| A Chorus of Disapproval | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Original window card, 1984 | |||
| Written by | Alan Ayckbourn | ||
| Date premiered | 2 May 1984 | ||
| Place premiered | Stephen Joseph Theatre (Westwood site) Scarborough, England | ||
| Original language | English | ||
| Subject | An amateur operatic society mirrorsThe Beggar's Opera | ||
| Genre | Comedy | ||
| Official site | |||
| Ayckbourn chronology | |||
| |||
A Chorus of Disapproval is a 1984play written by English playwrightAlan Ayckbourn.
The story follows a young widower, Guy Jones, as he joins an amateur operatic society that is putting onThe Beggar's Opera. He rapidly progresses through the ranks to become the male lead, while simultaneously conducting liaisons with several of the female cast. Many of the songs fromThe Beggar's Opera are kept within the play, usually being sung with their own, new context.
Ayckbourn wrote the work for the 1984 summer season at hisStephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, where it opened on 2 May.Peter Hall, director of theNational Theatre, London, had expressed an interest in the piece and Ayckbourn modified his initial concept to suit an eventual large-scale production; on 1 August 1985 it opened in the National's Olivier auditorium, with Ayckbourn directing,Michael Gambon playing amateur director Dafydd Llewellyn andBob Peck as newcomer Guy Jones. The female leads wereGemma Craven,Imelda Staunton andKelly Hunter.[1][2]
