Improbable Frequency
Tickets and Information
SHOW INFORMATION
CURRENTLY CLOSED
Opened Dec 4, 2008
Closed Jan 4, 2009
Opened Dec 4, 2008
Closed Jan 4, 2009
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Visit the Improbable Frequency website:
http://www.59E59.org
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WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
This hugely entertaining and successful musical comedy, Improbable Frequency -- winner of three Irish Times Theatre Awards including Best Production and Best Director -- is a joyous surreal satire that lifts the lid on Ireland's beloved neutrality and cuts to the heart of the tempestuous affair with its nearest neighbor - England!
While war rages across Europe, Dublin revels in its knife-edge neutrality as the fledgling Irish Free State tries to remain open for business. A hotbed of political and cultural bohemians, the city is host to a volatile mixture of exiled intellectuals, literary bar- lizards, British spies and Nazi sympathizers.
When coded messages, broadcast during an Irish radio-requests show, draw the attention of the British, a young code breaker called Tristram Faraday is sent across the Irish Sea to investigate. His enquiries lead him into a series of deeply improbable encounters, where the truth is more improbable than anyone could have imagined.
There are subversive agents to placate, comely maidens to seduce, and a plot fizzing with deals, capers and extraordinary war-time conspiracies. The show features book and lyrics by Arthur Riordan and music by Bell Helicopter, and is directed by Rough Magic Artistic Director Lynne Parker.
WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?
What are other members saying?
Odd, But Entertaining
As I went to Improbable Frequency expecting a rock musical, I was caught offguard by the opening number, sung British music hall style! But once I got into the spirit of the performance, I thoroughly enjoyed the first act--and thought parts of the pre-intermission show to be brilliant. The wordplay/puns were amusing glad they sung most of the best lines twice, so I could catch everything. The lead male performer plays British gentleman-geek perfectly and the rest of the cast, especiallyPhilomena, are charming and professional.
The 2nd act was a bit of a disappointment--the silliness overwhelmed the songs. Overall, Id give it 3 or 3.5 stars out of 5. But be warned--audience members whose first language isnt English will probabybe a bit lost/frustrated. My Chinese-born girlfriend HATED it.
Reviewed by BryantRousseau
on Saturday, Jan 3rd, 2009
RE: Improbable Frequency
This is a clever satire that is great fun! Small cast plays multiple roles with tons of talent and skillful direction. Lots of production value with surprising set and costumes. The small orchestra provides first rate accompaniment. The score is witty and well -sung, the choreography is fun and everyone in the audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Dont go expecting "serious" theater---this is a silly and gleeful romp.
Reviewed by marcydavis
on Friday, Dec 5th, 2008
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recommend, approve and/or guarantee such events, or any facts, views, advice and/or information contained therein.
©1999-2012 TheaterMania.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
Tristram Faraday (Peter Hanly), the protagonist of the darlin' musical Improbable Frequency, now at 59E59 Theatres under Lynne Parker's direction, is a crossword lover -- he calls himself a "cruciverbalist" -- whose devotion to the pastime incongruously leads him to become an MI5 spy in Dublin during World War II, when the Irish free state was supposed to be neutral but wasn't.
If librettist-lyricist Arthur Riordan dreamed up Faraday because he wanted to satirize his country's paranoid wartime concerns, he has succeeded merrily. Perhaps merrily to a fault, since he has almost too many rib-tickling notions, making the show a fair deal longer than it needs to be. On the other hand, too much[...]