Footlight Frenzy

I've been looking for a copy of this movie, off and on, for the last 10 years. I first saw it by accident years ago on Showtime, and fell of the sofa laughing. Definitely worth seeing! It's similar to a film titled "Noises Off", about a play where the viewer is watching a play from the opposite side of where the audience ( for the play ) is sitting. Suffice it to say that anything that can go wrong does go wrong, and since I'm running out of things to say but apparently I need to fill out 10 lines of comments to get this posted, I'll just ramble on here until I get to 10 lines. Well, 9 lines down, one more to go. I don't really want to get into the details, I think it spoils this or any other movie.

Easily one of the funniest "plays" I ever saw. I taped it - VHS, and as soon as I get the new DVD/Tape recorder I'll try making a DVD of it. I tried having it copied commercially but the company wouldn't do it because its a commercial product. I did however copy it to another tape for my son. That worked o.k.

There isn't a dull moment in the play. Funniest line - among many: Addie (Diz White) saying she wants another baby because the first two ". . . didn't turn out very well." Cracked me up! Shearman and Diz White wrote it. I just got a copy of another of their efforts - "BULLSHOT." Detective Bullshot Crummond's investigation of a crime. Hilarious!

I first saw this when it was broadcast back in 1984. At that time I was fortunate because I happened to put a tape in the VCR and had a perfect copy to view over and over.

This is about a play put on by the faculty and staff of a school to raise money to "Save Our School!" The script is written by the drama instructor, the school janitor is the stage manager and the teachers are the actors. On the night of the big performance, two of the cast call to say they won't be coming. The janitor is drafted to play the part of "Johnny Chicago" and the bulter's part is replace by a telephone. One of the actresses want's to know how to play her big love scene when she is supposed to have an affair with the butler.

Needless to say, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. From bad props, to over the top acting, to personality clashes and jealousy to dropped dialog (by leaping ahead in the script, most of act two is left out of the play, and therefor act three has to be rewritten on the fly).

I have watched this show at least 15 times and I'm ready to watch it again. It's one of the best comedies for those who like physical humor. I just wish they would issue it on DVD!

I looked up this title to see if it was available to rent or own. I remember it from years ago when cable TV 1st came to my area. If you ever get a chance to see it, please do! After almost 20 years, all I remember is it being about a small local theater company trying to save the business with one last show. Please forgive my lapses, but either the actors or the behind the scenes crew do not show up for the play. The inexperienced put their hearts and souls into this last ditch effort, the results being disastrous. Hysterical physical comedy. I would love to see it again. I was so disappointed to see that it is not available!

Like most people I saw this on Showtime back "in the day." My little brother and I laughed so hard we had convulsions, and basically memorized the whole thing. In the intervening years I've seen the other productions by this comedy troupe, most notably "Bullshot Crummond"-- the live version and the movie version--and "El Grande De Coca Cola" which I saw live, but "Footlight" will always be my favorite. I've also seen "Footlight Frenzy" live with a local theater troupe and was amazed how close it was to the original--the script directions must be incredibly detailed.

Years have passed--like any other fan I tried tracking it down to no avail; not only did it not seem to have ever been released on video, no one had any record of it at all. In this day and age that's awfully weird. Surely SOMEONE had at least videotaped it back in the 80's.

Recently I acquired a perfect, legit copy and it's amazing. Time hasn't diminished the humor one bit. Like "Airplane," some of the jokes misfire or are simply so stupid you get more of a groan than a laugh...but that's the point. It's just a non-stop barrage of gags and the performers are literally flawless, there's not one missed beat by the enthusiastic, tireless and tightly-bonded cast. It's a hyper-drive Carol Burnett "Funt And Mundane" sketch comfortably stretched over a (relatively) epic running time that leaves you exhausted--but sated--by the end...particularly if you've ever performed in any live theater yourself.

I'm sorry the company that created this marvel didn't get more attention for their work. It's sad that "Noises Off," which is incredibly similar, got all the attention--"Footlight" is far superior; it moves faster, isn't as redundant and has more gags per minute than its more popular cousin. Ahh well, not to be selfish but who cares; now that I have my own version to watch over and over all is right with the world at last.

Cheers to the creators of this project for bringing so much joy to the world, and cheers to "Tarnished sillllveeerrrrrrr!"