Sam, The Highest Jumper Of Them All

★★★★ Four Stars, Whatsonstage.com

When bank clerk Sam Hark-Harkalark is falsely accused of stealing half a million pounds in banknotes signed ‘Good God’, he loses his job. Unbowed, he determines to jump higher than anyone else ever has. The only thing is, so far he hasn’t jumped at all….

This is the play’s first revival since its first performance by Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1960, and the only piece Saroyan ever wrote to be premiered in Britain. After seeing Joan Littlewood’s production of Brendan Behan’s The Hostage, Saroyan wrote asking if the theatre wanted a new play from him. They responded enthusiastically, and the result was Sam, the Highest Jumper of Them All, a typically whimsical Saroyan play, as free-form and beguiling as a John Coltrane solo.

Among the many characters surrounding Sam are a rock ‘n’ roll singer, a Russian policeman who periodically stands on his head, and the Ambassador from the Audience to the Play. This production will incorporate some sections banned by the Lord Chamberlain, and never seen on stage before.

Cast in order of speaking
Sam Hark-Harkalark – Antony Jardine
Poor Man – Tom Yeates
Ted Owlett – Anil Kumar
Telford Horniman – Richard Cunningham
Pearl Galway – Jessica Sandry
Father Finnegan – Martin Bishop
Ann Moon – Julia Sandiford
Gypsy Woman – Jennifer Thorne
Racing Tipster – Matt Tully
Wally Wailer – Tom Yeates
Daisy Dimple – Jessica Sandry
Blind Man – Matt Tully
Inspector Overboard – Martin Ritchie
Captain Datchikyili – Samuel Webster
Ambassador – Gordon Ridout
Man with Clock – Richard Crawley
Sam’s Grandmother – Jennifer Thorne
Princess – Julia Sandiford
Doctor – Richard Crawley
Sam’s Grandfather – Martin Bishop