Frome Drama Club Newsletter

April/May 2005

Editorial

It's been a busy couple of months for FDC, and even with a super-sized A3 Newsletter I am going to have some difficulty fitting all the news in. Fortunately an increasing number of you have chosen to read your Newsletter directly off the website, where there is no limit to how big it gets. I don't think it looks quite as pretty that way (personally I am rather keen on the old-fashioned presentation in nice columns) but at least you will get it instantly, and it saves us postage of course, which greatly pleases our Treasurer!

Apart from the success of our team in the Merlin Festival, with their production of Death & The Maiden, the big news of course is our Spring production COLD COMFORT FARM in just two weeks time (less if you are reading this in hard-copy!) . With a cast of 21 and very complex stage management challenges, the play is absorbing an enormous amount of the Club's energy all round and stretching our manpower to the limit, but we are sure it will all be worth it in the end, and the cast are having a lot of fun in rehearsals - see centrefold for pics and an update on this wonderful, joyous production.

And squeezed onto the back page is all the rest of the news - in particular details of our Autumn Production. Don't miss it!

FDC TRIUMPH!

Pictured with their silverware are (L - R) : Michael Hoskinson, Philip de Glanville, Heather de Glanville, Geoff Hunt and Chris Samuels.

FDC's stunning production of Death & The Maiden, directed by Michael Hoskinson, more or less swept the board at the Merlin Festival in March. The first act of this powerful, passionate play by Ariel Dorfman was a very ambitious choice for a festival, but adjudicator Marie O'Sullivan was highly complimentary about the look of the play and particularly the superb lighting (Chris Samuels) and the very professional sound effects (Simon Bowman) and awarded them the FDC Trophy for Best Overall Presentation. She also complimented all three actors (Best Actor - Philip de Glanville, Best Actress - Heather de Glanville) for their totally convincing performances and said she had no hesitation in announcing our entry as the Best Production. The cast and crew now plan to perform the whole play, under the banner of TROUPERS, at the Merlin at the end of September. See local press for details nearer the time.

COLD COMFORT FARM

is coming to the Merlin, 14th - 16th April!

Philip de Glanville reports on progress...

I'm amazed by the number of people whose faces light up in recognition when they hear we are doing Cold Comfort Farm - the novel written so long ago (1932 I think) by Stella Gibbons clearly has a very special place in our collective consciousnesss.

I must confess I was only dimly aware of it myself, but reading Paul Doust's script last year, at one of our monthly playreadings, made me seek out the novel. I loved every word of it! And it made me very aware of what a clever job he did adapting it for the stage. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, making use of lots of the purple prose of the original, but with a great sense of fun and with its tongue very firmly in its cheek. There's also a lot of physical comedy, really eccentric characters, and a huge plant...

The sukebind has given us quite a lot of trouble really, and not just because no one seems to know how the pronounce it. It has to break free from its bindings halfway through the first half, grow to about 20' and then entwine most of the Starkadders in its extensive root system. Soon after the start of the second half it bursts into flower, and overwhelms everyone with its sickeningly powerful perfume. Oh yeah? And if that weren't enough of a challenge there's Graceless, the big jersey cow with the wooden leg, whose leg works loose during milking, and Graceless - yup, Graceless falls over. Huh? You must be joking.

Actually, apart from landing the biplane, I think we've pretty well solved the technical problems. No, I'm not going to tell you how. You'll have to come and see for yourselves. But be warned - tickets are already selling well, and if you want a decent seat to see this glorious show you'll need to book very soon.

Some of the Quivering Brethren, hymn-singing (after a fashion). We don't know the tune, that table is definitely flat, and as usual no one remembered to bring hymn books.

The cast have been fantastic - there's an awful lot of them, and the ensemble pieces (of which there are a great number… almost everyone seems to have at least four roles; very confusing) are a bit of a nightmare really, especially since we still haven't had a rehearsal where everyone has been able to come. But there's a great sense of camaderie developing.

