Harriet Thorpe and Tim Flavin play the roles of Vera and Beuregaurd, alongside Tracie Bennett in the first professional UK revival of Jerry Herman’s much loved musical MAME.
MAME is at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, from 28 September – 9 November 2019 and then touring to Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 7 – 11 January 2020 and Salisbury Playhouse from 21 – 25 January 2020.
The musical has not been seen in the UK since the original West End production in 1969 starring Ginger Rogers.
You’re both appearing in Mame at The Hope Mill Theatre, what can you tell us about it?
Harriet: The themes are love, friendship, finding a purpose in life and realising what really matters, all surrounded by a beautiful classic Jerry Herman score.
Tim: It’s a classic Jerry Herman musical, and I get to lead the title song.
It hasn’t been seen in the UK since 1969, why do you think it’s taken so long to get a revival?
Harriet: It’s a heady mystery – it should have been performed endlessly by now because it’s so wonderful.
Tim: It is a star vehicle that perhaps has needed the right actress, like Tracie Bennett, to come along and assume the significant gravitas of the role.
What are you looking forward to most about working with Tracie Bennett?
Harriet: The laughs. We’ve worked together a few times and there’s always plenty of them!
Tim: I have worked with Tracie before as well, and it’s always lovely in the business to cross paths again with the amazingly talented. Harriet is a new quantity and had just better behave herself!
What do you like most about your respective characters?
Tim: Well, Beuregaurd is rich and I get to wear fancy costumes.
Harriet: I love Vera’s wit and her humour, and her ability to sustain friendship through thick and thin.
Why do you think The Hope Mill Theatre is the ideal venue for Mame’s first revival?
Harriet: What is wonderful is that it’s putting this often-grandiose production piece into a smaller, intimate space so that there is an instant emotional connection, because you become a part of the story.
Tim: Hope Mill has a great reputation for doing quality work re-presenting musical theatre in effective, new ways.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see Mame?
Harriet: Hurry up – tickets are going fast and it’s almost sold out.
MAME featuring Harriet Thorpe and Tim Flavin is at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from 28 September – 9 November 2019.
