Archives - November 1985
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Archives - November 1985 |
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Produced by Ann Burfoot
THE PLAY
A full-on, moustachio-twirling melodrama set in 1890s. This play tells the tear jerking story of Nellie Lovelace, an innocent country girl. Munro, the viper, already has a wife in Ida Rhinegold, belle of the New Haven Music Halls, but that does not prevent him from pursuing Nellie. He tricks her into believing her true love, Adam Oakhart the blacksmith's son, no longer wants her - and poisons her mother, all so he can marry Nellie and sell her land to the new railway.
Thinking himself betrayed, Adam turns to drink. But after Munro tries to blackmail wealthy Mrs Asterbilt, and publicly spurns her seduced daughter, Ida reaches the end of her tether. Adam prevents her throwing herself into the river, intending to save her falling from grace, but Mrs Asterbilt stabs Ida and Adam is blamed and imprisoned. Nellie marries him in prison, but spends all her inheritance on lawyers - to no avail. She sells up to the railroad, her cottage becomes the signal-box and she becomes the signal-woman.
Fortunately Mrs Asterbilt confesses her crime on her deathbed, confirming Adam's innocence, just as he is about to be hanged. Adam's old friend Mookie allows him to escape - but Munro returns at the same time, overpowers Adam and ties him to the railway tracks. Mookie suffers the same fate, just as Ida reappears: she had only been wounded, lost her memory and become a nun. She saves Adam and Mookie and Munro suffers the fate he had intended for them when his foot becomes stuck in the tracks!
FROM THE GROUP
My first time with the Players as producer & my second
time working with them as a group. So we were all fairly cautious and I was
asking them to sing & dance!
As I recall Cheree had problems taking a breath in the right place in her solo &
Gareth had three left feet.
I cast Judith as an American lady & she enjoyed being on stage so much that she
is now a semi-professional performer. Very satisfying to know I set her on the
right road.
Cast & crew all seemed to have fun in spite of my strictness as a producer. Well
they asked me to produce again 12 months later, so I couldn't have upset too
many people. I must have enjoyed myself too, because I accepted, but that's
another story!!
Ann - Producer
My first thankyou! To Ann Burfoot for giving me the part of Lady Upson Asterbilt - or was it Aston Upserbilt - in Dirty Work at the Crossroads. She was also a new member and it was her first stab at directing. This was my first audition though I'd been a member for a while and as I did a fair job at talking like a sort of an American I got the part. I can still remember how much I was trembling from head to foot backstage just before my first appearance in front of an audience.
Judith -
Actress
POSTER
PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
Review from the Worthing Herald, 22nd November 1985
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