Teeth 'n' Smiles

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Teeth 'n' Smiles is a musical play written by David Hare.

Contents

Productions

Directed by the author, the play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre on 2 September 1975. [1]

It was subsequently revived in the West End at Wyndhams Theatre in May 1976, then at Oxford Playhouse in October 1977, Nottingham Playhouse in August 1979 and Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in November 2002.

The play is set to be revived at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End in 2026, with Rebecca Lucy Taylor in the role of Maggie. [2]

Dramatis Personae and Cast Lists

CharacterDescriptionPlayed by (1975)Played by (1976)Played by (1977)Played by (1979)Played by (2002)
 Arthursongwriter Jack Shepherd Martin Shaw Frank Grimes Robert LloydScott Handy
 Inchroadie Karl Howman Karl HowmanPeter AttardTom BowlesNicolas Tennant
 Laurap.r. Cherie Lunghi Gay Hamilton Belinda Lang Gillian Cally Lucy Briers
 NashdrummerRene AugustusCharlie GrimaStephen PriceDon Hawkins Justin Pickett
 Wilsonkeyboard Mick Ford Mick Ford Kevin Elyot Ron Emslie Zubin Varla
 SneadporterRoger Hume Roland MacLeod Noel CollinsKeith TaylorRobert Calvert
 Peyotebass guitar Hugh Fraser Hugh FraserDavid Cardy Chris Jagger Keith-Lee Castle
 Smegslead guitarAndrew DicksonAndrew DicksonLarry WhitehurstMervyn StutterLance Burman
 Ansonstudent Antony Sher Antony Sher Peter Whitman David Bamber Dominic Charles-Rouse
 Maggievocals Helen Mirren Helen Mirren Cheryl Kennedy Linda Marlowe Amanda Donohoe
 Saraffianmanager Dave King Dave King Patrick O'Connell Maurice Kaufmann Ivan Kaye
 Randolphstar Heinz Heinz Tom Wilkinson Anthony Head William Maidwell
 TechniciantechnicianIan Elliott / David CharkhamDavid Cross / Kit ThackerSteve Morley

1975 cast. [3] 1976 cast. [4] 1977 cast. [5] 1979 cast. [6]

In a 1979 production in the USA, Maggie was played by Ellen Greene.

Plot

The play is set around the performances of a failing rock band fronted by lead singer Maggie Frisby at the May Ball on the night of 9 June 1969 at Jesus College, Cambridge.

Music

The songs in the play were written by Nick Bicât (music) and Tony Bicât (lyrics) and were -

[7]

Trivia

During the initial run at the Royal Court, Keith Moon turned up drunk at the stage door, joined Helen Mirren in her dressing room and told her how great the show was, and then tried to join the cast on stage before being stopped by the management. [8]

Helen Mirren's interpretation of Maggie was based on Janis Joplin. She said of the role at the time: “I’m very like Maggie in many ways, only she’s much more ballsy and gutsy than me. I endorse most of what Maggie says, in fact in many ways it’s difficult to talk about her because I feel so close to her.” [9]

References

  1. Teeth 'n' Smiles Faber and Faber 1976 ISBN   0 571 10995 0
  2. Wiegand, Chris (12 September 2025). "Self Esteem to star as raging rock star in revival of David Hare's Teeth 'n' Smiles". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. Royal Court Theatre programme
  4. Wyndhams Theatre programme
  5. Oxford Playhouse programme
  6. The Stage, 16 August 1979, p.51.
  7. Teeth 'n' Smiles Faber and Faber 1976 ISBN   0 571 10995 0
  8. Mirren, Helen (2007). In The Frame. Orion Books. ISBN   978-0-7538-2434-4.
  9. Ward, Philip (2019). Becoming Helen Mirren. Troubador. ISBN   9781838597146.