Birthday blues in Dr Johnson’s finale
The not so true tales of Dr Samuel Johnson reach their climax in the two final episodes of ‘Dr Johnson’s WikiWords’, to be performed on September 29.
Just a week after official celebrations in the Market Square to mark the birthday of Lichfield’s most famous son, the last two performances of local writer Mal Dewhirst’s irreverent sitcom take place at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.
Tickets are available at £10 for performances of the last two episodes at 7pm and 8.15pm, followed by a chance to discuss the work with the cast at 9.30pm.
This finale to the three-part sitcom sees Johnson infuriated that the advent of the new Gregorian calendar will obliterate eleven days from the year – eleven days that include Johnson’s own birthday.
Egged on by the wily James Boswell, Johnson hatches a plan to derail the new calendar and black the eye of its main backer, his arch-enemy Lord Chesterfield. His plan, dubbed ‘Sexit’, is to whip up support in Staffordshire to exit the new calendar.
The play offers the audience laughter, slapstick and witty wordplay, all set against the authentic backdrop of the elegant Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.
Writer Mal Dewhirst said: “My aim with this series of plays was to reinvent Dr Johnson for a modern audience and sweep away the impression that he is someone ‘dry and dusty’.
“Although Dr Johnson is famous for producing the first definitive English dictionary, the English language is forever changing and evolving and I wanted to reflect this by mixing up the language the characters use – so the audience will hear delightful 18th century insults used alongside 21st century tech slang.
“Boswell himself died of syphilis, so we know Johnson and Boswell were no saints. That’s why I bring them right down from their pedestals in these plays. They had as much fun as anyone else and I want the audience to see that, and hopefully have some fun themselves too.”
Museum spokesperson Jo Wilson said: “It has been wonderful having Fired Up Theatre as theatre in residence for the museum this year. ‘Dr Johnson’s Wiki-Words has combined the talents of local writers and performers to entertain and delight the local community. Here at the Museum we love to introduce new audiences to Johnson and his work and Fired-up theatre’s clever scripts explore both modern and old words in a fun and exciting way”.
Tickets for the performances on September 29 are available now at £10 each or £8 for students on 01543 264972, or from the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum bookshop.
