"Ying Tong" to close early, 19 March 2005

"Ying Tong" to close early, 19 March 2005

The West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Ying Tong a comedy about the late comedian Spike Milligan, written by Roy Smiles, has posted early closing notices at the New Ambassadors Theatre after a run of only 5 weeks. The last performance is 19 March 2005. (The show was originally booking to 4 June 2005)

The play opened on 14 Feb 2005, following previews from 10 Feb to good notices from the popular press: BRUCE DESSAU for THE EVENING STRANDARD says, "Laughs ripple gently....Comedy fans of all generations will get something out of this voyage around the dark side of the Goon." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Extremely funny. It evokes the Goon Show's mix of hurtling narrative, surreal sounds and eccentric voices.." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Both hilarious and deeply moving." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "An entertaining show." ROBERT HANKS for THE INDEPENDENT says, "An entertaining evening; but it is barely a play.

Directed by Michael Kingsbury, the cast includes James Clyde (Spike Milligan), Peter Temple (Peter Sellers), Christian Patterson ( Harry Secombe ), Jeremy Child (Wallace Greenslade) .

Under pressure to write The Goon Show to end all Goon shows, Spike Milligan is planning his escape from a mental institution dressed in only his pyjamas. After applying to the British Museum to get his marbles back, he starts to lose his grip on reality and threatens to kill Eccles, the most famous Goon character. Will his partners in Goon, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers, be able to stop him?