Mike Davies Chairman`s Thoughts WHAT`S ON DIARY (details inside)

APRIL 2015
EDITOR’S BULLETIN
Pantomime reviews this time, also some informative
pieces re food publicity & children performing on stage.
Mike Davies
Chairman's Thoughts
The high cost of tickets for professional pantomimes
seem to be causing families happily to turn to local
amateur pantomimes - all our members report record
ticket sales for this year - much needed revenue to
finance the next year’s productions.
It is noticeable that the Groups who don’t like to do
pantomimes (or children’s stories) are the ones in
particularly in financial difficulties, even to the point of
having to disband.
Whole villages turn out to laugh and participate and a
good time is had by all.
On marking the pantomime entries it is interesting to
note how standards within each Society can differ from
year to year.
Often with a different Director, but some years we see
beautifully painted scenery and the next year rather
drab use of the black drapes. Some years outrageous
Dame costumes and changes of wardrobe for the cast
and the next year they wear the same clothes all the
way through - not even a change for the finale.
This may be to save money but an audience muttering
‘not as good as last year’ on their way out may affect
ticket sales for the following year.
Forget “You’re Only As Good As Your Last Show” at
your peril.
Continued on Page 2
ODN AGM 2015
Fri 24th April
Drayton Village Hall, Lockway, Drayton, OX14 4LG
Meet us at 7.30pm for a drink to welcome you,
8.00pm the meeting will start.
There will be Entertainment by a number of ODN
Member group’s, selected from their recent
productions.
During the evening, the Pantomime Competition
results will be announced.
Also as usual, we will announce the winner of the
ODN BURSARY for the NODA SUMMER SCHOOL
"Directing a Musical" Course.
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
WHAT’S ON DIARY
(details inside)
APRIL
8
Whole Hog Productions
Private Widdle's Rep
15-18 Jigsaw Stage Productions
Anything Goes.
13-18 Abingdon Operatic Society
The Sound of Music
15-18 Sinodun Players
Life of Riley
22-25 AmEgosTheatre
Into the Woods
22-25 Banbury Cross Players
The 39 Steps
22-25 Compton Players
A Tomb with a View
23-25 Chiltern Players
The Weekend
25
Kingston Bagpuize Drama Group
Murder Mystery Evening
29Apr- Goring Gap Players
2 May The Ladykillers
MAY
2-3
Jigsaw Stage Productions
Anything Goes.
5-9
Henley Drama Festival at the Kenton
8-9
Faringdon Dramatic Society
Office Hours
13-16 Bartholomew Players
Night Must Fall
20-23 Sinodun Players
The Birthday Party
23-24 Abdabs Youth Theatre
Rent the Musical School Edition
27-30 Wantage Stage Musical Company
Lend me a Tenor
27-30 Oxford Operatic Society
Legally Blonde The Musical
JUNE
8-13
ODN Drama Festival, Abingdon
15-18 Wallingford Drama Festival
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page
1
ODN AGM
2
ODN Acting Workshop
NODA Summer School - ODN Bursary.
Letters
3
Food Safety,
Drama Festivals
4
Child Protection Update.
Bruce Scott
Radio Oxford.
Casting news
5
Pantomime Reviews
8
Reviews
9
Forthcoming Events
13
Committee & Groups
The deadline for the June issue is 21st May 2015
Contributions to info@OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
page 1 of 13
Chairman's Thoughts
Contd
The numbers of ‘helpers’ some Groups have compared
to others is staggering - ONE group lists 20 made
scenery, 28 made costumes, 11 helped lighting, 23
helped the Stage Manager (probably not every
performance) but how many Groups are lucky enough
to have this sort of backstage help?
Maybe the smaller Groups do have a point when they
say that this is unfair competition? Maybe the time has
come for a two-tier Competition? But how? Town
Societies or Village Societies perhaps? Let us know
what you think.
There will be two new awards for next years’ Panto
Competition - One for Set Design and One for Costume
Design.
Talking of new awards - following another Group’s
complaint we have decided to award a 1st Time
Director’s award (chosen by the Festival Adjudicator)
for the best play directed by a first time Director of a 1
Act Play at the ODN Drama Festival in June 2015 have you entered yet?
Finally I have had to chase up several Groups who had
not paid their ODN Subs - at £15 not too much strain on
your Finances. Please note we all voted that 1st Jan is
a good date to help you remember. If you do not tell us
you have changed your Treasurer you won’t get the
reminder which is sent out mid-Dec. Please send in the
cheque to the ODN Treasurer with the form from the
ODN Website.
Don’t forget the Actor’s Workshop on Sun 26th April
Deidre
ODN - Actor's Workshop
Date: 26 April 2015 - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Drayton Village Hall, Lockway, Drayton,
OX14 4LG
The tutor is Jenny Johns, a professional
actress who trained at Bristol Old Vic
Theatre School.
The day will be a round-up of the
foundations for stage acting, covering
WARM UPS; VOICE WORK; STAGE CRAFT; BUILDING
CHARACTER; and TEXT WORK.
The registration fee for this workshop is £10, with a
SPECIAL FEE of £5 for younger actors from 14yrs - 18yrs,
to encourage our younger members.
To register, download a booking form from the website, or
Contact info@OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
or phone 01235 821 351
========== ODN Script Library =========
We have a selection of plays for your perusal. Details are on the
lists downloadable from our website on the 'ODN Library' page.
Contact Mike Davies by email:info@OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org or phone 01235 821351 or
07836 776220 to arrange to borrow any for perusal, or we have
a few ‘sets of books’ for play reading evenings.
Conversly, if you have unwanted scripts to donate send them to
us to add to the collection.
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
ODN is offering a Bursary
NODA
"DIRECTING
MUSICAL
for
the
THEATRE"
course at Warwick University on 1st-8th August 2015.
Only available to members of an ODN affiliated group
An application form can be downloaded from the ODN
website.
One successful applicant will be chosen by the ODN
committee and announced at the ODN AGM on April 24th.
Entrants are expected to attend the AGM or send a
representative.
All our Bursary winners in previous years have returned
after the week's course full of enthusiasm and knowledge
(see previous October newsletters).
More details of the course can be found on the NODA
website:- www.noda.org.uk
N.B. If your group is not also a member of NODA, you may have
to pay a NODA joining fee (about £27)
LETTERS
ODN Reviews
Please note that not all reviewers
are from ODN - some are free-lance
and are invited by the Societies
themselves to always review their productions. We, at
ODN, like to vary the reviewer as we all realise that all
reviews are just one person’s opinion. Someone else may
look, and find, something quite different.
