magic and
impact of the original play.
Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934) was equally acclaimed as a writer of comedy – The Magistrate (1885), The
Schoolmistress (1886), Dandy Dick (1887), Trelawny of the ‘’Wells’ (1898), produced at the Finborough Theatre in 2005,
also directed by Phil Willmott – and as a ground breaking writer of Ibsenite “problem plays” such as The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray (1893), The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith (1895), His House in Order (1906) and Mid-Channel (1909).
Director Phil Willmott is a recent winner of the 2008 TMA Award for outstanding production of a musical, a Peter Brook
Award for his productions of classical plays and family shows at The Scoop in London and he has just been nominated for
a What’s On Stage award for the Best Regional Theatre Production of 2008, he returns to the Finborough Theatre
following his acclaimed productions of Trelawny of the ‘Wells’ , Loyalties, a new adaptation of The Lower Depths (soon to
be published by Oberon Books) and the sell-out F**king Men which recently transferred to the King’s Head Theatre.
Award-winning designer Robin Don was nominated for the 2008 Evening Standard Award for his design forThe
Emperor Jones (National Theatre) and was TMA/Critics’ Circle Designer of the Year for The Winter Guest (Almeida
Theatre). His extensive credits include When I Was a Girl I used to Scream and Shout and Beautiful Thing (Bush
Theatre), Fool for Love (Donmar Warehouse), Les Enfants du Paradis (Royal Shakespeare Company), A Walk in the
Woods (Comedy Theatre), Top Girls (Citizens Glasgow), The Rocky Horror Show (Piccadilly Theatre), Song and Dance
(Palace Theatre), Ziegfeld (London Palladium), and The Boy Friend (Old Vic and Albery Theatre). His opera and ballet
designs include productions for Aldeburgh Festival, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera de Lyon, Opera North, Royal Opera
House, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Sydney Opera House and Quanzhou Ballet, China. His films include
The Winter Guest, directed by Alan Rickman, an award winner at the Venice Film Festival.
Moir Leslie is best known for her long-running roles as Sophie Barlow and the Reverend Janet Fisher in The Archers, as
well as playing Anne de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice (BBC), Eva in For Services Rendered (Old Vic) and The Mollusc at
the Finborough Theatre; Jamie Hinde has just finished playing Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap (St. Martins Theatre).
Recent stage credits include Ed in the London Disney Production of The Lion King, Clifford in Henry VI – Part III, Edward
II, Much Ado About Nothing (all Royal Shakespeare Company), Twelfth Night (Oxford Stage Company), The Madness of
King George (Royal National Theatre) and as Eric in An Inspector Calls, directed by Stephen Daldry; Andrew Boxer’s
stage credits include various roles at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, Oxford Playhouse and the Belgrade Theatre,
Coventry; Nicola Wright’s recent credits include roles for The Steam Industry, BBC, Channel 4 Television and Talkback
118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED Telephone +44 (0)20 7244 7439 Fax +44 (0)20 7835 1853
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Artistic Director Neil McPherson
e-mail admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk
The Finborough Theatre is managed by The Steam Industry. Registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee, no. 3448268.
Registered Charity no. 1071304. Registered address: 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED. A member of the Independent Theatre Council.
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finboroughtheatre
Thames; Paul Critoph’s many stage credits include many productions for Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Greenwich Theatre,
Tobacco Factory and The Steam Industry; Daniel Abelson’s many stage credits includes productions at West Yorkshire
Playhouse, Chichester Festival Theatre, Manchester Contact Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, and Opera North; Sarah
Feather’s recent stage credits include productions at BAC, Southwark Playhouse, and The Steam Industry; Victoria
Gee’s stage credits include Billy Liar (Liverpool Playhouse), Hobson’s Choice (Chichester Arts Festival) and The Lower
Depths at the Finborough Theatre; Lachlan Nieboer’s TV credits include Torchwood (BBC).
The Press on Phil Willmott’s productions at the Finborough Theatre
“Phil Willmott's excellent revival” Michael Billington, The Guardian on Loyalties
“Phil Willmott’s graceful and impeccably detailed production” Lucy Powell, Time Out on Loyalties
“Willmott’s production is gripping and pacey” Sam Marlowe, The Times on Loyalties
“Phil Willmott proves why he is one of the most versatile, best and amazingly prolific directors around… “ The Guardian
"It's hard to top a Phil Willmott show" The Daily Mail
“This triumphant revival…a production bursting with theatrical atmosphere” Carole Woddis, What’s on in London
onTrelawny
“An exuberant celebration of the irrepressible urge to make theatre” Michael Portillo, The New Statesman on Trelawny
“This is a serious, stimulating and timely revival.” Paul Taylor, The Independent on The Lower Depths
“An accomplished, intelligent staging.” Sam Marlowe, The Times on The Lower Depths
“This incisive production” Sarah Hemming, Financial Times on The Lower Depths
“Phil Willmott’s fast, punchy production” Mark Shenton, The Stage on F***ing Men
“Phil Willmott’s direction is impressively sleek” Lucy Powell, Time Out on F***ing Men
PRESS NIGHT: THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2009 AT 7.30PM
PHOTOCALL: TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 2009 AT 1.00PM–1.30PM
Finborough Theatre, The Finborough, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED
Box Office 0844 847 1652 Book online at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Tuesday, 14 April – Saturday, 9 May 2009
Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.00pm. Saturday Matinees at 3.00pm (from 25 April).
Tickets £13, £9 concessions, except Tuesday Evenings £9 all seats, and Saturday evenings £13 all seats.
Previews (14 and 15 April) £9 all seats.
Performance Length: Approximately 2 hours.
For more information, interviews and images, please contact
Neil McPherson on e-mail admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk or 07977 173135
Press releases and images are available to download from www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/pressresources.htm
118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED Telephone +44 (0)20 7244 7439 Fax +44 (0)20 7835 1853
www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
Artistic Director Neil McPherson
e-mail admin@finboroughtheatre.co.uk
The Finborough Theatre is managed by The Steam Industry. Registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee, no. 3448268.
Registered Charity no. 1071304. Registered address: 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9ED. A member of the Independent Theatre Council.