Yes, OK - I know it looks as though some of the cast have had enough of their director …. Actually it's a hair-raising scene from the Chapel of the Quivering Brethren who have turned on their mentor (? tormentor) Amos and are dumping him unceremoniously in favour of Flora and her nice old tricycle with a platform on the back.

HELP!

As you may have gathered, CCF is pretty demanding from a stage management point of view and quite frankly we desperately need some volunteers to help during Production Week. We don't think we can do it with just the three we have at the moment. So, if any of our members would be prepared to give up the afternoon of Sunday 10th April, for a run through of what's required, and to come and do their bit every evening in the week that follows, we would be enormously grateful. It's really good fun, and you are guaranteed a warm welcome. Please telephone Alan Woolley, our Stage Manager, on 01373 474006 or email him at aawoolley@yahoo.co.uk immediately if you can help.

As you may have seen in the papers recently we have a really good cast, and a lot of them you'll recognise from past and recent FDC productions. They are ably led by Claudia Pepler-Berry, who plays our orphaned heroine Flora Poste with tremendous panache. It is an enormous role, but Claudia has absorbed it as though born to play Flora, and has given everyone else a very high standard to attain.

Also prominent amongst FDC ‘old-stagers' are Lesley Swinburn as the grandmother of them all Ada Doom, Nicky Allen as the eccentric Judith Starkadder, myself as her husband Amos, David North as their eldest son Reuben, and Martin Coat as the rapacious Seth - so very sexy! Amy Davidson plays the ‘poetic dryad' Elphine and we are delighted to welcome Chris Parker back into the fold to take on the part of the loathsome Urk. Giovanni Monica has gone from strength to strength since he first trod the boards in Pack of Lies last Autumn and this time will be playing the 93 year-old arthritic hired-hand Adam Lambsbreath. Completely new to FDC and apparently thoroughly enjoying her role as poor daft Rennet is Freya Hope. Her character rushes off to immerse herself in the well at frequent intervals throughout the play, and I hope that Freya's enthusiasm won't be too dampened by the buckets of water we will be throwing over her in the wings!

Bringing a touch of class to the proceedings, as members of the Hawk-Monitor family up at Hautcouture Hall (though the Starkadders insist on calling it ‘Howchicker') are the very experienced Gilly Richardson as Mrs H-M and Hilary Daniel as Sneller, the butler, and they are joined by newcomer Mike Doxford, who is fitting his A levels in around rehearsals, as young Richard Hawk-Monitor. And representing the outside world are Alex Webb, as the ebullient Mr Neck (the famous Hollywood producer) and Geoff Hooper as Charles, Flora's real love - if she did but know it.

One of the strengths of this adaptation is the amount of ensemble work - almost everyone plays additional characters like members of the extended Starkadder family who have gathered for The Counting, or guests at the ball held in honour of Richard H-M's 21st birthday, or Quivering Brethren (everyone's favourite bit) or for the ‘Let's-Pretend-To-Be-A-Photograph-type effect' after the wedding, and in addition there are Choruses, which has given us a chance to meet some talented new FDC members - notably Jade Taylor, Pam Matthiason, Lou Hindley, Caroline Hernu, and Hannah Green, with little stagestruck Katrin Berry, who at only 5 years old may be our youngest FDC member ever.

New Website

- oops!

How many of you, I wonder, spotted the deliberate mistake in the last newsletter? Apologies to one and all!! The website is NOT ~~www.fromedramaclub.com~~. IT IS www.fromedrama.com.

Now, in view of this slip up, this newsletter is being sent out through the post to everyone except those members whose e-mail addresses we know. Only two people returned the slip stating that they wished to continue to receive the hard copy of the newsletter. This would imply that everyone else is happy to access it on the website but I am not convinced! Therefore, I repeat (for the last time) that if you want future newsletters sent to you via the post then please let me know in writing at 2 Castle Street, Frome, Somerset, BA11 3BN

Finally, it is proving very useful to have members' e-mail addresses in order to send reminders. For example, a reminder was sent out a few days in advance of the Merlin One Act Play Festival and one has just been sent to announce that this newsletter is online. So, please let us know your e-mail address by e-mailing: fromedramaclub@hotmail.com

Autumn Production

We're delighted to report that Bob Gooding, who scored such a success for the Club with his excellent Macbeth in 2000 is keen to direct Romeo & Juliet for our Autumn Production 2005 and that we have already sent posters off to 21 schools/colleges in the area to see if we can attract a good range of young actors for the teenage roles.

