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| The Only West End Show Still Standing | The Only West End Show Still Standing |
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| NETHER WHITACRE, England — Last Tuesday, Morgan Philpott and Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company were in the middle of rehearsing the latest “Horrible Histories” show: a highly successful family theater series in Britain where the country’s past is explained with the aid of fart jokes. | NETHER WHITACRE, England — Last Tuesday, Morgan Philpott and Neal Foster of the Birmingham Stage Company were in the middle of rehearsing the latest “Horrible Histories” show: a highly successful family theater series in Britain where the country’s past is explained with the aid of fart jokes. |
| They had meant to be in a London studio, but coronavirus had caused a change of plan. They were now rehearsing the two-actor, multicharacter show in Foster’s living room, watched over by a collection of china figurines and a family portrait. | They had meant to be in a London studio, but coronavirus had caused a change of plan. They were now rehearsing the two-actor, multicharacter show in Foster’s living room, watched over by a collection of china figurines and a family portrait. |
| The pair had spent much of the morning running through material added to the script to reflect life in the pandemic, such as a routine where Henry VIII’s lusty efforts to attract a wife are thwarted by social distancing. | The pair had spent much of the morning running through material added to the script to reflect life in the pandemic, such as a routine where Henry VIII’s lusty efforts to attract a wife are thwarted by social distancing. |
| But then they got to a scene where Philpott, as that king, had to throw a doll over his shoulder. His first attempt was halfhearted, the doll landing gently on a sofa. His second was anything but: Philpott threw the toy with such force, it smashed straight into a light fitting, sending glass over the carpet. | But then they got to a scene where Philpott, as that king, had to throw a doll over his shoulder. His first attempt was halfhearted, the doll landing gently on a sofa. His second was anything but: Philpott threw the toy with such force, it smashed straight into a light fitting, sending glass over the carpet. |
| Philpott swore loudly. “You don’t get that in London,” he said. Foster told him not to worry. “I’m sure it’ll be covered by my house insurance,” he said. | Philpott swore loudly. “You don’t get that in London,” he said. Foster told him not to worry. “I’m sure it’ll be covered by my house insurance,” he said. |
| “Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain” is, technically, the only West End show still standing after coronavirus, which closed all London’s theaters in March. Next month, the show — they are all written by Foster, and based on the children’s books by Terry Deary — was meant to start a run at London’s Apollo Theater. It is still going ahead, Foster said, except its run will now start July 4 in an altogether different location: the parking lot of Powderham Castle, a visitor attraction about 200 miles west of Britain’s capital city. | “Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain” is, technically, the only West End show still standing after coronavirus, which closed all London’s theaters in March. Next month, the show — they are all written by Foster, and based on the children’s books by Terry Deary — was meant to start a run at London’s Apollo Theater. It is still going ahead, Foster said, except its run will now start July 4 in an altogether different location: the parking lot of Powderham Castle, a visitor attraction about 200 miles west of Britain’s capital city. |
| It’ll then travel to other parking lots across Britain and Northern Ireland playing to drive-in audiences, who’ll stay sat in their cars. If anyone goes to the toilet, they will have to stay two meters (about six feet) away from others, as required by the British government’s social distancing rules. | It’ll then travel to other parking lots across Britain and Northern Ireland playing to drive-in audiences, who’ll stay sat in their cars. If anyone goes to the toilet, they will have to stay two meters (about six feet) away from others, as required by the British government’s social distancing rules. |
| The change of location had forced Foster into some rigorous cost-cutting, he said, starting by doing the rehearsals in his home among hundreds of costumes for his theater company’s other productions. | The change of location had forced Foster into some rigorous cost-cutting, he said, starting by doing the rehearsals in his home among hundreds of costumes for his theater company’s other productions. |
| The fact the show was going ahead at all is, though, one of the few bits of good news British theater has had recently. Since March, newspapers here have been filled with articles warning that theaters face financial ruin without government assistance because they can’t make a profit until social distancing is removed. | The fact the show was going ahead at all is, though, one of the few bits of good news British theater has had recently. Since March, newspapers here have been filled with articles warning that theaters face financial ruin without government assistance because they can’t make a profit until social distancing is removed. |
| “British theater is on the brink of total collapse,” wrote the producer Sonia Friedman in The Daily Telegraph. “I know it sounds melodramatic,” she added, “but it is a statement of fact.” Several major theaters, including Shakespeare’s Globe, have issued similar warnings, as have stars like the director Sam Mendes. | “British theater is on the brink of total collapse,” wrote the producer Sonia Friedman in The Daily Telegraph. “I know it sounds melodramatic,” she added, “but it is a statement of fact.” Several major theaters, including Shakespeare’s Globe, have issued similar warnings, as have stars like the director Sam Mendes. |
| On June 9, Oliver Dowden, Britain’s culture secretary, told The Evening Standard newspaper that help was coming. “Of course I want to get the money flowing,” he said. “I am not going to let anyone down.” But that vague promise has not stopped the talk of crisis. Cameron Mackintosh, the theater impresario behind shows like “Les Misérables,” had started consulting staff about potential redundancies, a spokeswoman said. | On June 9, Oliver Dowden, Britain’s culture secretary, told The Evening Standard newspaper that help was coming. “Of course I want to get the money flowing,” he said. “I am not going to let anyone down.” But that vague promise has not stopped the talk of crisis. Cameron Mackintosh, the theater impresario behind shows like “Les Misérables,” had started consulting staff about potential redundancies, a spokeswoman said. |
