Jeeves and Wooster headed to London's West End this Fall

On: June 7, 2013, By: Bill Young

It only took just shy of 100 years, but the works of PG Wodehouse will finally see the light of day on the London stage with the first theatre adaptation of the books by PG Wodehouse, widely recognized as one of the great humorists of the 20th Century. Perfect Nonsense, based on Wodehouse’s 1938 novel ‘The Code of the Woosters’, will hit the stage this Fall beginning in October at the Richmond Theatre (10 to 19 October) and then the Theatre Royal Brighton (22 to 26 October) before it settles in for a run at the Duke of York’s in London’s West End beginning 30 October.

Widely known for the early 90’s television adaptation which starred the great Stephen Fry (Jeeves) and equally as great Hugh Laurie (Wooster), this new production will feature the likes of Matthew Macfadyen (Spooks, Pride and Prejudice, Ripper Street) as the brainy valet Jeeves with Stephen Mangan (Dirk Gently, Episodes) as the charmingly incompetent man-about-town and member of the idle rich, Bertie Wooster. With the blessing of the Wodehouse Estate in tow and Macfadyen and Mangan involved, this is going to be must-see theatre this Fall.

Perfect Nonsense, which sees Bertie forced into stealing an item from his uncle’s prized silver collection while the threat of marriage hangs over his head, has been adapted for the stage by Robert and David Goodale and will be directed by Sean Foley (The Ladykillers).

Macfadyen called the play “an absolute hoot – a wonderfully crafted and joyful bit of perfect nonsense“.

Mangan, who confessed that he had never read any PG Wodehouse before he was approached about the role said: “I am ridiculously excited at the prospect of playing the mentally negligible Bertie Wooster on stage and can hardly wait to stagger into the glorious sunshine of Wodehouse’s world. And with Jeeves, in the shape of Matthew Macfadyen by my side, what could possibly go wrong“?

In: Actors/Actresses,Comedy

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