Archives - April 2005

THEY CAME TO A CITY
by J. B. Priestley

Produced by Mike Liassides

THE PLAY

Period drama, set in 1948. A group of people find themselves in a strange place, beside a gate into a walled city. None of them can explain how they came to be there, nor what it signifies.

When the sun rises, the gate opens and everyone spends the day in the city beyond, then return to the gate one by one. The city is a place of splendour and happiness, far beyond any current earthly parallel. Some of the group decide to stay in the city, some cannot wait to return to their own familiar world - and for one couple, it is the spur to go back home in order to spread the message that there is something better to strive for.

FROM THE GROUP

Just about every amateur group in existence will tackle Priestley at some point. Usually it's "An Inspector Calls", but I far prefer this play. It is equally thought-provoking, but there is an added dimension with the mysteriousness of the setting. Priestley never attempts to explain or justify it, but concentrates instead on the interactions of the characters against that backdrop. His sympathies are obviously with the cynical socialist/humanist philosophies of Joe and Alice (who go back home to try and show people the way things could be), but for all that he gives all of his characters plenty of scope to develop.

In order to keep the focus on the characters, but still maintain an aura of otherworldliness, I had a very plain stage. A raised stonework (well, painted stonework) platform ran along the back to give a view over the wall and into the city below. The backdrop was a grey, swirling fog or cloud and only the door to the city had any real colour or weight. A lot of use was made of the lighting to collect people in pools of radiance, with blurry darkness beyond - a technique that worked but would be more effective on a stage larger than ours.

In that unadorned environment, it was very much up to the cast to provide both colour and interest and I have to say that there was no disappointment there. Everyone - from Steve, in his debut performance, to founder member veterans Cheree and Mary - brought out the key points of their various contrasting characters to create a completely believable group of individuals facing an extraordinary set of circumstances. Unfortunately, due to one of my cast dropping out early in rehearsals, I ended up having to take that part on: it would have been easier and more satisfying to have had more time to concentrate purely on directing. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable and challenging production and one which delivered a very worthy result.

Mike - Producer

POSTER

PROGRAMME

(Click To View)

PHOTOS

Press Photo L-R Standing: John Maplesden (Sir George Gedney), Mike Liassides (Malcolm Stritton), Stella Russell (Dorothy Stritton), Cheree Buckler (Lady Loxfield), Sam Shiels (Philippa Loxfield), Steve Buckler (Cudworth) and Mary Frost (Mrs Batley)
Seated: Samantha Merrick (Alice Foster) and Dave Holden (Joe Dinmore)

STAGE PLAN

PREVIEWS & REVIEWS

Previews from the Worthing Herald, April 2005

Review from the Worthing Herald, 28th April 2005

PRODUCER'S CARD

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