Bad Seed

25.4.2007  comedy or horror- and I don't mean the Beetle Drive

This is the third week that we have been reading plays selected by the producers (yes this time we have a double act)  They are all very different and all well written.  A 1950's drama, an American deep south small town sinister murder mystery and a suburban sit com.  I wonder which one it will be?  Maybe I'll find out next week!  What I do know is that they will all be demanding in more ways than one.  The Sit com will need 3 separate rooms as part of the one set and the other two plays have multiple furniture i.e several tables and chairs! So that should pose a problem for whoever is elected Stage Manager at the AGM in a couple of weeks time - I hope we have some takers and don't have to resort to press gang tactics.

One of our longest serving members is in hospital after suffering a heart attack and I wish her well but doubtless she'll be wanting to get out and back on her feet again asap for she won't want to miss the Beetle drive on 11th May.  This annual event is a money spinning social activity that seems really strange ( lots of people throwing dice and drawing beetles on pieces of paper then moving from table to table as they complete a beetle) You rarely see the person you came with until the end of the evening and there are usually accusations of cheating at some stage or another during the throwing of the dice - surely not you say?  However it is a great fun evening for all the family and with family values sadly on the wane (so we're told) its an event worthy of lottery funding let alone your £7.50 ticket (including a fish or chicken supper)  I heard on the BBC radio news today that our government have  said that they will make available 30Million - yes £30Million- to teach parents how to sing nursery rhymes to their children and to tell bedtime stories to them.  I say save your money and send them along to our Beetle Drive where they'll have great fun, learn to count, draw and laugh!

11.05.2007 - Scary choice

Last Wednesday the Play directors announced their decision...and guess what they've gone for the scary horror option!  Well it certainly is something different as not only is it a story of serial murder and psychotic behaviour - and that's from the directors- but a young child is the central figure. The poor unfortunate lone child who has been cast in this gripping role will have to now spend her Wednesdays and the whole of the first week in October in the company of us peculiar adults. She may need counselling afterwards to get over the experience, but  I'm certain that she'll remain unaffected by the content of the play.

Seriously though the young girl in question was absolutely fantastic reading the part and putting on a Southern drawl an all....a true little star in the making there. I have a small part as her schoolteacher and will now be rehearsing my Scarlet O'Hara voice, or maybe Faye Dunnaway?  I think Faye Dunnaway wins.

One of our elder members is ill in hospital. She has had a small stroke so we all wish her well and in the words of our president ' stop annoying the Doctors and Nurses and get back to us quick'

By the way I think that to keep up with the times I should rename 'my diary ' 'my blog' so I may do that for next time.

26.5.2007- AGM takes centre stage

Last Wednesday was the AGM of our society and if nothing else it showed us how lucky we're, as a society, to have prospered for 75years!  A lot of other societies have fallen by the wayside ( due to falling membership as well as finances) however our friendly band has qualities that ensure its survival i.e. adaptability, energy, flexibility to name but a few and these qualities are really needed now that our membership has fallen.  Our treasurer Sheila won the 'Oscar' on the night - named The Brightmore Cup after a longstanding former president.  She has steered us through many a crisis, I can think of 3 alone last year! So well done Sheila ( I'm sure she won't mind me naming her.)

For my sins I am once again Musical Producer and rarin' to go but first we have a play to get underway!

We have read through the play and those who still have tape recorders, taped it.  The young child playing the central character had a fantastic Southern accent and absolutely put us adults to shame with her reading - now I know why they say don't act with animals or children!!!!  Remind me not to consider Annie as our next musical - only kidding, excuse the pun.  Oh well I'd better stop right there so  bye for now.

17.6.2007 -  Deep South of Essex

The accents are a bit of a problem, they sound either Scarlet O'Hara, Sahra Jessica Parker, David Beckham or a combination of all 3 - and that's just me!  Still its early days and we're getting there.  The producers have come down heavy on us, wanting books down by end of July as there's a lot of business and moody/scary scenes to perfect, so I've got my holiday reading sorted then.

I've just heard that the lady who's been poorly and is in hospital...still after 10 weeks! Will probably come home on Wednesday.  That's a stroke of luck she'll just be in time to make coffee for us Wednesday night.  There is a BBQ at a members home next Sunday and weeks ago she said to me - in hospital - that she was aiming to be home in time for the BBQ and it looks like she'll make it.  There must be another goal to achieve after that, maybe selling programmes at the play?  We certainly need her so in the immortal words of the song...'come on Irene'

24.6.2007 - The chill factor

Irene is out of hospital now, as I mentioned that she might, but due to the lack of global warming, will not be going to the BBQ as it has been cancelled for the 2nd time due to rain.  Well not only rain but torrential rain!!  Will the 'scientists' and fat-cat Water  executives who keep on about our fair green land turning into desert please take note!!  The garden looks beautiful but I can't enjoy it except through my window.  I have a BBQ planned for 7.7.07 so fingers crossed it'll be 3rd time lucky. That's a thought maybe global warming could be measured by how many BBQs are held per head per year or how many BBQ sets B&Q sell per annum, I've a sneaky feeling that the figures have dipped this year.

