Jerry Springer: The Opera (2005) (TV)

Director:

Peter Orton

Writers:

Richard Thomas (book) &
Stewart Lee (book)

Release Date:

8 January 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy | Adventure | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Jerry Springer is about to have the worst day of his career.

Plot:

A TV presentation of the successful London stage show. A fully operatic production very loosely based on the 'Jerry Springer' TV show.

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Death | Gay Sex | Gun | Opera

Cast

David Soul	...	Jerry Springer
David Bedella	...	Warm-up Man / Satan
Leon Craig	...	Montel / Jesus
Carrie Ellis	...	Peaches / Baby Jane
Alison Jiear	...	Shawntel / Eve
Christopher Key	...	Chucky / Adam
Benjamin Lake	...	Dwight / God
Ryan Molloy	...	Tremont / Angel Gabriel
Claire Platt	...	Zandra / Irene / Mary
Guy Porritt	...	Steve
Annabelle Williams	...	Andrea / Archangel Michael
Adriano Agostino	...	Ensemble
Richard Alliston	...	Ensemble
Edward Baruwa	...	Ensemble
Dale Branston	...	Ensemble

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Company:

Avalon Productions

Trivia:

Jerry's final speech uniting Satan and God quotes from Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"

Quotes:

[spotlight]
[smiles at the audience]
Steve: [after a long pause] Hi.
[pause]
Steve: My name's Steve Wilcose. I'm head of security here at The Jerry Springer Show. You know, a lot of people ask me, "What are the hardest fights to break up?" I gotta tell you, it's, uh...
[gestures to Peaches and Zandra]
Steve: ...it's always the women.
[winks at the audience]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Passion: Films, Faith & Fury (2006) (TV)

Daring stuff

This is a show that is pornographic, vulgar, profane and blasphemous. And therein lies its charm. It is a thoughtful polemic against fallen media and social standards and against organized religion. It is infuriating but it is as though the infuriation factor is designed as a filter to keep out anyone unable to appreciate the thoughtful arguments beneath the shock and the schlock. The music (if not the raunchy lyrics) has an echo of Andrew Lloyd Weber. The voices, the choreography, the staging and the orchestra are all first rate. Think of it as a modern day Don Giovanni. Indeed the premise and the conclusion are much the same as those in Mozart's masterpiece. There are some great lines as when Springer, brilliantly played by Davd Soul, protests "You can't put me in hell.I'm Jewish." It's doubtful this will make it to US television. Certainly the evangelical truth squads will do everything they can to block it. It was on Bravo here in Canada Saturday night and I applaud them for their chuptzah in showing it. It might turn up in some fringe theatres or video shops in the US. Once you get past the provocative format, you'll find it a worthwhile exercise.