MANCHESTER, NH — theatre KAPOW continues the ARTiculate Playreading Series in partnership with the Currier Museum of Art on Sunday, November 11 at 2 p.m. “On the Ceiling” by Nigel Planer will be read in conjunction with the Currier’s special exhibition Myth and Faith in Renaissance Florence.
High up on the wooden scaffolding tower of the Sistine Chapel, two fresco plasterers get on with the day’s work preparing the ceiling for their boss Michelangelo who has not bothered to turn up for work again. So who has to cover for him? Like any big project, it’s the little guys, the professionals, the men who’ve been doing this kind of thing all their lives. As for gratitude, they’ll be lucky if they even get paid! Pope Julius and Cardinal Alidosi visit the chapel to inspect the progress of their commission. They are never very impressed, and the Pope is more concerned about getting Michelangelo to do his funeral monument at a knock-down price.
On the Ceiling is not about great artists; it is about those people whose names don’t go down in history: the ones who do the essential drudge work, their frustration at their lack of genius and their pride in their own technical expertise. In this version of events, low elements combine to make high art.
The reading of On the Ceiling by Nigel Planer features Rich Hurley and Glenn Provost and is directed by Matt Cahoon. A discussion will be led by Dr. Landis K. Magnuson, Professor of Theater at Saint Anselm College.
Admission to the readings and participation in the discussions is free with museum admission ($15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students). Passes for reduced admission to the museum may be checked out from more than 90 public libraries across the state. Students, faculty and staff from nine area schools and colleges receive free admission to the museum.
About Nigel Planer
Nigel Planer is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright who played Neil in the cult BBC comedy The Young Ones and Ralph Filthy in Filthy Rich & Catflap. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including original casts of Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He is a founding member of the London Comedy Store and original member of The Comic Strip – pioneers of the alternative comedy movement in the United Kingdom.He won a BRIT award in 1984 and has been nominated for Olivier, TMA, What’s On Stage, and BAFTA awards. Planer is also the author of several books, plays, radio plays, and TV scripts as well as a small volume of poetry. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Edinburgh Napier University in June 2011.
About theatre KAPOW
theatre KAPOW (www.tkapow.com) develops ensemble productions of great dramatic literature to explore the human experience and inspire and challenge both artist and audience. tKAPOW places emphasis on the importance of rigorous formal training to develop an ensemble of skilled and dedicated theatre artists.
Now in its eleventh season, tKAPOW has established a reputation for presenting important dramatic literature including productions by August Strindberg, Henrik Ibsen, Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Sarah Ruhl, and Tony Kushner. In January, tKAPOW won the NH Theatre Award for Best Production of a Play for year’s Exit the King. In 2014 and 2015, tKAPOW won Best Production of a Play for Penelope by Enda Walsh and Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies. tKAPOW also devised and created new works of theatre such as Raining Aluminum and A Story that Cuts Like a Knife. The editors of New Hampshire Magazine named theatre KAPOW the Best Contemporary Theatre in New Hampshire for 2013.
Visit www.tkapow.com to learn more.
