In Twist of Lemmon, Chris Lemmon becomes his father and his friends and shares some of the stories and music that brought them close together when everything around them conspired to drag them apart.
It's a great father and son tale from the golden era of Hollywood.
Twist of Lemmon, directed by Hugh Wooldridge, will run for a three-week season at St. James Studio from Wednesday 1 - Saturday 18 June.
Press night is Wednesday 1 June at 8.00pm.
"Growing up the one question I was asked more than any other was what is it like to be Jack Lemmon's son. My father was one of the world's most beloved actors. What people don't know, however, is that he played the piano, really quite well, and that being a musician was his dream. But acting... that was his passion, and the whole world adored him for it. So what was it like being this guy's son? And whether it be genetics, or just the way of the world, are you born with the same dreams and aspirations? How do you follow in the footsteps of a giant. Especially when that giant is your dad?... For me it began by trying to understand, not only who he was to me... but really who I was to him..."
These are the words Chris Lemmon speaks just before he becomes Jack Lemmon in his one man stage show. Told entirely in the voice of his father, the touching narrative explores this unique, yet universal father/son journey.
The impact of worldwide superstardom, divorce, separation - yet the yearning desire on both son and father's part to fight against the tidal forces tearing them further and further apart, to finally become the very best of friends, against all odds, shortly before Jack's untimely death in 2001.
With some of the greatest music of the era, as well as a number of his personal compositions, pianist and actor Chris Lemmon tells this heart-wrenching, and ultimately heart-warming story that promises to make you laugh and cry, and then laugh some more....
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