Bob will be holding an audition workshop on Sunday 17th of April, between 1000 and 1300, at the Merlin, to see if he can cast at least the young principals before they get too embroiled in exams next term. All being well, he intends to cast the adult roles early in the summer, and no doubt will let us know more about his plans for the production in our next Newsletter - due out at the beginning of June.

Meanwhile anyone who would like to get involved in a bit of outdoor Shakespeare in a good cause might like to consider taking part in “ Natural Shakespeare” - a fund-raising exercise to be held in Victoria Park, Bath on Saturday 28th May. Along with lots of other groups in the area FDC has been offered a 60 minute slot. Please contact Geoff Hunt if interested - 01373 472981 or email him at fromedramaclub@hotmail.com

FDC Programme

Thurs 14th- Sat 16th April

SPRING PRODUCTION:
Cold Comfort Farm
Tickets £7.50 (£5.50 conc)
BOX OFFICE 465949

Sunday 17th April

Audition Workshop:
Romeo & Juliet
The Merlin Theatre
10am - 1pm
Teenagers welcome!

Wednesday 11th May

Playreading:
A Chorus of Disapproval
The Packhorse, 8pm
All welcome!

Saturday 28th May

Playreading:
Natural Shakespeare
Victoria Park, Bath
Contact Geoff Hunt

Playreadings

A select group gathered at the Packhorse at 8pm on Weds 9th March for a reading of Alan Bennett's “Habeas Corpus”. In fact it was so select (put it this way - less than five) that it was felt impossible to do justice to a play with a cast of eleven. In sporting parlance the match was abandoned!

In view of Cold Comfort Farm there will be no playreading in April but we will be reading Alan Aykbourn's “Chorus of Disapproval” on Weds 11th May and it would be nice to see a good number of members in attendance. A reminder by e-mail will be sent out a week or so beforehand...

Feedback

We've had a couple of letters! Jurgita - a lovely girl from Lithuania who briefly joined the cast of CCF while visiting Frome (but who got the performance dates muddled and went back home two weeks ago) - sent this:

Hello dear Philip,
I just write you say thank you very much for invite me be part of Frome drama club!!! I was so excited do it, but l leaving soon, and it imposible for me! The story ' The cold comfort farm' l think it's really interesting and funny one! I wish you made it perfect, and have succsees in a public! I am sure you will! Thank you very much again, and good luck!
Yours faithfully
Jurgita Liutkeviciute

and praise from a member in Bath:

I write to say how much I enjoyed “Pack of Lies” - a very professional performance in every department. I hope to bring a party to your next production. They will learn a lot about theatre from your group.

We'd like to encourage more feedback from members - for instance:

What do you think of the Newsletter?
Our new website - do you like it?
Playreadings - anything you'd like?
Or maybe you'd like to write a review of our current production?

You can contact us by e-mail at: fromedramaclub@hotmail.com

or write to:
The Editor, FDC Newsletter
The Red Cottage
Fromefield, Frome BA11 2HE

STOP PRESS
TRAILER FOR FUTURE PRODUCTIONS!!!
STOP PRESS

I am delighted to report that a successful application has been made for a grant from Frome Community Lottery. We are to receive the sum of £750.00 which will be put towards the purchase of a trailer (geddit?!) for transportation of set and scenery as well as for storage.
However, there are still funds to be raised by the Club to make this purchase possible. There are two quick ways in which you can help. First, come to see ‘Cold Comfort Farm'.
Secondly, buy a programme and be eligible for the prize draw.

There will be a formal presentation of the Lottery cheque on Tuesday, 19th April at the Merlin Theatre foyer and no doubt local press coverage will follow.
MH, Treasurer