We would like to open up this discussion and offer
Director’s a “right of reply”
We look forward to hearing from you
Deidre
----------------------------In defence of play reviewers, may I say that we are only
reporting on the particular production from the audience
point of view. We are not there to judge and score as
professional adjudicators are, who should be completely
conversant with the script. I have never been given, nor
would wish to be given a copy of the script prior to a
review.
I always try to make encouraging comments, but if
something doesn’t work for me, as a member of the
audience, then I will say so, whether it was the intention of
the author, or not.
Many groups welcome feedback from an impartial view of
the production, as this may help to improve future
productions and performances. I agree that comments
should not be unhelpful or fatuous as an ill-considered
comment can be hurtful and not constructive.
In my early days a barbed comment about my
performance from Frank Dibb, an eminent critic for many
years with the Oxford Times, was most hurtful and would
have put me off for life, (had I only understood what he
had written!).
In conclusion, we only review at the behest of the group
and give an impartial impression of the production before
us for the improvement of standards throughout amateur
dramatics as a whole.
Nigel James
----------------------------page 2
of 13
Letters Contd
I'm not sure you need to know a play intimately in order to
write a review.
I believe in writing a critique on a
production objectively as the audience sees it and that
doesn't include reading the script first.
Lance Bassett
----------------------------Regarding Terry Gallagher’s letter! - Having read this letter
several times, my only comment would be that I have the
greatest respect for people who give up their time in
travelling around to review amateur productions.
If anyone is kind enough to review a play of mine, I always
welcome the comments be they good or bad! I personally
would not expect a reviewer to read through my script
prior to watching the play, but simply make constructive
comments on their thoughts on the night.
As someone once said – “You can please some of the
people all of the time, you can please all of the people
some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all
of the time”.
Raymond Hopkins.
-----------------------------
In reply to Tony Gallagher's letter in the latest newsletter,
surely one of the beauties of the theatre is that we all see
things different ways. In the past I have been criticised by the
adjudicator at a festival, yet the following week was given a
very good adjudication by another adjudicator for the
direction of the play. In fact only this year at the ODN
Festival one company was criticised for a male part being
played by a woman yet at a festival two weeks later the
actress was recommended for her performance. So it shows
that even with sight of the script, adjudicators see things
differently. This also applies to directors whose ideas vary
when applying their direction to the script. It may also be
necessary to rearrange the set to suit your stage, or you may
also wish to update the play. Or, as with many amateur
groups, use an older person to play a younger part simply
because you do not have the right age actors or actresses in
the group. I realise that critics are not always aware of this
and so it may lead to adverse comments in a review.
The person giving the review is there on that night to see the
play the way the audience sees it. I do not see any reason
why you need to read the script beforehand. We, as actors
and directors, should be able to get across to the audience
and the critics the story and the feeling of the play.
If one does have a bad crit perhaps the thing to do in the cold
light of day is to read the crit again and see if you should
make changes, but you are happy with what you have done
and think that it needs no improvement just put the crit down
to one person's opinion.
Nobody likes a bad review but let's remember a bad review is
one person's opinion - if you have a good review it's
everybody's opinion.
Mike Lacey
labelling regulations do not apply. It is, however, good
practice when you are selling food to put up a list of what
ingredients are in the food which may cause allergies.
Under the regulations the only ingredients which are in
food you need to list which may cause allergies are:
cereals containing gluten, peanuts, nuts, milk, soya,
mustard, Lupin, eggs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, sesame
seeds, celery and sulphur dioxide. (Lupin is sometimes
found in flour and is used a lot in France in making bread.)
These days it is not good enough to write that the food
'may contain nuts' for example; the person who is
purchasing the food has a right to know exactly what that
food contains. If you are buying food from a supermarket
or a cash-and-carry for the evening's event you still have a
moral duty to say what the food contains (allergens are
now in bold on food packaging ingredient lists).
Activities not likely to require registration include one-off
events such as school or church fetes, amateur drama
clubs serving low-risk refreshments, Scouts or Guide
camps lasting only a few days, members of clubs providing
food for shared consumption, cooking clubs and foraging
courses.
More information about this can be found on the food
agency website at www.food.gov.UK/allergy. If you have
any concerns about the events you are running and
whether you should register under the food regulations,
advice
is
available
from
Neil
Bacon
at
Neil.Bacon@southandvale.gov.uk (due to the major fire at
the offices of South Oxfordshire District Council the best
way to contact Neil is by email).
Mike Lacey
Drama Festivals
Henley Drama Festival at The Kenton Theatre
Tue 5th – Sat 9th May 2015
www.KentonTheatre.co.uk
ODN Drama Festival
NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Mon 8th June - Sat 13th June 2015
Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon.
Adjudicator Jan Palmer Sayer
With workshops, Punters Prize,
Rose Bowl ‘special moment’ Award
Contact info@OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Details & Application Forms on ODN website
www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Wallingford Drama Festival
15 – 18 June 2015
Food safety and food allergy labelling
Corn Exchange, Market Place, Wallingford
Earlier this year food allergy labelling regulations came
into operation - so what does this mean for the many
drama groups who run supper evenings or murder
mystery evenings with a meal etc? If it is a one-off event
per year then there is no need for you to register as a
business selling food, and therefore the food allergy
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Awards for Best: play/actor/actress/‘moment’ and junior
class. Also the ever-popular Punters’ Prize
Adjudicator Paul Fowler
Contact John.Jones@SinodunPlayers.org.uk
page 3
of 13
Child Protection Regulations
There is new legislation which came into force in Feb
2015, some of which is appropriate to amateur groups.
1. The latest performance times for over 5’s is now 11pm
2. The total performance time per day is 5Hrs (3Hrs for 5-8
year olds). With a max on-site of 9.5Hrs (8Hrs age 5-8)
3. The 4 day rule still applies - i.e. a child may perform on
four days in 6 months without a license. In which case
Chaperones do not have to be approved either, just
‘suitable’. There can be several performances each day
within the time limits above.
hoping that you can pass the message out to all ODN
members to send me details of forthcoming performances
so that I can starting looking to invite people to be part of
the show.
I will be scheduling 2 guests per month between 2.30 and
3 on a Thursday afternoon - so won't have space for
everyone. But will do my best to share things round as
evenly as I can.
