Pieces of Eight (1959 revue)

Pieces of Eight was a British musical comedy revue with sketches written by Peter Cook, music by Laurie Johnson and starring Kenneth Williams and Fenella Fielding.

Original programme, Apollo Theatre, 1959

The revue premiered at the Apollo Theatre, 23 September 1959 directed by Paddy Stone. Sets and costumes were designed by Tony Walton, lighting by Richard Pilbrow.^[1] Additional music was supplied by Sandy Wilson.^[2] The show also featured sketches written by Harold Pinter (unconnected to Pinter's later one-act play for a compendium of 8 plays by 8 playwrights also called Pieces of Eight which played in the US in 1982-1983), John Law and Lance Mulcahy.^[3][4] The full cast included Myra de Groot, Peter Reeves, Josephine Blake, Terence Theobald, Valerie Walsh, Peter Brett and the Frank Horrox Quintet.

A sequel One Over The Eight appeared in 1961.

References

1. London musical shows on record, 1889-1989 a hundred years of London's musical theatre. Robert Seeley, Rex Bunnett, Brian A. L. Rust - 1989
2. Darl Larsen - Monty Python's Flying Circus 1461669707 2008 "Wilson may have come to the Pythons' attention when he wrote music for Peter Cook's various revues, including Pieces of Eight."
3. Peter Cook, William Cook Tragically I Was an Only Twin: The Comedy of Peter Cook -- 2013 - Page 4 1446429628 "That show was Pieces of Eight, which Peter wrote at his family home during the summer holidays. ... new material, including a sketch suggested by Williams himself, about a xenophobe in a continental restaurant, and several sketches by an obscure playwright called Harold Pinter."
4. Plays and Players - Volume 7 1959 From the Apollo to the Fireside Pieces of Eight. An intimate revue with sketches by Peter Cook and additional material by Harold Pinter, Sandy Wilson, John Law and Lance Mulcahy. Directed by Paddy Stone.

External links

• The Guide to Musical Theatre