GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT
Marcus Brigstocke — one of my favourite broadcasters — is trying to stretch himself, one foot at a time.
Brigstocke has been cast to play famed american showman P . t. Barnum in a rare London revival of the cy coleman and Michael stewart musical Barnum.
one of the show’s most famous songs is there’s a sucker Born ev’ry Minute; and i wondered if Brigstocke had taken that number to heart.
He laughed. ‘i’ve always tried to stretch myself and do new things and accept new challenges,’ he told me.
the show famously features a big top with a tightrope (though how that will fit into the tiny Menier chocolate Factory theatre, near London Bridge, where it runs from November 18, remains to be seen).
to get ready for his role, Brig - stocke has rigged a high wire — or rather a low wire — in the lounge of his south London home. ‘the furniture has been pushed aside and i have to be really careful when i fall off, not to fall on any number of things.’
Director gordon greenberg and Mark Bramble, who wrote the show’s book, have worked to bring more focus to Barnum’s marriage.
Laura Pitt-Pulford will play his wife, charity, who has to perform some juggling tricks. ‘i might have to invest in some oranges for practice,’ she joked.
the actress took a little break from musicals to do some ‘straight’ acting, with Platinum at the Hampstead and a tour of Nell gwynn. ‘it gave the voice a rest,’ she said. (Last year and the year before she did a run of back -to-back musicals including seven Brides F or seven Brothers, the smallest show on earth, oliver!, Flowers F or Mrs Harris, and side show.)
she has also been filming the drama Free rein for Netflix.