P.G. Wodehouse in 1930.
Parson’s Nose Theater in Pasadena will honor British humorist P.G. Wodehouse with a performance of his golf-themed stories on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. The show, titled “Golf and Love!”, will be adapted and performed by Lance Davis, the theater’s Artistic Director.
Wodehouse, born in 1881 in Guildford, Surrey, was a prolific writer known for his whimsical characters and imaginative storytelling.
Raised by various relatives, he attended Dulwich College where he excelled in sports and writing. His works include the popular Bertie Wooster and Jeeves series, as well as numerous novels, short stories, and musical collaborations with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton.
The upcoming performance will focus on Wodehouse’s “The Oldest Member” series, featuring comical golf stories. These tales present an elderly character who dispenses wisdom to frustrated novice golfers through cautionary anecdotes about love and the sport.
Wodehouse’s life was marked by both literary success and controversy. He began writing for magazines while working at a bank, eventually publishing his first novel and traveling to America in 1904. In Hollywood, his wife Ethel negotiated a $2000/week salary for him, though he found the industry’s inefficiencies frustrating.
During World War II, Wodehouse was interned by Nazi forces in Liege, Poland, and Silesia. Given a typewriter, he later made humorous radio broadcasts about his internment experience from Berlin’s Hotel Adlon, which sparked intense public backlash in Britain. Ethel sold her jewelry to join him after his internment.
Despite the controversy, Wodehouse continued writing and settled in America with Ethel. He remained there for the rest of his life, maintaining a prolific output of stories and novels.
The Parson’s Nose Theater production aims to introduce new audiences to Wodehouse’s humor. The theater, known for its adaptations of classic works, offers podcasts of past performances through Parson’s Nose Radio Theater, covering works from Shakespeare to Langston Hughes.
Reservations are required for the upcoming Wodehouse performance and can be made by calling (626) 345-5116.
Parson’s Nose Theater encourages donations to support its ongoing productions of classic literature and humor. It receives support from various organizations including the Pasadena Community Foundation, the California Arts Council, and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
For more information, visit https://www.parsonsnose.com/live-events-1/golfandlove.
