The National Theatre of Great
Britain's production of Tom Stoppard's Jumpers comes to Broadway
for a 15-week engagement this spring. The play is described
as "a dazzling philosophic debate and crackling murder
mystery," whose elements include an ill-fated moon landing,
a naked lady on a swing, a dead body in a closet, a pyramid
of acrobats, an onstage band, and a trained tortoise on the
loose. It concerns George Moore, a professor of philosophy
who is struggling to write a speech about moral absolutes
and the existence of God, while coping with the distraction
of his mentally unbalanced wife, Dorothy, who is a musical
comedy star, and the murder investigation being conducted
in their bedroom.
The production will feature the rest of the National Theatre
principals, including Nicky Henson (Archie), Eliza Lumley
(Secretary), John Rogan (Crouch) and Nicholas Woodeson (Bones).
The titular jumpers, a team of gymnastic members of the Philosophy
School - or are they the philosophical members of the gymnastics
team? - include Michael Arnold, Andrew Asnes, Clark Scott
Carmichael, Tom Hildebrand, Michael Hollick, Don Johanson,
Joseph P. McDonnell, Hillel Meltzer, Zachary Oberzan and Aaron
Vexler. Understudies are John Curless, Crista Moore, Tony
Carlin and Julian Gamble.
Tom Stoppard’s JUMPERS is an outrageous comedy, crackling
murder mystery, and musical spectacle, all at once. The elements
include an ill-fated moon landing, a naked lady on a swing,
a dead body in the closet, a pyramid of acrobats, an onstage
band and a trained tortoise on the loose.
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