The Complete Beyond the Fringe
"In the history of theatrical revue in Britain the night of 10th May, 1961, when Beyond the Fringe opened at the Fortune Theatre in London, represents a landmark. The show played for several years to packed and delighted houses and later transferred to Broadway. Not only did it introduce four brilliantly gifted, likable, and immensely funny writer-performers, whose careers have burgeoned diversely since then. It also changed the face of revue and re-established social and political satire in England as recognised and powerful weapons in the armoury of the comedian. The original script of the show itself, out of print for many years, contains some of the funniest writing in England since the war. From Alan Bennett's cleric to Peter Cook's miner, from Dudley Moore's parody of Britten to Jonathan Miller's saga of the blue trousers, it sparkles with classic gems of wit and nonsense. This volume also contains the music of Dudley Moore's songs, the texts of a number of the sketches included in the subsequent Broadway production, and account of the performance history of the show by Roger Wilmut and new postscripts, written 25 years later, by three of the authors"--Back cover.
While the original stage show was recorded for television, there isn't a direct film adaptation of the entire revue. However, many of the performers went on to have significant careers in film and television, often incorporating similar comedic styles.
This volume provides the complete scripts, including material from both the original Edinburgh Festival run and the subsequent London and Broadway productions. It also includes additional context about the show's development and impact, offering insight into its historical significance.
The collection features the lyrics and some context for Dudley Moore's songs, which were an integral part of the original revue. It allows readers to appreciate the full scope of the performances, including the musical elements.