Current Production
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Current Production |
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Our winter production for 2011 will be:
"How The Other Half Loves"
by Alan Ayckbourn
Produced by Gareth Jones
To run from the 17th to the 19th of November at Findon Village Hall.
Cast
| Frank Foster | .................... | Nick Roughton |
| Fiona Foster | .................... | Lyndsey Kite |
| Bob Phillips | .................... | Dave Holden |
| Theresa Phillips | .................... | Clare-Louise Mitchell |
| William Featherstone | .................... | Zahir White |
| Mary Featherstone | .................... | Carol O'Connor |
PRODUCTION DIARY
Entries
Season's Greetings - Mike 18/09/11
So, here we are at the start of another
rehearsal run, with a somewhat late entry in the
producer-choosing-a-suitable-play stakes. I'm sure Gareth won't mind too much if
anyone were to mention that the lateness wasn't too much of a terrible
surprise...! Anyway, that's the nature of picking a show that can be cast,
staged and performed: it's not always easy to find something that fits all the
criteria.
Casting and performing, of course, are all firmly in Gareth's department so I'm
going to say very little other than the blocking seems to be going well. Not
that I've been watching that too closely - as the stage/set manager, my main
focus has been on designing something that reflects the author's intention and
the producer's ideas but can still be fitted on to our stage. It's a bit of a
challenge, given that the play was originally intended to be performed on
multiple overlapping sets in the round. Whilst we can't replicate that
experience fully, though, it also removes some of the constraints in place -
mainly those on the overlaps. The principal disadvantage of a split set in the
round is that one side is always more dominant for any given viewer; that is not
true of a proscenium-type stage like ours, where a side-by-side split gives
equal weight to both halves. It's just a question then of making it look
believable as two different rooms - and, for extra bonus points - when it's all
one room, without confusing everyone as to who is where at any given time. We've
got the basic design agreed: no doubt that will need refinement as rehearsals
progress, but it's shaping up to be interesting on the technical side.
This Is Where We Came In - Gareth 06/10/11
Firstly, let me apologise to
website regulars who have been perturbed by the lack of updates,
particularly as we are now a month into rehearsals for the November
production. I have no excuse but in mitigation, the last time I sat in the
producer’s chair the internet had not been invented.
The play I have chosen is Alan Ayckbourn’s “How the Other Half Loves” and I
have presented some challenges for all departments.
Without giving too much away, the action revolves around three married
couples and the set requires a device you may be familiar with where the
stage simultaneously depicts two different places.
Set design department is still working hard to translate my incomprehensible
visions into something that fits on the stage at Findon Village Hall.
Properties department have a long list of items to procure whilst adhering
to a particular period feel. The envisioned furniture can’t be finalised
until aforesaid set design is nailed down.
Costume department also has to deal with the period feel and provide a
variety of clothing for different scenes.
Backstage department will find themselves very busy in the wings and
resetting the stage when the curtains are closed.
Effects department are trying to work out how to deliver different sounds
from opposite sides of the stage at the same time whilst contending with a
rather ambitious lighting design.
I think that just about covers everything doesn’t it?
No, wait!
Acting department. Well all they have to do is learn the lines and be
standing in the right place on a set which doesn’t yet exist, using props
and furniture we haven’t yet provided whilst wearing clothes they haven’t
yet seen. Simples!
Notwithstanding all of the above I have to state that things are going very
well. We’re all enjoying rehearsing a well written and very humorous play.
We look forward to sharing this with you on the production nights (17th –
19th November).
Pauses In Proceedings - Gareth 10/10/11
There’s only one
acceptable reason to pause a rehearsal that isn’t at the producer’s
behest or to discuss something happening on the stage; when we are all
laughing so much that we just have to pause for breath.
The humour in this play is wonderfully understated and there is no cause
for the actors to “milk it” for laughs. Even though we’re familiar with
the script a simple nuance in delivery or movement can have us all
falling about with laughter.
I take this as a good sign although I may have to amend our rehearsal
schedule to accommodate it!
My Very Own Story - Clare-Louise 26/10/11
I was not originally cast in this play but
unfortunately the other actress involved had other commitments and had to
drop out. So there I find myself 3 weeks behind the others, blocking scenes
for the first time while others are beginning to put books down, eeeek! On
top of that every weekend from then until now has been completely booked up
with house moves and family occasions. I pride myself on being one of the
first to put my book down and here I was - weeks and weeks in, I mean a
month before performance, and no books down yet. So imagine my relief when I
could put the book down for the first 10 pages of Act one last Monday, and
then this evening when I did all of Act one, scene one with only 6 prompts.
Then it dawned on me - SIX PROMPTS and an Act and a half left to learn.
Really need to go without book for Act 1 by Monday, Act2, Scene 1 by
Wednesday and then no book by the following Monday. Then with just a week or
so left I'll have to iron out those prompts. Sure that's fine, no
problem...
Now you might think, "why is all she is talking about, lines?" well the
simple answer is because that seems to be all I am thinking about!
On a serious note however I am thoroughly enjoying this play. It isn't
in-your-face humour or farce, it's more subtle then that. As I hear more and
more I simply can't help but enjoy myself. The tickling laughter doesn't
seem to stop. So if you are planning on seeing this play (which I think you
should - it is very good) I would recommend you listen out and let yourself
go, watch that Frank, he is a funny old chap. :-)
In the interests of less waffle, I am going now.
Comic Potential - Mike 12/10/11
Progress has been made: designs have been designed,
props gathered, furniture purchased, sounds recorded and
lighting...well...thought about, at least. This weekend is the time to put
it all together in set form, ready for the cast to unleash their talents on
an unsuspecting audience. Although, on balance, they'd probably prefer a
suspecting and very large audience, if anyone out there would like to
oblige.
It's a surprisingly complicated play with plenty of action spun around
Ayckbourn's classic, sharply-observed dialogue. Above all, it's extremely
funny: the following pictures probably don't quite convey exactly how funny,
but they're here anyway. If only my scanner wasn't completely inaccessible,
there'd be a preview from the Herald as well - sorry about that: you'll just
have to buy your own copy.
Frank Foster (Nick) entertains Mary and William
Featherstone (Carol and Zahir) at the start of a rather excruciating
dinner party... |
...ably rendered more painful by Fiona Foster
(Lyndsey). |
In true Ayckbourn off-the-wall fashion... |
...these happen simultaneously. Even though
they're not simultaneous events. Best watched to understand. Anyway,
here Bob Phillips (Dave) is about to add his own inimitable charm to the
Featherstone's woes. |
Mary, prompting. At this stage, still being
kept quite busy. |
Told you it was completely, compellingly,
irresistibly funny. |
The cast: Dave Holden, Nick Roughton, Zahir
White, Carol O'Connor, Lyndsey Kite and Clare-Louise Mitchell. |
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