The Roar of the Greasepaint,
the Smell of the Crowd
LMC Theatre presents 1960s musical Feb. 27-March 3 at Hayes Auditorium

Lees-McRae College will present its spring musical, The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd, Feb. 27-March 3 at Hayes Auditorium in Banner Elk.

The musical is a satire on the English class system and demonstrates how the working class seemingly cannot get ahead because the ruling class constantly defines and then changes the rules of the game of life.

In the play Sir (representing the ruling class) plays the game of “life” with Cocky (for Cockney, the underdog or Everyman, representing the working class). Sir makes Cocky march around through the squares of the game board at his direction – so many steps forward so many steps backwards – so that Cocky never really gets anywhere and has no real control over his life or circumstances. Whenever it looks like Cocky will make advancements, Sir changes the rules to knock him backward again.

Greasepaint features such well-known songs as “Who Can I Turn To” and “On a Wonderful Day Like Today,” songs made popular first by the star and co-writer of the musical, Anthony Newley and then by many popular singers since the musical’s debut in 1965.

According to the director of the Lees-McRae production, Steve Parrish, the key to understanding the extremely theatrical world of Greasepaint is to think of it as “scenes from the class struggle in merry old England.” Sir represents the “Haves” while Cocky represents the “Have-Nots.” The “Game” symbolizes the social changes within England during the 20th century.

“I hope everyone can grasp the flavor of the time and understand how times haven’t really changed that much,” Parrish said. “We are still faced with a lot of the same social issues represented in this play.”

In fact, many reviewers have said this production is a cross between Waiting for Godot and The Fantasticks, with a Greek chorus of singing street urchins thrown in for good measure.

Lees-McRae’s production will be held Feb. 27-28 and March 2-3 at 7:30 p.m. and March 1 at 2 p.m. at Hayes Auditorium on Lees-McRae College’s campus in Banner Elk. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and students. Tickets will be available at the door one hour prior to show time.

There is no box office daily or weekly. Please arrive early to purchase tickets the night of the show. There is no reserved seating. For more information, visit the Lees-McRae website at www.go.lmc.edu/performances, call (828) 898-8709 for an automated message system, or email baisdend@lmc.edu.

Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church U. S. A., located in the mountains of western North Carolina in the town of Banner Elk. The college is dedicated to service learning and offers majors in 23 academic disciplines.