Simon Tavener
BBC Oxford's Theatre Guru!
simon.tavener@gmail.com
4. Where children are licensed, chaperones need to be
approved by the Local Authority, who may require DBS
(CRB) checking, - BUT in theory people already DBS
checked should NOT need re-checking (e.g. teachers).
CASTING NEWS
5. Rehearsals are NOT covered by licensing (except any
in between performances!)
Faringdon Dramatic Society
The 2014 regulations can be downloaded here:www.oxfordshiredramanetwork.org/files/ChildPerf2014.pdf
Mike Davies
CAST REQUIRED
for Faringdon Dramatic Society’s Entry for the ODN One
Act Play Festival
NIGHTHAWKS By Peter Webster
BRUCE SCOTT
An appreciation
Sadly, our friend, Bruce Scott
has died.
Bruce was a
brilliant,
talented
scenic
designer,
working
in
professional
theatres
throughout the Country.
On
his
retirement
the
professional theatre’s loss
became a wonderful gain for
amateur theatre.
He had clever, can do ideas.
His
curved
(and
safe)
staircase and wonderful set
gained him a nomination for the Noda London Scenic
Design Award for ‘Rebecca’ Another Noda London Scenic
Award nomination for his beautiful designs for ‘Lady
Windermere’s Fan’, Both for BreakaLeg Productions at the
Unicorn Theatre.
He used his skills to make an impressive ‘Flying Carpet’
and growing Beanstalk for two of the several innovative
sets he designed for Wootton Players pantomimes.
I’ll miss our chats sharing stories of our days in
professional theatre and, sadly, we will all miss his
expertise and advice and his artistic talents.
Deidre
BBC Radio Oxford - publicity
Over the past 4 years, I have been putting together a
monthly slot for BBC Oxford talking about theatre in the
county - featuring live phone interviews with actors,
directors, designers and more.
My brief for the show has slightly changed and I will now
be celebrating Amateur theatre in the county - so I am
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
‘Nighthawks’ takes Edward Hopper’s well-known painting
of the same name as its starting point, setting out to
provide the backstory of the characters depicted in the
painting and their air of loneliness and isolation. The play
is set in 1941, with some of the action set prior to the
attack on Pearl Harbour and some in the aftermath. What
has happened to the characters to leave them looking as
they do? The audience is presented with a possible reason
and are left to draw his or her own conclusion. As far as
possible the action and dialogue is true to the period, as
are the facts on which the dialogue is based.
Readthrough 13 April 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Auditions 16 April - 8:00pm
United Church Hall, Coxwell Street, Faringdon.
* ‘Nighthawks’ was awarded first prize in the Oxfordshire
Drama Network One Act Play Competition 2013.’
A request from our Auditor!
Rollright Stones
"Summer Stones and Ancient Magic"
an evening of enchantment
I am producing a new play for performance at the Rollright
Stones on Sat 13th June 2015 2.30pm till 10.30pm along with the event around it and I am looking for more
tall men to play the Knights. We need up to 12 and I have
about 5 already.
This is an entirely voluntary role, with attendance required
at probably one or two evening rehearsals either in Oxford
or at the Rollright Stones, and availability on 12th June
evening for tech and dress, and of course of 13th late
afternoon and evening till late. I wonder whether some
ODN members might like to join us.
Email Amby Hitchcox
amby@hitchcox.myzen.co.uk
page 4
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Pantomime reviews
Wychwood Players
'The Three Musketeers'
by Richard Lloyd
Will Young as Plonquer emerges from the sewers to set
the scene and to ask the willing audience to shout 'Oi
Plonquer' whenever he was needed. The French Queen,
Anne (Julie Downing) illicitly kisses the English
Ambassador (Ed Reynolds) as two small guards hide their
eyes - to the tune of 'Je t'aime'. Dame Desiree D'Artagan
(Rob Gorton) sings 'It's All About The Pigs' as small pigs
(with lovely snouts) on her farm, gambol and chase about.
Cardinal Richeleeugh (wicked Mark Jessel) in flowing red
robes, sings 'Cos I'm Evil' as his three, small, red robed
Cardinal's guard accompany him on inflatable musical
instruments.
Hopefully soon to be the fourth Musketeer, thigh-slapping
D'tagnan (Clare Brown) joins with the Three Musketeers
(Kim Bradley, Kate Lister and Rachel Hartley) to sing 'All
For One'
In the nicely painted, blue Palais de Louvre, the King,
beautifully lisped by Dudley Thompson, is guarded by very
upright, perfectly still, small pageboys holding Fleur de Lys
standards.
This pantomime had twenty four scene changes, a
challenge for any Director. I would have liked to see more
use of the front cloth (only used three times during the
twenty four scene changes) to counteract the quite long
waits between scenes.
Also I would have liked the cast to have had a change of
clothes, especially for the Ball scene at the end. The
Dame was in the same dress throughout. And the script
said that Plonquer was valet to D'Artagan and would help
to get better clothes for him, but he didn't change.
However Director, Mandyrae Large, managed her cast of
21 actors and 5 children very well. no prompts needed and
a capacity audience thoroughly enjoyed their pantomime.
Deidre Jones - ODN
ST PETER’S PLAYERS
‘A Christmas Carol’
by Christopher Bedloe
Thank you to St Peter’s Players for welcoming us to your
production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Christopher Bedloe,
James Wood and Malcolm Shapcott. It was a brave choice
to take it on as it is a musical version of the story, with
more singing than dialogue, and calling for a very large
cast. St Peter’s Players are fortunate in that respect as
they were able to call on an enthusiastic team, who
obviously enjoyed the play and their roles. It was
especially good to see so many talented children involved,
who played their numerous parts very well and sang
beautifully.
For an ensemble production such as this, where everyone
involved really contributed, it seems invidious to pick
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
anyone out; but credit must go to Pete Welply as Scrooge,
who unsurprisingly, was on stage for virtually the whole
show. His Scrooge was suitably nasty to begin with, but by
the end was a reformed and sympathetic character.
The small group of musicians played beautifully and never
missed a beat. ( So well in fact that we took them for
granted after a while, which is a compliment to their talent.)
By and large the singing was good, although sometimes
we lost the words when the singer was not facing out –
perhaps head mikes would have helped. There were also
the inevitable first night nerves, which meant that some
words were forgotten; no doubt this will change as
confidence grows.
