Archives - November 2010

LOOK BEHIND YOU
by Daniel Wain

Produced by Mary Frost

THE PLAY

Contemporary comedy, set on stage and in the backstage of a rundown theatre over the course of a panto season.

"The Old Girl" theatre, owned solely by Tom Nancarrow following the death of his partner Barry Nelson, is in dire financial straits. It's last hope for salvation is the annual panto. That had always been "Cinderella", with Tom and Barry as the Ugly Sisters: this year it is "Dick Whittington", featuring the usual array of minor celebrities and second-rate actors.

As the house lights dim, the show starts with a lady in the audience receiving a phone call. She is none other than Fairy Bowbells (played by aging Hollywood beauty Anastasia Krabbe), being summoned to help. As she mounts the stage, Queen Rat (played by soap star Norma Bailey) challenges her.

In the backstage, Maggie Dunn (the theatre stage manager) is organising the opening night. Tommy the Cat (played by novice actress Wendy Westcott-Hall) is her harried assistant. Idle Jack (recently-graduated know-it-all actor Nick May) is warming up with Alice Fitzwarren (played by TV weathergirl Sally Musto), who he hopes will be his next conquest after flings with the besotted Wendy and ambitious chorus girl Suzanne Brett. Alderman Fitzwarren (repertory veteran Robin Eldridge) and Dick Whittington (played by boy band singer Jake Caffrey) join them, followed by Captain Barnacle (Bernie Bigelow, ventriloquist) with his omnipresent monkey Pistachio.

On-stage, Dick and Tommy meet on Highgate Hill and become friends.

Backstage, Anastasia browbeats Wendy into trying to fix her dressing-room plumbing. Nick and Suzanne split up and Sarah the Cook (owner Tom) finally appears, having had to retrieve the show's headline star - national treasure Wilfred - from the nearest pub.

On-stage, Sarah performs her solo comedy routine.

Second night, in the backstage Nick continues trying to impress Sally, much to Maggie's disgust. Wendy learns all about Tom and the late Barry from Maggie.

On-stage, Sarah and Fitzwarren argue about her son Idle Jack, whom Fitzwarren wants to fire.

Two nights later, and backstage Nick offers to give Jake professional tuition, whilst trying to avoid Wendy. Norma phones her husband to check up on their daughters and fret about her own career.

On-stage, Dick and Alice meet outside Fitzwarren's Stores, in their love-at-first-sight moment.

Two nights later: Maggie is complaining about Anastasia's promiscuous ways to Tom when Nick's criticism of Bernie provokes an angry response from Pistachio, much to everyone's surprise. Bernie, it appears is in bankruptcy. Tom reveals that there is renewed interest in The Old Girl from property developers.

On-stage, newly-hired Captain Barnacle and first mate Pistachio have conned their way into running the good ship Saucy Sal for Alderman Fitzwarren.

Christmas Eve, between shows, Nick's pursuit of Sally is interrupted by an unnaturally polite Bernie and a positively threatening Pistachio. Suzanne and Sally plan to go out on the razzle later that night.

Boxing Day matinee finds the cast backstage, sharing various, generally miserable Christmas experiences. Suzanne reveals her depth of ambition to Robin, and Tom tells Maggie that the developers have launched a takeover bid.

On-stage, Dick and Tommy flee to Highgate Hill, having been accused of theft.

Four days later, just before the New Year break, Wendy listens to Anastasia wallowing in her own tragedy.

On-stage, Fairy Bowbells appears to Dick and Tommy on Highgate, telling him to "turn again".

Later, after the show, alone in the theatre, Maggie tries to rally Tom's morale. He responds by pledging to fight to keep the place open.

In the New Year, the on-stage opens with Queen Rat vowing to sink the Saucy Sal.

Backstage, there is panic as a bleeding Nick appears, having been headbutted in the face by Pistachio during the haunted bedroom scene.

Between shows, Norma is disappointed to learn from her husband that both her family and the soap in which she stars are managing fine in her absence.

On-stage, Captain Barnacle and Pistachio prepare to set sail.

Five days later and backstage Suzanne and Robin have become friends, and are discussing success when a gun goes off. Pistachio has been shooting at Nick onstage - fortunately, it transpires, only with blanks - and the house springs into action to try and make it appear part of the show. Anastasia takes Nick away to deal with his shock.

