The Last Laugh
From an original play by KOKI MITANI
Adapted by RICHARD HARRIS
Directed by BOB TOMSON
CAST：MARTIN FREEMAN ROGER LLOYD PACK
SCHEDULE：wed,July 11,2007 until sun,July 22,2007
＜English presentation with Japanese subtitles＞
The original English production of THE LAST LAUGH comes to JAPAN!
Prior to London’s West End!
Koki Mitani rewrote the original play as「WARAI-NO-DAIGAKU- International Version」to be translated to English by Linda Hoagland, and a veteran writer Richard Harris who is widely known by his plays such as STEPPIN’ OUT adapted it based on the English translation. Bob Tomson, who is not only familiar to the English theater world but to the Japanese audience as well by his direction of the plays such as BLOOD BROTHERS and SCROOGE, directed it, making his long-held aspiration of directing this play come true.
While keeping the charm and appeal of the original production of WARAI NO DAIGAKU unchanged, this English version has realized a universal production played by English actors.
In this version, the role of the writer is played by Martin Freeman, who is popular in Japan, too, with his appearances in a TV program THE OFFICE and a film LOVE ACTUALLY. The censor is Roger Lloyd-Pack, a veteran comedy actor who is also a familiar face in ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, a long-running comedy in English TV and the film HARRY POTTER- GOBLET OF FIRE. The two brilliant comedy actors are paired together in this production.
We started the rehearsals in the beginning of January and opened on January 30 at the Theatre Royal Windsor in Windsor, approximately one hour away from London. Having completed the domestic tour with 32 performances in four cities in England, it has been honored with fabulous five-star reviews appeared on local papers, and is now ready and waiting to open on West End in January next year.
Prior to the West End opening, we are really delighted to have this wonderful and special opportunity to present this original English company to the Japanese audience. Do not miss to witness this epoch-making moment of Koki Mitani to open the door to the world’s theater.
＜Tokyo＞
PLACE：PARCO theater
PRICE：8,400 Yen(tax included)/All seats reserved
TICKET SALES：Out on sat,June 9,2007
RUNNING TIME：Two hours, with one intermission
＜Osaka＞
PLACE：ION cosmetics theater BRAVA!
PRICE：S 7,800 Yen, A 5,000 Yen (tax included)/All seats reserved
TICKET SALES: Out on sat,June 9,2007
RUNNING TIME：Two hours, with one intermission