The play consisted of nineteen scenes, with many different
locations; the cast and crew coped well with these, given
the obviously very limited space available to work in;
however, some of the changes were somewhat noisy,
which was distracting. There were also opportunities
missed to build tension and atmosphere, due to abrupt
rather than graduated lighting changes.
It must have taken a great deal of effort and commitment
from the cast to learn the many songs and actions, so
congratulations to them and their director, Andrew
Churchill Stone, for pulling it off. What was also pleasing
was that there was a real sense of community both on
stage and in the audience.
Thank you again to St Peter’s Players for their kind
invitation and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Peter Webster – ODN
The Sinodun Players
'Beauty and the Beast'
by Alan P Frayn
'Beauty and the Beast' started out as a French fairy tale
therefore Alan P Frayn's witty story is set in Franglais sur
Mer
Good Fairy (Monica Beacroft) sweetly sets the scene on
Frontcloth and vows to thwart the black-hearted Wicked
Fairy (glamorously evil Sarah Enticknap) . The curtain
rises to full stage chorus and nicely painted backcloth of
Franglais sur Mer. Confident Belle (Annabelle Buckland)
and Mdme Fifi (David Simmons) converse with Belle's
older, definitely not ugly, sisters (Barbara Wood and
Marilyn Johnson) who light up the stage with their
presence and sly comments. They flirt outrageously with
handsome Gustave (Alex Watts). There is a nice lighting
effect when Prince Danton (thigh slapping Samantha
Fields) and Belle meet 'my heart skipped a beat' - Oliver
Hemmings showing his lighting flair and experience.
Fearsome, dark forest backcloth with children swaying as
shrubs with nice recorded music as the Prince appears
with Beastly head as the Wicked Fairy had promised.
Good fun noisy ghost scene. Great interior of castle with
two lit sconces and firelight.
The sets and scenery were very believable - thanks to
construction manager, Graham Menzies and his nine
assistants and ten painters listed in the programme. Jan
Castle, with twenty seven helpers, made the villagers
dresses for the large chorus. And no less than twenty
three backstage helpers listed in the programme assisting
page 5
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Stage Manager, Erica Harley - taking it in turns no doubt
during the run.
Didcot Phoenix Drama Group
Good use of frontcloth while sets were being changed
behind - just a few waits in darkness but this was the first
night.
‘Treasure Island’
by Toby Bradford and Tina Webster
I loved the French costumes - Gypsies in white peasant
blouses under tight black bodices and purple skirts and
the beautiful Esmerelda (Sarah Duke) pining for her lost
love. The Gypsy Queen (a commanding Pat Giles) rules
them all and Aaron Oke, Danielle Higgs, Angie Stevens
give very strong support. Two Gargoyles - (in pink
overalls, Katie Mansfield and Sara Graham) sing and
dance a very energetic ‘Quasimodo A Gogo’.
Nice, bright opening set in the bar of the ‘Admirable
Benbow Inn’ with the Step in Time dancers. Their white
blouses and short black skirts seemed a little sombre for
the opening scene in a pantomime. A good ‘Freeze’ as
the Fairy Godmother, (Angela Corner) in sparkly pink,
appeared from ‘Fairies for You’ to set the scene.
Ma Hawkins (great Dame, Keith Norman) and son Jim
(energetic Corin Lawful) meet Squire Trelawny (lisping
Doug Amos) and his pretty daughter Felicity (Daisy
Norton). Jim and Felicity sing ‘You Can Count On Me’ and
we meet two undercover Pirates - very funny duo Brass
(Jim Norman) and Knuckle (Greg Greetham).
Young dancers appear as pirates under a Jolly Roger flag
with excellent diction and projection - just a shame we
couldn’t hear them sing over the music. Long John Silver
(menacing Dan Shipman) and his colourful parrot (Steve
Dossett) enter noisily down the centre aisle of the Hall.
The young dancers perform a very jolly Hornpipe with
authentic and varied choreography.
They all meet Robinson Crusoe (Matt Duckett) in D.J. and
bow tie accepting a cocktail from his charming Girl Friday
(Flo Norton)
Really good haunted room and very good skeleton dance
to eerie music (it actually frightened some of the very
young children around us)
Director, Ruby Norton, made good use of the front cloth
during scene changes - using the Good Fairy and also the
two Pirates with the Community Song - so that there were
no long waits.
There was funny use of Whack and Pow signs during the
during the Pirates’ fight. Good wardrobe (Bettina Hughes)
especially the Dame costumes. Ruby Norton assisted by
Mabel Norton and Karen Carey organised the 50 strong
team - (including 3 teams of dancers) well, royally
entertaining the enthusiastic audience.
Mike Lacey and Deidre Jones - ODN
‘Quasimodo (stooping, limping, vulnerable Sam Mansfield)
eventually breaks the curse and returns to his love
Esmerelda singing a lovely harmonious duet.
West Oxford Pantomime Association
Good audience participation with several children
volunteering to help Jacques (Joel Webster) and Alphonse
(Keith Yapp) sing the (not very well known) Community
Song on stage.
The dancers came from a local stage school, twenty three
children named, presumably used in teams, but they
seemed most uncertain of the steps often looking
sideways at one another for guidance. The adult chorus
were nicely dressed and kept together with the simple
choreography but seemed a little lack lustre - probably first
night nerves. Lovely Finale with the whole cast in shades
of yellow, well done Jan Castle.
The audience went home having enjoyed a colourful,
entertaining Pantomime thanks to Directors Julie Utley
and Caroline Wilkes.
Balancing Act
‘Quasimodo a Gogo’
by Joe Graham
Jan 2015
From the opening chorus, with ten beautifully dressed
actors attacking the song and presenting a confident,
strong stage presence, I knew we could relax and enjoy.
There is a spooky forest using lighting effects and
projection for the trees - four dancers, as trees, danced a
beautifully choreographed scene - here we had a new
take on the ‘it’s behind you’ panto favourite with four
dancers hiding behind four frightened actors - brilliant.
Sadly neither the four dancers nor the choreographer are
credited in the programme. Nor is there a credit for the
excellent wardrobe or good make-up throughout
(interesting use of red granny glasses!)
However we do know that Jim Graham wrote all of the
music and actually performed every instrument for the
finished recording.
Good use of the balcony above the stage to house the
huge bell and the atmospheric Unicorn made even more
appropriate by the being lit up outside with red lights.
Director, Joe Graham, has covered every aspect, his
attention to detail and precision is evident and I loved
every minute of this production.