Only a handful of people are needed on a Wednesday night rehearsal now as the maximum number on stage at any given time is 7 - and that's only for a very short time - so when I went last Wednesday evening, one of the said short times, I was just able to wave goodbye to a member leaving (as surplus to requirement) and hear the treasurer admonish the producers for the lack of subs coming in each week!! The reply was words to the effect of : I can't ask people here just to hand over £1.50.  You can see that the chill factor is developing off-stage as well as on, although this is inevitable for when staging a comedy there is laughter and light-heartedness, a farce brings out sauciness and so it follows suit that a chilling drama will...well chill the air. The staging of this well written play is going to schedule with no problems and there's nothing more to say at the moment except see you in 3 weeks with another exciting  update... I  hop

5.7.2007 - Wimbledon wash-out.

The holiday season is coming and we're under pressure to block the play before people start to disappear.  The idea is that when they return from their hols they will not need a book!!  Well I'm going to Cornwall next week for 5 days so I'd better remember to take my script with me - how sad is that.  This weekend I was going to have aBBQ but the weather being what it is - a wash out- I should have known not to coincide it with Wimbledon.  I've changed the format to a buffet and hope that guests arrive  nicely staggered otherwise it'll be standing room only!  The weather forecast now does predict that there may be sun over the weekend though so we'll wait and see but whatever happens there's no time to cut the grass!!

I'm racking my brains to decide upon the next musical and have gone through many, looking at the songs ,cast list and whether or not the parts will stretch our members -in the way they want to be stretched of course.  It's very difficult, still one major hurdle is passed and without the passing of which  there would be no musical, that is we have a new MD and a very professional and experienced lady to boot.  I'll have a good think over the next week while I'm away..,see you soon and I'll keep my fingers crossed for the weather.

3.8.2007 - summer here at last!

Well I've finally had to get the hose out and water the plants - what excitement! |I hope it lasts for the weekend, it's supposed to.  I may take my lines into the garden with a glass of something and get down to seriously committing them to memory. I've not been needed at rehearsal much of late but when I go next it's books down - oh hell!

on the 7.7.07 I had a garden party, at home, to celebrate the 70's, in fact no one dressed up but we did have 70's music and buffet food.  It was a very relaxed affair with friends new and old, some very old who know all my secrets - well almost all! The weather was kind and I enjoyed it very much. Irene was out of hospital and managed to make it on her crutches.

 I then went to Cornwall for a few days to stay at my father-in-laws and here is a picture of Polperro.

Just in case you've forgotten about our current production, it's called 'Bad Seed' and is a horror thriller with a twist, in fact it is very twisted!  I feel like a real actress as I have no idea what the story is about except for the bit that I'm in.  The director told me that as I was only in the first act, I needn't be required to stay for the curtain calls, nice to feel wanted!  I'll remember that when I direct the next musical.

The rehearsal's nevertheless are going well and the creepiness is coming across a treat.  No-one takes their clothes off in this play which must be a first, but don't let that put you off!  We'll try to scare the pant off you instead.

19.8.2007 - Summer gone again!

Well that didn't last long did it?  But I enjoyed it while it was here, and one of those days found me sitting in the garden with a cool drink, learning my lines.  I wondered why I had been having difficulty committing the written word to memory and found the reason.  Although I'm only in a couple of scenes I probably have the most lines than I've ever had before....so there you go, lesson learnt, never make assumptions. 

My son, who is not a dedicated fan, was helping me by reading in the other parts and asked me quizzically what the plot was. I replied that it was an everyday tale of bullying, blackmail, serial murder, child abuse and suicide to which he immediately asked me to book him a ticket ...no wonder they made it into a film - 3 times!

I've been looking and searching for a suitable musical to produce and have driven the sec. mad by requests for info as to whether certain musicals are available to perform and to look into performing rights etc.  It's important to get the right mix for our small society an I believe I've hit on the right one.  It be 'Pirates of Penzance' me hearties!! Lots of rollicking good fun for all with a touch of the Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley's.  Seriously though folks, it will be CROADS 75th anniversary and we inherently have performed G&S from the word go, so this choice seemed obvious, I don't know why it took me so long to reach it.  It might also have a little to do with the fact that if I chose another high budget musical the treasurer would disembowel me.

31.10.2007  Great Play with a chilling end

Well all well that ends well! Despite any earlier worries about this play it was a great success.  Luisa, who played the 'Damien' style child was an absolute natural, keeping us adults on our toes.  She somehow managed to endear herself to everyone, being an absolute darling offstage and a complete devil onstage!  She hid amongst the clothes rail one night and leapt out on me, nearly giving me a heart attack!  Remember her name Luisa Oldroyd-Jones for there's a star in the making if ever I saw one!  Her Mother wasn't half bad either!

Us ladies are talking of hiring Luisa for all performances as she kept the men out of our dressing room!!

Dan gave an excellent performance - off-stage- every night of being burnt to death, he had the audience on his side every night with his rather slow country boy portrayal.  Sylvia held the play together with her flamboyant character and realistic American accent and everyone contributed to this chilling drama in their own way,  well done to our two directors Lucy and Derek and a big thanks to the wardrobe mistress, sound and lighting crew for giving this 1950 drama exactly the right atmosphere.

Well onwards and upwards to Pirates of Penzance....more soon.