The original vs the new
Sue flack saw the original Dinner for One sketch with Freddie Frinton and May Warden, one Christmas whilst visiting relatives in Germany and she immediately knew that it could be the perfect show for Escapade Theatre.
The 1963 sketch has the 90 year old Miss Sophie hosting an annual dinner for the friends she has outlived as her equally aged manservant tries to keep up the bravado, whilst toasting each and every course and guest.
Escapade wanted to transform the sketch into a full length theatre piece and take it from a music hall museum piece into a live, vibrant and full length comedy show. Over a period of 3 months, in 2002, the company set about developing the story.
The first thing that struck them was that Mr. Pommeroy, Mr. Winterbottom and Sir Toby were all very similar and perhaps not very interesting enough to bring alive. They asked themselves the question “What happens if we change the guests? If they become real characters whom James reincarnates for Miss Sophie like never before?”
With that premise Escapade created a series of excruciatingly funny characters to accompany Miss Sophie on her birthday. Monsieur LeBoeuff, the French chef, Signori Tagliatelli, the Italian opera singer, Don Juan de la Muerte, the Spanish bullfighter and the old stalwart Admiral Von Schneider all contribute to make an hilarious new comedy.
Escapade has succeeded in creating their own “original” Dinner for One, full of magical interpretation, skillful physicality, witty dialogue and awe inspiring mime, whilst at the same time keeping true to faith with the favourite classic comedy moments like the ever present tiger-skin rug, the classic toasts with the crucial exchange “The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie? -The same procedure as every year, James! “ and the ever increasing difficulty James has in pouring the drinks.
The result: an overwhelmingly entertaining evening had by all, including the tiger skin rug!