Deidre Jones - ODN
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
‘Robin Hood’
by Alison Stibbe
A full house with lots of excited children watched a film of
local children cleverly playing out the early days of Robin
Hood - young Robin meets young Marian.
Pyrotechnics and small coloured lights fill the hall to
introduce Lady Bob (Rebekah Wilson) who sets the scene
- six young fairies in diaphanous, different coloured
dresses dance for a delighted audience - although they
looked a little scared to be on the stage. Will Scarlet
(Heidi Utton) and Little John (Carol Brady) with painted on
beards, help Robin Hood (Alison Stibbe) to lead an
unaccompanied chorus of ‘We Will Rock You’ with the
familiar Stamp Stamp Clap. Kids and audience lustily sing
along.
Sheriff (Jeremy Gilder) in black leather and Sir Guy of
Gisborne (Steve Jones) in burgundy doublet and hose,
plot together to kidnap Robin Hood sitting in a splendid
castle interior. Friar Tuck (affable Mark Norman) full of
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jokes to make us groan, stops the action for a while to
read out Birthdays in the audience and get children up
from the audience to sing along.
A scary Ghost (Frankie Crombie) has everyone shouting
‘he’s behind you’ a panto must have. Robin and Marian
(Camilla Knox Clarke) eventually get together to sing
‘Close To You’with ‘help’ from flying birds on sticks
wielded by Peggy (Karen Starr) and Lily (Vicky Hirsch)
The Sheriff’s Guards march well, particularly a tiny one
dressed in a gold gladiator costume.
Mitzi (Jess
Robinson) and Ditzi (Hannah Wilson) provided some
lovely comedy moments.
There were several waits while the scenery was removed
and replaced which, perhaps, could have been avoided by
front cloth curtains - or in the absence of front cloth
curtains, use of comedy or sing along at the front of the
stage to take our attention off the scene change.
The packed audience loved seeing so many of their
friends and family on stage and applauded wildly at the
finale song of ‘I’ll Be There For You’
Directors Jeremy Gilder and Dave Lambert organised
several teams - 8 for the Wardrobe, 6 for the make-up, 8
for the set, 6 people back stage and 40 adults and children
in the cast.
An enormous task which resulted in a pantomime which
was enjoyed by all.
Deidre Jones - ODN
Faringdon Dramatic Society
‘The Snow Queen’
by Peter Webster
Jan 2015
The huge pale blue velvet curtains opened to a crisp,
wintry set, deep blue sky on the cyclorama and tall, solid
fir trees, dripping with snow, in front of white ‘legs’ either
side of the stage. Cleverly designed by Jo Webster, this
set fitted beautifully for the wintry market square and with
different lighting (Ian Chandler and Paul and Tim
Mountford-Lister) for the Snow Queen’s Kingdom. Eleven
people named as set builders and painters.
The ‘russian peasant’ chorus - 35, all in different outfits, as
you would expect Townspeople to be, filled the stage as
market trader, Carlo (confident Seb Allum) and his Ma
(Helen Thrower) meet his sweetheart, Gloria (Andrea
Smith). Lovely chorus song ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’.
The backcloth turns ice blue as the imperious Snow
Queen (Amanda Linstead) with perfect posture and
diction, commands her two henchmen, Jackie and Jill
Frost (Katie Dyet and Verity Roberts) and her five wicked
Ice Elves to sprinkle fairy dust into Carlo’s eyes. This will
put him under her spell. They all sing ‘Dark Moon Rising’
On a front cloth, Gloria beautifully sings ‘It was only a
Winters Tale’, with 16 chorus joining in.
We meet fairy tale characters that have all been turned
‘nasty’ by the Snow Queen’s fairy dust.
The Sun Queen, (Yvonne Kelly) in long yellow dress and
sparkly tiara, ‘wakens’ the 3 Roses who help to find Carlo
in the Snow Queen’s Kingdom. The Raven (Dominic
Allum), with good diction, leads the way in superb Raven
costume (wonderful wardrobe by Jeni Summerfield, Joan
Lee and Lynda Bates).
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
In the Snow Queen’s Kingdom there is a beautiful
turquoise lighting effect on the rippling backcloth with
freestanding bare-branched trees in front as Gloria
powerfully sings ‘Let it Go.’ Gloria kisses Carlo and breaks
the Snow Queen’s spell and they sing ‘Nothing’s Gonna
Stop Us Now’
The finale song ‘Winter Wonderland’ with swift changing
colours, white fairy lights on the trees, was sung with
attack and joy by the whole cast.
The lighting, set and wardrobe were superb, with lovely
voices and confident, well-drilled chorus to do it justice.
Congratulations to Director and author, Peter Webster and
his great back-up team, on a thoroughly enjoyable
production.
Deidre Jones - ODN
Kennington Amateur Dramatic Society
Jack and The Beanstalk
by TLC Creative
Pyrotechnics herald the arrival of wicked Poison Ivy (Jo
Purves) in dark rags and good Fairy Beansprout (Sophie
Smith) in sparkly white. They introduce the Pantomime,
with good diction, in clever rhyming couplets. Then the
curtain opens to a chorus filling the stage and singing ‘It’s
a Beautiful Day’. Good chorus reaction to Dame Trott (Ian
Biggs exploring his feminine side) and Dozy Dan
(energetic Lucy Powles). Lots of jokes to groan to. The
King (young Harry Collis) with good diction and attitude,
(maybe a moustache and goatee would have helped us to
accept
his final joining up with the Dame?) commands
his Prime Minister et al! (David Buckmaster). David
donned several disguises on stage - wigs/specs etc to
change characters.
Jack (confident Harmony Scott-Russell), with a lovely
voice and stage presence, falls for the Princess (pretty
Rebecca Velickovic in long pink velvet) and together they
sing ‘It’s a Little Bit Funny’
The Wendy Melson dancers tap away with Buttercup the
lovely dancing Cow (Rhiannon Smith and Kaity Newland)
with Jack singing ‘Build me up Buttercup’.
A colourful UV scene entrances the children in the
audience with Butterflies, frogs and a growing Beanstalk.
There was a custard-pie scene in the Giant’s Kitchen, the
huge Giant frightening some of the children, then his Harp
lulls him to sleep - Harp (Grace Richards) had harp strings
as a wing from her out-stretched right arm - a very
effective costume.
Good ghost scene using a huge spider (Patience ScottRussell) - ‘he’s behind you!’