| Foster said his show was not a sign the crisis in British theater has been overplayed, just as the boom in drive-in movies or drive-in discos did not mean there wasn’t a crisis in those areas of culture. “I don’t think theaters will be open until at least next spring,” he said. The simple reason to do the car park shows, he added, was “just to do something,” to keep telling stories and bring in money to pay his staff and freelancers. | Foster said his show was not a sign the crisis in British theater has been overplayed, just as the boom in drive-in movies or drive-in discos did not mean there wasn’t a crisis in those areas of culture. “I don’t think theaters will be open until at least next spring,” he said. The simple reason to do the car park shows, he added, was “just to do something,” to keep telling stories and bring in money to pay his staff and freelancers. |
| Philpott, who had been hired just for this series of shows, agreed. His first thought after being offered the job was, he said: “‘Flippin’ heck, I’m going to be able to pay my mortgage next month.’” | Philpott, who had been hired just for this series of shows, agreed. His first thought after being offered the job was, he said: “‘Flippin’ heck, I’m going to be able to pay my mortgage next month.’” |
| Some London theaters are trying to get plays restarted, but in much altered form. Beginning June 26, the Old Vic Theater is streaming performances of “Lungs,” starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith. The actors will perform in the empty theater, but tickets are being sold as if it were a normal performance, with people asked to pay for a specific seat at prices of up to £65, about $80. | Some London theaters are trying to get plays restarted, but in much altered form. Beginning June 26, the Old Vic Theater is streaming performances of “Lungs,” starring Claire Foy and Matt Smith. The actors will perform in the empty theater, but tickets are being sold as if it were a normal performance, with people asked to pay for a specific seat at prices of up to £65, about $80. |
| And the popular immersive version of “The Great Gatsby” plans to reopen in London in October, but with 90 guests per show (down from 240), and without dancing a Charleston that requires strangers to touch. | And the popular immersive version of “The Great Gatsby” plans to reopen in London in October, but with 90 guests per show (down from 240), and without dancing a Charleston that requires strangers to touch. |
| Updated July 23, 2020 | |
| In telephone interviews, the artistic directors of several London theaters, including the Royal Court and Young Vic, said they were examining ideas to create some form of theatrical experiences, such as staging one-off events outside this summer, dependent on financial assistance or philanthropy. But so far no one had got as far as the “Horrible Histories” events being organized by Car Park Party, a new company. | In telephone interviews, the artistic directors of several London theaters, including the Royal Court and Young Vic, said they were examining ideas to create some form of theatrical experiences, such as staging one-off events outside this summer, dependent on financial assistance or philanthropy. But so far no one had got as far as the “Horrible Histories” events being organized by Car Park Party, a new company. |
| Foster said he had no problem performing on a lorry to cars. It might even make for a better show, he said. “Sometimes in the West End, you get a group who’ve had to trudge in on the Underground and they sit in the front row, arms crossed, and you look down and think, ‘Why did you come?’” | Foster said he had no problem performing on a lorry to cars. It might even make for a better show, he said. “Sometimes in the West End, you get a group who’ve had to trudge in on the Underground and they sit in the front row, arms crossed, and you look down and think, ‘Why did you come?’” |
| “This will be totally different,” he added. “It’s so ridiculous and unusual and a one-off, I’ve got a feeling everyone will be up for it.” | “This will be totally different,” he added. “It’s so ridiculous and unusual and a one-off, I’ve got a feeling everyone will be up for it.” |
| Foster insisted that the change of venue wouldn’t impact the show’s content, but Britain’s rule on social distancing was proving a little harder for he and his co-star to manage. During the rehearsal, they ran through a scene based on the life of Guy Fawkes. At one point, Philpott had to creep up behind Foster and light a barrel of gunpowder he was holding. | Foster insisted that the change of venue wouldn’t impact the show’s content, but Britain’s rule on social distancing was proving a little harder for he and his co-star to manage. During the rehearsal, they ran through a scene based on the life of Guy Fawkes. At one point, Philpott had to creep up behind Foster and light a barrel of gunpowder he was holding. |
| “Ah, this is tricky,” Foster said. “How can you do that without you getting too close?” The two stood in silence for a moment. “Maybe we could get a really long match,” Philpott said, with a laugh. | “Ah, this is tricky,” Foster said. “How can you do that without you getting too close?” The two stood in silence for a moment. “Maybe we could get a really long match,” Philpott said, with a laugh. |
| Forster said that the coronavirus had also forced him to tone down a scene about the Black Death, the pandemic that ravaged Britain in the 14th century. But it did not seem that way during the rehearsal. “The bubonic plague?” Philpott said at one point, reading off the script. “Thank goodness things like that don’t happen today.” | Forster said that the coronavirus had also forced him to tone down a scene about the Black Death, the pandemic that ravaged Britain in the 14th century. But it did not seem that way during the rehearsal. “The bubonic plague?” Philpott said at one point, reading off the script. “Thank goodness things like that don’t happen today.” |
| The pair then rehearsed the scene, which detailed crackpot remedies to cure and avoid catching the plague: from drinking treacle to rubbing a toy chicken’s posterior on your face. | The pair then rehearsed the scene, which detailed crackpot remedies to cure and avoid catching the plague: from drinking treacle to rubbing a toy chicken’s posterior on your face. |
| The scene was very funny, but felt close to the bone given some of the crackpot cures that have been suggested for coronavirus. Foster said afterward that he hadn’t ever considered dropping the scene. It had a message for today. “The story of the plague is, ‘We survived it,’ he said. “It was horrific, much more than coronavirus, but we did.” | The scene was very funny, but felt close to the bone given some of the crackpot cures that have been suggested for coronavirus. Foster said afterward that he hadn’t ever considered dropping the scene. It had a message for today. “The story of the plague is, ‘We survived it,’ he said. “It was horrific, much more than coronavirus, but we did.” |