Dr Johnson brushes up on his Shakespeare in new comedy play
Two new comedy episodes of a home-grown dramatic sitcom are to be staged at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum on June 2.
The latest instalment of Lichfield playwright Mal Dewhirst’s irreverent play Dr Johnson’s WikiWords will be performed by the museum’s theatre in residence, Fired Up Theatre, with the curtain going up at 6.30pm and 8pm.
The witty sitcom kicked off in March this year with the first two episodes bringing the creation of Dr Johnson’s historic dictionary bang into the 21st century with an imaginative clash of past and present, fact and fiction.
June’s episodes will see the revered literary giant panicking as he grapples with his latest task – producing the definitive edition of the complete works of Shakespeare.
‘Brush up your Shakespeare’ takes on a whole new meaning as Johnson takes an improving pen to the Bard’s work. Meanwhile, a cast of wily hangers-on, led by streetwise ‘cool dude’ James Boswell, seek to bamboozle and exploit the unsuspecting man of words.
The audience will discover if the hapless Johnson manages to avoid jail when he ‘crowdfunds’ his endeavours without acknowledging his patrons and whether his parasitic entourage get their come-uppance for cashing in on his name and fame.
Organisers say they won’t know which century they’re in as the dialogue segues seamlessly from Shakespearean English to Facebook slang, and the slapstick action combines period costumes with some very modern props.
Paying homage to both ‘Blackadder’ and ‘Horrible Histories’, the play provides plenty to enjoy for fans of Dr Johnson as well as those who are completely new to him.
The third part of the sit-com, again consisting of two episodes, will take place on September 29.
Although the performances follow on from each other, all can be enjoyed as separate, stand-alone plays.
Tickets for the performance on June 2 are available now at £10 each (£8 students) on 01543 264972, or from the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum bookshop.
