POPCORN
by Ben Elton

"Sharp, Incisive, Reflective, Caustic, Vicious...and really, really funny! Very few plays can deliver any of these - "Popcorn" delivers them all. Rarely does a play cut across so many boundaries as does Ben Elton's "POPCORN".

The modern audience will find this powerhouse of modern writing relevant and provocative." (Simon Denver -- Artistic Director, SRT Inc)

During April 2009 the Suncoast Repertory Theatre Inc will be touring their production of "Popcorn" around the Sunshine Coast with the following cast;
Brett Klease - Wayne Hudson
Angel Goulter - Scout
Howard Tampling - Karl Brezner
Sam Coward - Bruce Delamitri
Xanthe Coward - Farrah Delamitri
Rachel Fentiman - Velvet Delamitri
Erina Carboni - Brooke Daniels

Directed by Simon Denver.

Popcorn will be performed at:
The Maleny Community Centre on Thur 2nd, Fri 3rd & Sat 4th April 2009 (Bookings ph: 5494 3277)
South Pacific Resort, 179 Weyba Rd, Noosaville, on Tue 7th, Wed 8th & Thur 9th April 2009 (Bookings ph:5449 2625)
The Caloundra Events Centre on Thur 16th, Fri 17th & Sat 18th April 2009 (Ph 54914240 or www.etixdirect.com.au)
Tickets are: Adults $30; Concession $25; Student $15
All shows commence at 8:00 pm

Also please note that Popcorn has frequent coarse language, violence and sexual references, suitable for adult audience only.

Ben Elton's "Popcorn" is a play which works on the classic "which came first -- the chicken or the egg" syndrome. That is to say "Do the movies merely reflect the violence in society...or do they, in fact, inspire the violence?". This theme is explored, dissected, thrown in your face - leaving the final judgement firmly in the minds of the audience.

Two Tarentino-like misfits, Wayne and Scout, are merrily causing mayhem through murder on their road trip across the US of A. But these two "white trash, deep south, trailer park-ettes" have a plan...a plan for their salvation. All roads lead to their Mecca, their Grail -- Hollywood! In fact, not just Hollywood, but to the mansion of their hero, their mentor, their "inspiration" -- Hollywood action / splat king -- Bruce Delamitri. And why shouldn't he be their hero? After all, Bruce

Delamitri has made a career out of chic violence. He, in their eyes, has made killing cool! He has made it so cool that he has just been honoured with an Oscar for his latest splat-fest "Ordinary Americans", a film whose plot seems to be a dangerous reflection of Wayne and Scout's adventures.

Add to this mix Bruce's spin-king, hype-meister producer (Karl), his sad sack of silicone and scotch ex-wife (Farrah), his Hollywood brat Paris Hilton wannabe daughter (Velvet) and fresh from her Playboy spread, a wannabe actress (Brooke).

What follows is a high octane, roller coaster ride that gives a field of fire for the full arsenal of the writers weapons. This is a master class of modern writing. Never before has the Motion Picture medium been put under such a microscope.

BEN ELTON

Ben Elton, in his stand up days, was once described as a "motor-mouth in a spangly suit". What was probably not self evident in those days was the subtle and intelligent mind that powered and instructed that motormouth. He was trained in Drama at Manchester University and shortly after managed to make a name for himself in the fledgling London Stand-up comedy circuit. That was 25 years ago. Since then Ben Elton has been one of the world's most prolific writers. He sprang to fame as the writer / creator of the comedy cult classic - "The Young Ones". His elevation to the pantheon of great comedy writers was assured after other classic hits "Mr Bean" and "Blackadder". His talents are not just reserved for Television. He is a multi million selling author of such novels as "Gridlock", "Stark" (which became a cult mini-series),

"Popcorn" and "Blind Faith". He also penned the Queen musical "We Will Rock You". Popcorn was first produced as a play in September 1996 at the Nottingham Playhouse.

Photo: Angel Goulter as Scout and Brett Klease as Wayne Hudson get close in Popcorn