Cloud 9

University Theatre, University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado, Denver

About the Show

Now a classic among British satires, Cloud 9 contrasts the role of sexual identity in British colonial Africa with the more liberated (and yet perhaps just as unsatisfying) times of late 20th century London.

In act one, Clive, a British colonial official, enjoys all the privileges of the white man’s world. But soon the veneer of proper Victorian society is stripped away to reveal the tarnished truth: depravity, deviance, deceit, hypocrisy.

In a set of hilarious twists and complications, Clive’s effeminate son Edward is played by a girl. His wife Betty is a man in drag. Betty has a crush on the distinguished explorer Harry Bagley. (So does Edward.) Bagley prefers boys. The ever-proper Clive can’t keep his hands off of the lusty neighbor woman. The governess is in love with her mistress and Clive’s faithful black servant Joshua is neither faithful nor black!

And on it goes with Churchill’s biting yet non-judgmental, mad, wonderful and ultimately touching satire.

For mature audiences: contains sexual themes, language and situations.