What's your favourite Gershwin song? Actor and Frank Sinatra mega-fan Adam Scott Pringle is in no doubt... and he's pretty chuffed that he gets to croon it to co-star Charlotte Christensen in a rare production of 1927's STRIKE UP THE BAND at Upstairs at the Gatehouse this month...
Written with George S Kaufman in 1927, the original script for Strike Up The Band was rewritten by Morrie Ryskind in 1930. This production presents the original, with the dark satire on America’s war-mongering over a trade deal re-established.
In 1927, Horace J Fletcher is a typical self-made American businessman. His cheese factory dominates the market, he influences the White House, and he’s secured his business future by agreeing to marry his daughter, Joan, to his factory manager. He does have one problem. Switzerland has the audacity to protest America’s heavy new tariff on imported cheese.
Fletcher convinces the US government to declare war, backing it with his bucks. Jim Townsend, a newspaperman, suspects all may not be wholesome, but he and Joan fall for each other. Will making the world safe for American cheese be more than just a walk in the Alps?
Strike Up the Band runs from 6 to 31 March 2019 at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD, with performances Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 4pm. Tickets are priced £16-£20. Phone 020 8340 3488 or CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
Talking to... Adam Scott Pringle
A graduate of the London School of Musical Theatre, Adam's previous credits include Spend Spend Spend, Stand & Deliver, Rumpy Pumpy, Saucy Jack & the Space Vixens, There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis, Newsrevue, Bluebird and Day After Day: The Doris Day Story.
Tell us about your character in Strike Up the Band.
Timothy Harper is a young man full of optimism and Foreman of Fletchers Cheese Factory. He strives to impress the boss Mr Fletcher (played by Richard Emerson) and struggles to commit to his love, Anne Draper (Charlotte Christensen), who wants to get married quickly even though she’s 17 and he’s 21.
Why should people come to see the show?
Myself and the rest of the cast are very excited for people to see this hidden gem. Written in 1927, this musical really could have been written last year with the satire of a bizarre political state and beautiful songs that will go around your head for weeks.
What's the funniest thing that happened in rehearsals?
The silliness of the script kept us giggling for the three weeks of rehearsal. Going to war for cheese... hysterical! Personally, I also find it funny that I can still pass for 21!
What's your favourite Gershwin song & why?
My favourite Gershwin song is definitely I’ve Got A Crush On You. I am a huge Frank Sinatra fan and this has been on a special playlist, ever since I had an old school iPod 12 years ago. What is even better is I am very lucky to be singing the song as a duet with Charlotte Christensen in the show!
Enter to win by 11 March
Tell us your favourite Gershwin song and you could win one of five pairs of tickets to Strike Up the Band. Deadline for entry is 11am on Monday 11 March 2019.
