Halley Feiffer’s off-Broadway hit A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynaecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York will be making it’s European debut in London at the Finborough Theatre from the 2nd to 27th October. Starring accredited actor, comedian and presenter Cariad Lloyd, A Funny Thing sees Karla, a foul-mouthed twenty-something comedian, and Don, a middle-aged man embroiled in a nasty divorce, come together unexpectedly when their cancer-stricken mothers become roommates in hospital.  Together, this unlikely duo must negotiate some of life’s biggest challenges, while making some of the world’s most inappropriate jokes. I was lucky enough to grab a few moment’s of Halley Feiffer’s time to find out more about the play.

HS: What is A Funny Thing… about and what can audiences expect from the show?

HF: It’s a romantic comedy about two people who unexpectedly come together when their mothers are being treated for cancer — and it’s also about the struggles we face in expressing and experiencing intimacy in the face of fear.

HS: How has the play evolved since its world premiere in 2016?

HF: I rewrote it a good deal last year when I performed in it at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. I feel it’s gotten more honest and vulnerable, just as the characters do over the course of the play.

HS: How do you balance the humour and sensitivity when tackling a topic like cancer?

HF:Just as one does in life: playing it by ear and trusting your gut.

HS: What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to write about sensitive topics?

HF:Play it by ear and trust your gut.

Thanks so much to Halley for taking the time! If the show is of interest to you, you can find tickets and more information at https://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/productions/2018/a-funny-thing-happened.php

Until next time,