Opera House plans comedy for Saturday

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center will present the comedy, “Jack Absolute Flies Again,” via satellite from London’s National Theatre on Saturday at 1 p.m., as part of its Stage On Screen Series.

From the writers of One Man, Two Guvnors, this hilarious new play is set in 1940s British summertime. After an aerial dog fight, Pilot Officer Jack Absolute flies home to rejoin his fearless young Hurricane squadron at RAF Fontwell. Once back on British soil, Jack is shocked to find his old flame, Lydia, on the base. He sets his sights on winning her heart, but with turbulence and hilarity never far away, his advances quickly turn to anarchy.

Captured live at the National Theatre in London, Emily Burns directs this spectacularly entertaining new version of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals.

Called this year’s big, blockbuster comedy from the National Theatre, Jack Absolute Flies Again is a hilarious wartime farce, with plenty of heart. London’s Daily Mail calls it “a snortingly good, crowd-pleasing comedy.”

The Evening Standard deems it an “uproarious mix of filth, derring-do and romance.”

The production runs approximately three hours; and patrons should consider it to have the equivalent of an R rating.

Individual tickets to Jack Absolute Flies Again are $15, ($10 students). Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 716-679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org. The Stage on Screen Series is sponsored by Dr. James M. & Marcia Merrins.

For this production, the Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.