On-stage, the crew of the Saucy Sal are assigned their duties.

Five days later, backstage, Sally is recovering from a night out with Suzanne that left her so hungover she had to miss the matinee. Suzanne went on as understudy, with a major theatrical agent in the audience. Jake has asked Sally out and Anastasia wants Norma to teach her how to do Ibsen.

On-stage, on the Saucy Sal, the crew go through their mop drill comedy routine.

Three days later, after the matinee, Nick is in Jake's dressing room trying to find out what the chances are of scoring a threesome with Sally - or, as it turns out, a foursome with Suzanne as well. Meanwhile, Bernie appears to have had a nervous breakdown and Maggie's long-term boyfriend is leaving her.

On-stage, Queen Rat gloats at the shipwreck of the Saucy Sal.

The next day, backstage, Wendy confronts Anastasia and refuses to be her dogsbody any longer.

On-stage, Fitzwarren and Sarah are engaged to be married.

Three days later, a tearful Maggie is on the phone to her ex- when Tom interrupts to tell her that he has lost and the theatre is to be taken over and turned into a multimedia "Georgian Experience".

On-stage, Captain Barnacle and Idle Jack prepare the obligatory pre-wedding singalong.

Last night, four days later. Backstage, Norma has been upset by Wilfred. Pistachio now wears a muzzle. Jake accuses Suzanne of deliberately drugging Sally a few days earlier, to impress the top agent who has just given her a contract. Suzanne, shamelessly, admits as much. Maggie has decided to become an agent, and plans to sign Tom as her first client. Just then, Wendy dashes in to announce that Wilfred has died in his dressing room.

On-stage, the defeated Queen Rat faces Fairy Bowbells and Tommy in the closing scene.

Backstage, Nick and Robin are dealing with moving Wilfred's body. Sally, in tears, is comforted by Tom and Maggie. Their message: no matter what, the show must go on.

FROM THE GROUP

Another play has come and gone and we are now taking a well-earned break. But before we do it falls to me as producer to comment on the last production.
''Look Behind You'' proved a difficult play to stage but I think we coped with the problems thrown up very well. We thought the episodic nature of the play and the changing of scene from backstage to on stage happenings made it unusual for our audience, but with its pantomime theme it was just right for the time of year. The cast threw themselves into the task and achieved some nicely drawn performances, with their various characters being well-developed. I did feel that perhaps some of the panto scenes could have been played up a little more (but perhaps that was down to poor direction on my part). The backstage crew worked extra hard on this play as lighting effects and scene changes happened fast and furious.
Although the feedback for this play was not quite as positive as previous productions I think this was mostly down to the first Act being overly long with a slow build up. For those people who stuck with it the end result was pleasing with plenty of laughs.
Overall I was impressed by all the hard work everyone put in and feel we were justified in choosing this play as it was fun to do and we do like to try different genres and challenges to keep our audiences interested and surprised.
Happy Christmas to one and all. Looking forward to next production in the New Year.
Mary - Producer

This play is, quite simply, a monster. It's huge, for a start - I can't think of anything we've ever done that comes close in length, even after it was trimmed by about a third and leaving out the optional musical numbers. (The synopsis above gives some idea...). Included in that are what seems like dozens of scenes, each one with elements taking part in different areas of the theatre, which cover the whole of the stage plus a big chunk of backstage. Stagewise, it needs everything a panto would need (bar a few props and a full chorus line) and a believable wings/prompt booth/dressing room area, with room for up to eleven people to fit in. "Challenging" would seem to be an apt description.

The design had to be addressed right from the start - full details can be found in the Technical/Sets section of the site - but I had the idea of a permanent frame into which we could slide flats, so the backstage would be seen through "cutaway" walls and the on-stage would have proper scenery. Fortunately, when we - or more accurately, when Pete and John - came to build it, it actually worked as designed. Somewhat strenuously, from the point of the stage crew, but still effectively. That mechanical side of things was reinforced by a lot of partial and directed lighting: enough to keep David busy, at any rate. It was certainly busy in the real backstage, who all did a good job in rather trying conditions.

Compared to the technical side, the acting was largely painless. All I had to do was hang around in a smock, being alternately pretentious and lecherous (that's IN character, if you don't mind). All in all, hard work, but satisfying - shame that it didn't have universal appeal, at the end of the day.
Mike - Technical Director/Actor

The Production Diary

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