About

On the eve of his engagement, charming Lord Arthur Savile has his palm read at a glittering society party. The verdict? He is destined to commit a murder. And being a decent, honourable gentleman that he is, he decides the only responsible course of action is to get it over with before the wedding.

That's the start of the play that the Ilkley Playhouse is supposed to be putting on, under the watchful eye of Director Paul Canning, who is - lazily, or refreshingly depending on how you see his directing career to date - taking inspiration for his production from a 1960 televised adaptation of Oscar Wilde's story. What follows is an escalating farce: poisonings that won’t poison and bombs that won’t explode, against a backdrop of props that aren't ready, a woefully miscast company, and a director who will stop at nothing to bring his most ambitious ever production to the stage.

Think Acorn Antiques meets Noises Off meets the wit of Oscar Wilde.

This production contains comic references to attempted murder, and may include loud noises and some robust language