It could be a scene out of the remake of Mel Brooks' 1968 comedy classis The Producers, in which two Broadway impresarios stage a musical about Nazism entitled Springtime for Hitler, in the hope that it will be a glorious failure - but instead this is another example of life being stranger than fiction.

Mr Damian has learned that plans are in place to bring Saddam - the Musical! to a major West End theatre before the end of the year.

Scripted by comedian (sic) Ben Elton, the show which will promise to 'make you laugh, make you cry, to make you curl up in a bunker and want to die' is according to its executive producer "part of a bid to explain the story of Saddam to the western world, and explain his many achievements as well his wrong doings."

By wrong doings we assume the team include mass wars, the extermination of his own people and blocking satellite TV channels showing repeats of Baywatch and Murder She Wrote?

"Yes, exactly that" we were told matter of factly.

So, who are the team behind this audacious production?

Well, they're keen to keep their identity secret, but Mr Damian can exclusively reveal that former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey is one angel and that former Beirut hostage and Lambeth Palace regular Terry Waite are amongst those seeking to promote, peace, harmony and intercultural understanding. Waite it is understood may even play the title role if their first choice Rolf Harris turns them down.

"We're not entirely sure of Rolf's diary at present" our source told us, "but we're pretty optimistic".

Posted by damian at March 15, 2004 12:56 AM | TrackBack