Betty Blue Eyes
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Betty Blue Eyes: A Porky Tale on the West End
"Betty Blue Eyes" squealed its way onto the West End stage in 2011, a musical comedy that turned a pig into a star at the Novello Theatre from March 19 to September 24. Adapted from Alan Bennett’s 1984 film A Private Function, this Cameron Mackintosh production featured music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, and a book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman. Starring Sarah Lancashire as Joyce Chilvers and Reece Shearsmith as Gilbert Chilvers, alongside an animatronic pig voiced by Kylie Minogue, it ran for six months. As of March 23, 2025, it’s remembered as a quirky British gem, blending post-war satire with toe-tapping tunes.
From Screen to Stage
The musical sprang from Bennett’s film about austerity Britain, with Cowen and Lipman expanding the tale for the stage. Stiles and Drewe, known for Honk! and Mary Poppins, crafted a score that Mackintosh, their longtime champion, called “delicious.” After workshops and a nudge from Stephen Schwartz, the show marked Mackintosh’s first original musical in a decade. Directed by Richard Eyre with choreography by Stephen Mear and designs by Tim Hatley, it premiered in Manchester before hitting the West End, aiming to charm with its eccentric take on a beloved story.
A Rationed Romance
Set in 1947 Yorkshire, "Betty Blue Eyes" unfolds amid post-war rationing and the buzz of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Philip Mountbatten. Gilbert, a meek chiropodist, and Joyce, his social-climbing wife, are snubbed from a gala dinner hosted by local bigwigs fattening an illegal pig—Betty—for the occasion. Spurred by revenge and hunger, they steal her, sparking chaos with Inspector Wormold (Adrian Scarborough) on their trail. Songs like “Magic Fingers” and “Nobody” amplify the couple’s dreams and the town’s absurdity, ending in a comedic twist where Betty’s fate shifts for musical flair.
A West End Run
Opening at the Novello Theatre, "Betty Blue Eyes" boasted a cast including Lancashire’s fierce Joyce, Shearsmith’s endearing Gilbert, and Ann Emery as Mother Dear. The £4 million production dazzled with Hatley’s picturesque sets and a £100,000 animatronic Betty, but despite rave reviews—The Guardian called it “better than the original”—it struggled. Critics adored its wit and Stiles-Drewe score, yet ticket sales lagged, closing after 163 performances. Mackintosh, waiving rent as theatre owner, couldn’t salvage it, lamenting the lack of a “movie superstar” to draw crowds.
A Lingering Legacy
Though it didn’t soar commercially, "Betty Blue Eyes" left hoofprints. A 2011 cast recording, a 2013 U.S. premiere in Wichita, a 2014 UK tour, and a 2023 Union Theatre revival kept it alive. Nominated for a Best New Musical Olivier, it’s now a cult favorite, licensed via Music Theatre International. As of March 23, 2025, its tale of resilience and pork-powered rebellion resonates, a testament to British musical daring—proof that even a pig can steal the West End spotlight, if only for a season.