‘‘The Whistling Girl’’

Press Release

On Saturday November 30th 2019

The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith London

Presents

The UK Premiere of

‘‘The Whistling Girl’’

Based on the writing of Dorothy Parker

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I’m under the table,
after four I’m under my host.

― 
Dorothy Parker,

Composer and musician Trevor Knight and Ireland’s acclaimed chanteuse, singer and actor, Honor Heffernan re-imagine the life and work of the Writer and American Icon Dorothy Parker

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.”― Dorothy Parker

The Whistling Girl”, is a spellbinding alternative musical extravaganza of song and spoken word based on the lyrics of American poet, wit and feminist icon Dorothy Parker.

The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.”― Dorothy Parker

The original and unique music composed by Trevor Knight transforms the poems and quotes of Parker into songs, using her witty, droll and sometimes heart rending lyrics. Each of the songs create individual tableaux or dream moments from Parker’s psyche, conjuring up images from her tempestuous life of outrageous celebrity, as founding member of the notorious ‘Algonquin set’ in New York, and as civil rights activist in America and Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

Don’t look at me in that tone of voice.”
― Dorothy Parker

What The Press Say…

..It’s not like Honor Heffernan has anything to prove. For the last three decades, she’s been Ireland’s pre-eminent jazz singer, a riveting performer who matches emotional authenticity with musical craft. “The Whistling Girl” is the love child of the singer’s new relationship, onstage and off, with Trevor Knight. The ex-Auto Da Fé keyboardist’s settings of Parker’s ruminations on life and death, love and sexual politics, combine the arch strut of Weimar cabaret and the sass of Rocky Horror with 80s synth-pop and contemporary art-rock. The results are pure theatre – Parker’s dark wit, Knight’s memorable tunes, and Heffernan’s unerring ability to make words come to life are a winning combination, making “The Whistling Girl”  a great show and the most fresh and original collection of songs as you’ll hear this year”. The Irish Times

Embracing dirty-cabaret, electronic-vaudeville, rock, and jazz, Knight’s arrangements lend a vital theatricality to Parker’s sardonic verse. He, Heffernan, and their full band channel the spirit of an American literary icon during Parker’s years of notoriety in New York’ Phenomenal!” The Irish Arts Center NEW YORK

Sometimes a role comes along that allows a performer to weave all the strands of their artistry into one darkly thrilling tapestry; Honor Heffernan has found such a role in The Whistling Girl; a daring production that uses music, song and elements of theatre to celebrate the life of the legendary wit and writer, Dorothy Parker”. Billy O’Hanluain Writer, contributor to ‘Arts Show’ RTE, ‘Arena’ RTE.

Dorothy Parker was a dark wit and sardonic philosopher about love, relationships and the mundane routines of living as a depressive, forever seeking adventure. She could be acerbic, humorously ironic and whimsical, all at the same time. Some of Parker’s inimitable, devastating humor is highlighted in the song selections presented in The Whistling Girl . The theatrical presentation is a must-see for the exceptional music inspired by Parker’s lyrics and the performance by Honour Heffernan” Theater Pizazze. New York. Full Review http://www.theaterpizzazz.com/the-whistling-girl/

“…this show was massive and completely blew me away…I loved every minute…Heffernan was simply amazing…this was the highlight of this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.” Michael Barbour (Gigging Northern Ireland)

Full Review Belfast CQAF https://www.giggingni.com/2018/05/review-honor-heffernan-the-whistling-girl-cathedral-quarter-arts-festival/  

clever…imaginative..inventive..echoes of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weil, flourishes of The Doors, a touch of Kraftwerk, and Leonard Cohen there”. Jackie Hayden (Hot Press.) 

Facebook link to slideshow https://youtu.be/p18we0Tyyoc

Honor and Trevor will be joined by some of Ireland’s most talented musicians featuring Garvan Gallagher on bass, (Mary Black, Leo O’Kelly, Pumpkinhead), Tom Jamieson on drums, (Auto da Fé, Speranza, Those Nervous Animals), Steve Belton on electric guitar, (Fountainhead, Hazel O’Connor, Noel Redding, Cry before Dawn)  and Bill Blackmore on trumpet (The Stunning, Jerry Fish).

This will be the UK Premiere and the Official Album Launch of “The Whistling Girl’’ which has already performed sell-out shows all over Ireland and at The Irish Arts Center in New York; The Belgrade Irish Festival, Serbia; The Cathedral Quarter Festival Belfast and The Cork Jazz Festival.

The release of the album “The Whistling Girl” is the culmination of two and a half years work between Ireland’s chantuese Honor Heffernan and Trevor Knight, who composed the music on the album using the words of Dorothy Parker. It is available on Bandcamp at https://trevorknight.bandcamp.com/album/the-whistling-girl ( Album Preview and download) and at Tower Records.


Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith Blacks Road W6 9DT

Concert Starts 8pm

Tickets £14.00 / £12.00

Book Tickets; www.Irishculturalcentre.co.uk 020 85638232

For More Press Information Contact

Rosalind Scanlon on 07742320001. [email protected]

This concert is supported by

Press Release Ends. 19/11/2019


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