Jack sings ‘It’s so Quiet’ (must not wake the Giant) and the
chorus chase across the back of the stage in the loud part.
The Giant awakes - his voice is very very loud.
Pyrotechnics as the Beanstalk is felled and the Community
Song is sung out on the frontcloth as the cast get ready for
the Finale. We felt the panto would have benefited from a
little more attack and energy from the chorus in opening
and closing scenes
Welcome back to Kads as they ‘rested’ last year and
congratulations to Directors David Buckmaster and Ian
Biggs for this traditional pantomime.
Mike Lacey and Deidre Jones - ODN
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Northmoor Players
‘Robin Hood’
by Mike & Janet Moran and Sue Harrison
A lovely welcome by Northmoor Players front of house
team led by Lisa Eliett, all in Robin Hood outfits, such a
nice touch.
The usual beautifully painted scenery (John Downes) first
set in the village square. The stage was filled with smiling,
enthusiastic villagers and as always with Northmoor,
many, talented children. All singing, all dancing, all
reacting, a credit to Director, Sue Harrison. Alan-a-Dale
(Laurence Tuck) is the minstrel who narrates the story in
song, accompanying himself by lute.
Dame Madonna Kebab (strong performance by Mike
Moran) with four outrageous costume and wig changes,
looks after ‘her’ charge Maid Marian (pretty Eleanor Tuck
with a powerful singing voice).
The Sheriff of Nottingham (Olly Willans) strides the stage,
with evil smiles and impatience for his two incompetent
henchmen, Twiddle and Twaddle, (Simon Bustany and
Reg Berry). Two witches (Becky Bird and Liz Downes at
their cackling best) stir a misty, blue-lit cauldron whilst
singing ‘I Put a Spell on You’. The spell, meant for Maid
Marian, is mistakenly given to the Dame, by the inept
Henchmen. The forest scenery is superb, a perfect setting
for the Giant Spider (scary Alice Smith) - yes ‘he’s behind
you’ and the archery contest. Robin Hood (Caroline
Wheatley) and Maid Marian sing ‘You’re the One That I
Want’ with the Dame and the Merrie Men as perfect
backing singers with all the actions.
We all sing ‘Robin Hood’ as the Community Song (sung
with gusto because we all know it) and the finale stage is
filled with confident, smiling players.
Congratulations, once again, to Director Sue Harrison for
coaxing the infectious energy out of her actors, We all
loved it
young ladies who use Julie’s bedroom to keep their eye on
the comings and goings at the Kroger’s house.
Whitemore’s play provides an insight into life in the early
60’s and the excellent split set designed by Peter Bloor
was adorned with many period pieces and came over well
as an ordinary comfortable suburban home in an ordinary
town inhabited by ordinary people.
This was the opening night of the play run and nerves and
a couple of prompts were evident. The theatre was only
half full too. Shame.
Kate Fricke who played Barbara seemed particularly
nervous as the action began but by the second act was
well into her stride and delivered a magnificent address
seemingly word perfect and impressive as the situation
tears her apart.
Kate’s husband Bob (Andy Crump) came over well as the
steadfast husband, dependable, rarely away from home
and a rock for Kate who is greatly affected by being caught
up in the earth-shattering revelation concerning her
friends. His love for his wife is obvious throughout the play
and even more evident at the end of the piece when he
breaks down informing us of the fate of his wife.
Scarlett Primrose was excellent as the Jackson’s daughter
Julie. Her instant transformations from happy teenager to
anti-parental rebel were a testimonial to the writing of Mr.
Whitemore who obviously knows a thing or two about
adolescents.
Banbury Cross stalwart Philip Fine played Stewart, the MI5
man totally convincingly even to the point of the Oxbridge
accent. (If he doesn’t normally talk like that - well done, if
he does - well cast).
Sarah Lonton portrayed Helen Kroger perfectly as the fun
loving yet caring friend of the Jacksons who was up for
anything except socialising on a Saturday night. (This was
when the Krogers entertained a mysterious visitor, who of
course turns out to be their contact with the Russians).
Elegant and charming she was the epitome of the friend
we all would like, but out of sight played a dangerous and
dark game and eventually it was revealed she indeed was
a Colonel in the KGB.
reviews
Peter Kroger was played by John McCormick and again he
convinced us he was the happily married but slightly
exasperated husband of Helen, and in a short spot-lit
monologue revealed to us how and why he became a
communist.
Banbury Cross Players
Kate Groves and Helen Watson were Thelma and Sally,
the girls who spied across the road to the Krogers house
from Julie’s bedroom.
Deidre Jones ODN
Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore
Hugh Whitemore’s cold war drama based on the true story
of the infamous Portland Spy Case of the 1960’s.
The play revolves around the Jackson family comprising
Bob, Barbara and their daughter Julie. They live a quiet
life in a pleasant suburb, their best friends across the road
being the happily married Canadians Helen and Peter
Kroger.
The Jacksons’ lives are shattered one day with the arrival
of Stewart, an MI5 official informing them that their friends
are suspected of spying for the Russians. He wishes to
use their house for surveillance purposes and installs two
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Directed by Terry Gallager, Pack of Lies is another
Banbury Cross success story. The sets are getting better
with more attention to detail, though it was a strange
lighting effect to switch on a standard lamp, which didn’t
itself light up but the stage did.
The pace of the play sagged a little at times and their were
a couple of other strange monologues in the first act, but
these of course are down to Mr Whitemore not BCP.
Perhaps I missed their point
In short another cracker pulled off by Banbury Cross
Players
Lance Bassett
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Whole Hog Productions
Private Widdle's Rep
by Matthew Clift
Whole
Hog
Productions
present a brand new play as
part of the Madam Renards
Mini Fringe Festival.
Partly based on fact, 'Private
Widdle's Rep' looks at the
early career of 'Carry On' star
Charles Hawtrey and his time
working at the Swindon
Repertory Theatre in the
1950's.
A fraught group of actors try
and stage 'A Midsummer
Night's Dream' amongst tears and tantrums! London star,
Charles Hawtrey is thrown into this mix and the demons
that would haunt the comedy star's later life begin to
surface...
When: 8 April 2015 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: The STEAM museum, Swindon
Tickets: £12 from www.wyverntheatre.org.uk or
www.madamrenards.co.uk
Jigsaw Stage Productions
Anything Goes.
The musical by Cole
Porter
An evangelist-turned-nightclub
singer, a lovelorn stockbroker
wooing a lovely debutante, her
fiancé, a British lord and a
gangster disguised as a
minister all turn up on a luxury
cruise liner to sing, dance and
romance.
