'Tom Jones' by Henry Fielding

Tom Jones is a bawdy, rip-roaring comedy (with a happy ending) set in the heart of the English countryside.

The play is based on Henry Fielding’s classic tale, which is regarded as the first and one of the most influential English novels. It is certainly among the funniest ever written.

The play, adapted for the stage by Joan Macalpine, follows the hilarious adventures of Tom, a foundling and the ward of a liberal Somerset squire. We journey with him through trials and tribulations as he travels to London to seek his fortune and finds amorous entertainments along the way…

Fielding claimed that his purpose was to ‘explore human nature’ so generosity, hypocrisy, loyalty, jealousy and integrity all play their parts until finally wisdom, forgiveness and love win through in the end.

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This production will be held outdoors on the North Lawns at Madingley Hall. The audience should be aware that there is wheelchair access to the garden and assistance will be on hand but the performances will take place on the lawn so it may be damp and uneven underfoot. As an outdoor production, it will be subject to the vagaries of the weather as there is no cover available. Audiences are required to bring their own seating, in the form of either picnic chairs/blankets/mats etc.

The Madingley Hall team intend to offer picnic options and will permit picnicking on the South Lawn.

__There is ample car parking.

The play is bawdy (but not raunchy) in keeping with the period in which it takes place so may not be suitable for anyone under the age of 12 but it also carries a strong moral message and has a happy ending!_

This amateur production of ‘Tom Jones’ adapted by Joan Macalpine is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd, on behalf of Samuel French Ltd, www.concordtheatricals.co.uk.

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