BAZ BAMIGBOYE: The Good Life beckons for IT-girl Katherine Parkinson after she lands role in stage version of classic ’70s sitcom

Forty-five years after The Good Life became comedy gold on television, the landmark sitcom, which pioneered the notion of eco- awareness, is heading to the stage.

The BBC show ran for four series, between 1975 and 1978, and made household names of Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington. 

But it seems to have been on a continuous loop for nearly half a century because it’s always popping up on various channels.

The cast of The Good Life in the Seventies. From left to right shows Richard Briers as Tom Good, Felicity Kendal as Barbara Good, Paul Eddington as Gerry Leadbetter and Penelope Keith as Margo Leadbetter

Created by writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, The Good Life followed disillusioned designer Tom Good who, with the help of his wife Barbara, abandoned a corporate lifestyle and turned their suburban home and garden (in Surbiton, Surrey, of course) into a smallholding with livestock and veg, though wringing a chicken’s neck wasn’t up their street.

Tom and Barbara were played by Briers and Kendal, with Keith and Eddington as their snooty neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter.

Jeremy Sams has written a play based on Esmonde and Larbey’s work. He will direct a production that has so far cast Katherine Parkinson as Barbara Good. 

She has already carved out a career as an acclaimed thespian, having won major awards for her comic portraits on television in The IT Crowd, Doc Martin and Humans.

Katherine Parkinson (pictured) has been cast in the production as Barbara Good

She also starred in Laura Wade’s Olivier award-winning play Home, I’m Darling, which was a huge hit for Theatr Clwyd and the National Theatre.

Parkinson was clearly cast by director Sams and producers at the Fiery Angel theatre company for her talent — but they must have been tickled by the fact that she grew up in Surbiton.

The Good Life is negotiating to run for three weeks in June at the Theatre Royal, Bath, after which it will hopefully have a future life in the West End.

The production arrives at a time of heightened environmental awareness.

Edward Snape, of Fiery Angel, said the theatre in Bath isn’t officially confirmed until ‘we have a cast’.

Fun Home run for Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal and a team of creative collaborators are working on a film version of the celebrated musical Fun Home, based on illustrator Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir about her bittersweet relationship with her father.

Fun Home featured lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori. It was developed at the Public Theater in New York and won five Tony Awards, including best musical, when it transferred to Broadway. In 2018 it had a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at the Young Vic.


Jake Gyllenhaal (pictured) and a team of creative collaborators are working on a film version of the celebrated musical Fun Home

Gyllenhaal would play Bruce Bechdel, Alison’s conflicted, closeted father, who was a part-time English teacher and also ran his family’s funeral home in Pennsylvania. The film is being developed by Gyllenhaal’s business partner Riva Marker, who runs his Nine Stories production company.

It may shoot later this year or next. Sam Gold, who directed the stage show in the U.S. and London, will also direct the picture.

Gyllenhaal became fascinated with Fun Home when it was on in New York. (He and Ms Tesori were friends after working on a production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday In The Park With George.)

The Ambassador Theatre Group is taking Sunday In The Park, starring Gyllenhaal, to the Savoy Theatre in May.

 

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