So come "on board", sit back
and enjoy the antics, the jokes
and some of Cole Porter’s
finest songs such as, "You’re
the Tops", "I Get a Kick Out of You", and "Anything Goes"
among others.
When: 15-18 April 7.30pm ALSO 2.30pm Sat 18th
Where: The Beacon, Wantage
Tickets: £12 and £10 conc. Matinee £10
available from the Beacon, Cut 21 and Bretts Pharmacy
Grove or contact 01235 767509
AND
When: Sat 2nd at 7.45pm & Sun 3rd May at 6.00pm.
Where: The Cornerstone, Didcot
Tickets: £13.50, £12.50 conc (& £10.90 for "Cornerstone"
members) available from Cornerstone at
www.cornerstone-arts.org or phone 01235 515144
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Abingdon Operatic Society
The Sound of Music
by Rogers & Hammerstein
A tuneful, heartwarming story, it is
based on the real life story of the
Von Trapp Family singers, one of
the world's best-known concert
groups in the era immediately
preceding World War II
When: 13 - 18 April - 7:30pm + 2.30pm Sat
Where: Amey Theatre, Abingdon School, OX14 1DE
Tickets: £13-£16 (Conc avail). From Online:www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/72937 (+ Booking Fees),
Or from Newbury Building Society, Abingdon (Unnumbered balcony seats only)
Website: www.abingdonoperatic.co.uk
Sinodun Players
Life of Riley
by Alan Ayckbourn.
Ayckbourn’s 74th play is a dark
comedy set in three gardens, a
farmyard and, finally, a cemetery.
George
Riley
is
a
popular
schoolteacher,
romantic
and
hedonistic, “a kind of hippie Peter
Pan”. Learning that he a short time
to live, six of his friends gather to
remember their relationships with him and plan how to
make his last few months as enjoyable as possible.
However, their efforts result in complicating their own
relationships in unforeseen ways.
When: April 15-18 at 7.45pm
Where: Corn Exchange, Wallingford, OX10 0EG
Tickets: £10 from Box boffice 01491 825000 or
www.cornexchange.org.uk
AmEgosTheatre
Into the
Woods
by Stephen
Sondheim
An ambivalent Cinderella - A blood-thirsty Little Red Riding
hood - A Prince Charming with a roving eye - A Witch ...
who likes gardening - They're all among the cockeyed
characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's
fractured fairy tale.
Join us on the journey into the woods... where witches,
ghosts and wolves appear!
When: 22nd - 25th April 2015
Where: King Alfred's Academy Theatre, Wantage
Website: www.amegostheatre.com
page 9 of 13
Banbury Cross Players
The 39 Steps
Adapted by Patrick Barlow,
From an original concept by Simon Corble and
Nobby Dimon this show will have you rolling in the
aisles. Murder has NEVER been this funny!
An exciting and fast moving spoof version of
Buchan’s novel & Hitchcock’s movie, you will
experience shootings, plane & train crashes, villains
with missing fingers and a daring escape over the
Forth Road Bridge. But this cult tale is also the love
story of a man and woman who have never fallen in
love before. Each discover a reason to love and be
loved .. whilst running through the Scottish mist and
clinging to bridges!
When: 22-25 April at 7.45pm
Where: The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Rd, Banbury..
Tickets: (£12.00/£11.00) are available from The Mill
Box Office - 01295 279002 - or online at
www.themillartscentre.co.uk/cms/event/59551
More information, Linda Shaw on 07802 301726 or
contactus@banburycrossplayers.org.uk
Website: www.banburycrossplayers.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BanburyCrossPlayers
Compton Players
A Tomb with a View
A comedy thriller by Norman Robbins
flower beds. By the third act, there are more corpses
than live members left in the cast; and what about the
sympathetic nurse and the author of romantic novels
– are they all, or more than, they seem to be? All is
revealed as the plot twists and turns to its surprising
conclusion.
When: 22nd - 25th April, 7.30pm (doors 7pm)
Where: Compton Village Hall, Compton
Tickets: £9.00 (£7.00 conc) Sat all £7.00
from www.comptonplayers.co.uk or Call 07767
268634 or email boxoffice@comptonplayers.co.uk
Website: www.comptonplayers.co.uk
Chiltern Players
The Weekend
By Michael Palin
Written
by
ex-Monty
Python Michael Palin, his
very funny play The
Weekend first premiered in
the 90s in the West End.
It deals with dysfunctional
family visits at their worst.
Irritable
and
difficult,
Stephen
Pebble
does
everything to forestall a
visit from his daughter,
dreary husband and precocious child. With their dog
putting its special mark on the house and his wife’s
chiropodist arriving for a dinner party Stephen’s blood
pressure reaches an all-time high.
When: Thu 23rd - Sat 25th April, 8pm
Where: Peppard Memorial Hall, Gallowstree Rd,
Peppard Common. RG9 5JA
Tickets: £7 available from
0118 9722632.
Kingston Bagpuize Drama Group
Murder Mystery Evening
A Tomb with a View is set in as sinister an old library
as one is likely to come across, presided over by a
portrait of a grim faced, mad eyed old man. There, a
dusty lawyer reads a will (involving some millions of
pounds) to an equally sinister family. One member
has werewolf tendencies, another wanders around in
a toga of Julius Caesar and a third member is a
gentle old lady who plants more than seeds in her
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
We shall be performing a murder mystery called Bad
Fortune – come and see what havoc Madam Rosa, the
mysterious fortune-teller, causes at a dinner party, and
who suffers as a result.
Bring a team of up to 6 people (maximum), or join up with
others on the night, and if your team can ‘look into the
crystal ball’ and deduce who the murderer is, a prize
awaits you. The ticket price includes a Ploughman’s and
Pud supper, and there will be a licensed bar.
When: Sat 25 April
Where: Southmoor Village Hall
Tickets: (£15 each) from Box Office on
01865 821 816,
tickets must be booked before 11 APRIL,
so don’t miss out, book now.
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Goring Gap Players
The Ladykillers
By Graham Lineham
The original film is widely
remembered as a
hilarious black comedy,
featuring a quintet of
dubious characters, a
delightfully eccentric
elderly lady, daylight
robbery and steam
trains. The incomparable
Alec Guinness took the
lead as Professor
Marcus, while an up and
coming Peter Sellers
played wide-boy Harry Robinson. In 2011 William
Rose’s 1955 screenplay was adapted by Graham
Linehan for the West End stage. The Times called it
"a new-written piece of perfection".
