08 Sep 2023
In his debut stage play, Michael Palin, writer of many of Monty Python’s greatest sketches and films, takes a sharp look at family values, served up with a generous helping of dark humour.
If you’ve ever had a family gathering that made you question your sanity, you’ll recognise the people in The Weekend, which opens the Company of Ten’s new season at the Abbey Theatre in September.
Stephen Febble epitomises world-weariness so when his family descends upon him for the weekend, he decides to be Mr Difficult to add a dash of drama. With his daughter, her dreary husband Alan, their precocious teenage daughter and incontinent dog all camping out at Stephen’s place, his patience runs thin. To cope with the madness, he reaches for his trusty whisky bottle.
In a personal message to the Company of Ten, Michael Palin said: “I’m delighted that the Abbey Theatre have chosen to bring The Weekend to St Albans, featuring a real dog as Pippa. My advice is to avoid sitting in the front few rows. There are, I’m told, humans in many of the other parts and I’m sure they’ll do St Albans proud in a play described by my mother as ‘a masterpiece’.”
While delighted at the words of support, The Company of Ten would like to reassure patrons that there is zero risk to those in the front rows. Jet, who is making his stage debut as “Pippa” is very sweet and remains on a lead during his scenes!
Rory Byrne, who plays the lead role of Stephen, added: “The family are coming for the weekend. Stephen will miss three films on Saturday and suffer their incontinent dog an his ultra-boring son-in-law.
“Throw in an unexpected dinner party. Nothing could be more pleasant. But nothing is not an option.”
Performances take place on the Abbey Theatre Main Stage from Friday–Saturday September 15-16 at 8pm, Sunday September 17 at 2.30pm, and Tuesday–Saturday 19-23 September at 8pm. Tickets from abbeytheatre.org.uk
