Nudity, fire and Nick Cage: An Appointment with the Wicker Man

 

Johnny McKnight, who plays Callum in the all-singing, all-horror, all-comedy production, answered a few of our questions, covering nudity, fire and Nicholas Cage. Never let it be said we don't know our audience. 

 

(Read all our comedy in theatre features here.)

 

To be honest, I didn't know the original until the offer of working on the show came through. After watching the film I was utterly bewildered at the prospect of how you stage a meta-comedic version of the movie. I found it, on first watching, unintentionally amusing, however, the ending still took my breath away. It moves from a Hammer house movie into something much more sinister and dark. That appealed to my sick sense of humour.  

 

I think Donny and Greg (the writers) have managed to make a loving homage to the movie. However, they've also been extremely clever in making it a show that can stand alone in its own right for those audience who haven’t seen the movie. The show is part-spoof, part-thriller, part-musical all served up with a lovely dose of comedy throughout.  

 

I would have to try and use nudity as a way to sell a show, it's so cheap. There's full frontal female nudity with authentic seventies pubic area. Come check it out!

 

There is fire, of course, there has to be. The audience don’t have to worry though, we don’t set fire to anyone there (unless they give us bad reviews then all bets are off!)

 

I know for a fact that about half the cast and production team have sat through it. I hold my hand up and say I didn’t. I heard he got put in a bee mask. That was enough to put me off renting it.  

 

We've had fantastic audiences so far. Greg has got a real following from his TV work but I think audiences will be really surprised by just how fantastic a theatre actor he is. You're going to see him like you've never seen him before.  

 

I think we've all got our own personal pick and mix variety of comedy that as actors we've brought to our parts. I wouldn’t like to say who I've personally stole from (I'll let you as an audience decide that for yourselves!)

 

 

Other comedy in theatre this summer...