When: 29 April - 2 May 2015 - 8:00pm
Where: Goring Village Hall
Tickets: £12 from Inspiration in Goring Arcade,
or call 01491 873530.
Website: www.GoringGapPlayers.co.uk
Faringdon Dramatic Society
Office Hours
A play by Norm Foster
Office Hours is a briskly
paced and extremely
funny dark comedy. It
takes place in six different
city offices at
approximately the same
time on a Friday
afternoon. The stories that take place in each of
these offices are cleverly intertwined and somehow
connected by a number of common elements and
references, most notably a dead race horse and a
romance novelist.
This play will be performed (with our help) by the
Garrison Little Theatre who are visiting us from
Ontario, Canada
Where: Faringdon Junior School, Oxfordshire
When: Fri 8th & Sat 9th May 7:30pm Doors 7pm
Tickets: Adult £8, Child (under 16) £6
from Faringdon Tourist Information Centre
online booking www.faringdondramatic.org.uk
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
Bartholomew Players
Night Must Fall
a psychological thriller by Emlyn Williams The rubbish pit at the bottom of Mrs Bramson's
Essex cottage garden yields a grisly find - the
headless corpse of a glamorous woman - Tensions
rise in the house as the finger of guilt points towards
Dan, the good-looking, if somewhat insolent, low
class, "cheeky chappie" who has charmed his way
into the hearts of the women in the Bramson
household. But this is no stereotypical "whodunit".
Night Must Fall is full of psychological intrigue, mindgames, sexual attraction, menace and threat of
violence which places it firmly in the genre of
psychological thriller.
When: 13 - 16 May 2015 - 7:45pm
Where: Eynsham Village Hall, Back Lane, Eynsham,
OX29 4QW
Tickets: Wed, Thur & Sat £8.00 (conc £7.00)
Tickets from Denise Santilli 07721 744020
bart.players@gmail.com
Online: www.bartholomewplayers.ticketsource.co.uk
Friday 15th fundraising/charity 2-course supper &
show (Food @ 6.45pm)
Tickets: FRI 15th May £16.00 in advance only (not
avail online)
Sinodun Players
The Birthday Party
by Harold Pinter
Stanley Webber’s
birthday turns into a
nightmare when two
strangers, Goldberg
and McCann, arrive
out of the blue at
the boarding house
where he lodges.
Their seeminglyvested interest in
Stanley causes events to take a disturbing turn for
the worse. Stanley has his birthday, his lodgings and
even his sanity brought into question.
This early example of Pinter’s work is funny,
awkward, tense and thought-provoking. Why are
Goldberg and McCann there? What has Stanley
done to provoke their visit? Is it really his birthday?
Where: Corn Exchange, Wallingford
When: 20-23 May at 7.45pm
Tickets: £10 from 01491 825000 or from
Website: www.cornexchange.org.uk
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Abdabs Youth Theatre
Rent the Musical School Edition
Oxford Operatic Society
Legally Blonde The Musical
by Jonathan Larson
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by
Jonathan Larson loosely based on Giacomo
Puccini's opera La bohème. It tells the story of a
group of impoverished young artists struggling to
survive and create a life in New York City's East
Village in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet
City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.
Performed by Abdabs Youth Theatre students up to
19yrs of age.
Suitable for 14yrs upwards.
When: Sat 23rd May 7pm & Sun 24th May 1pm
Where: Langdale Hall, Witney
Tickets: £8, Conc £6 from Rapture Music Store,
Woolgate Centre, Witney or email
enquiries@abdabs-yt.co.uk.
Website: www.abdabs-yt.co.uk
Wantage Stage Musical Company
Lend me a Tenor
by Brad Carroll &
Peter Sham
Set in 1934 in Ohio at the
Cleveland Grand Opera
House where Tito Merelli,
a highly strung world
famous
Italian
opera
singer, is due to perform
in a sell-out performance
of
OTHELLO.
Henry
Saunders is the theatre
manager and the future of
the
Cleveland
Grand
Opera Company rests on
this performance. But Tito has a turbulent personal life with an eye for the ladies and a taste for fine wines - which
causes nothing but trouble with his hot tempered wife,
Maria and threatens his ability to perform.
Before Tito’s opening performance, the assistant theatre
manager, Max Garber, organises some tranquilisers for
him to steady his nerves but Tito unwittingly takes more
than he needs and the results are catastrophic. Here a
hilarious story unfolds which involves 3 Othellos, wrong
assumptions, mistaken identities, romantic pursuits and
misplaced seductions.
Will the right Othello manage to perform? Will Tito manage
to pacify his wife and will Henry’s daughter, Maggie get
the man she wants? Interspersed with some fantastic
musical numbers don’t miss this brilliant farce.
When: 27 May - 30 May at 7:30pm
Where: The Beacon, Portway, Wantage, OX12 9BX
Tickets: £9.00 (£7.50 Concessions) from
Bretts Chemist, Grove; Cut 21 or Rowes, Wantage.
Website: www.WantageStageMusical.co.uk
ODN website: www.OxfordshireDramaNetwork.org
A fabulously fun international award-winning musical
based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde The
Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as
she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in
pursuit of her dreams. This action-packed show
explodes on the stage with memorable songs and
dynamic dances. Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, this musical is so much fun it should be
illegal!
Legally Blonde The Musical will take you from the
sorority house to the halls of justice with theatre's
brightest new heroine (and, of course, her dog,
Bruiser).
Join us as we take you on a thrill ride for this modern
musical based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde The
Musical stays true to form with an upbeat score and
playful book. This musical is ridiculously enjoyable
from start to finish!
When: Wed 27 to Sat 30 May 7.30pm + Sat Mat
2.30pm
Where: New Theatre, George Street, Oxford
Website: www.oxfordoperatic.org.uk
Tickets: £19.90 - £25.90
buy at the box office to avoid fees.
Online: from www.atgtickets.com
(Subject to exorbitant booking fees)
STOP PRESS
H.A.O.D.S. (Henley)
Urgently need a STAGE MANAGER
for “Sunshine on Leith” - Featuring the
music of the Proclaimers!
The Get-in is next Sunday (12th April) and
opens the following Wednesday (15th)!
Please contact Julie Huntingdon on
07831 546047 or
Email: hunting311@aol.com
page 12
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