Helicopter landing provides challenge (From Wharfedale Observer)

Helicopter landing provides challenge

12:15pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in Entertainment

King's Hall, Ilkley

The next Upstagers’ production at the King’s Hall in Ilkley will be Miss Saigon School Edition. This young and talented cast (11 to 19-year-olds) are from the local area, and for some this will be their final production before heading off to drama school or university.

Miss Saigon is based on Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. It is a West meets East, boy meets girl, love story between a 17-year-old, orphaned Vietnamese girl, Kim, and an American GI, Chris. The plot is set in the chaotic American retreat from Saigon in 1975. Kim and Chris meet in Dreamland, a nightclub, where she has just begun working as a showgirl.

As the cast get to grips with the plot, the politics and musical numbers such as The Movie in my Mind, The Last Night of the World and The American Dream, the Upstagers’ backstage crew have one of their toughest challenges yet... how to land a helicopter on the King’s Hall stage? Music is by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr and Alain Boublil.

Ticket prices are £13, £10 for concessions. The box office at the Upstagers Barn will open one week prior to the show, from 11am to 1pm, or call (01943) 607944 now for tickets. Performances from July 11 to 14 at 7.15pm, with a 2.15pm Saturday matinee.