From the very start it was obvious that David Holt would have to play Dr Mortimer, whether he liked it or not, and in the event he didn't need a lot of persuasion. And to my great joy Alan Burgess leapt at the chance to play Hubert, for whom he clearly had great affection. Getting David Riley back on stage though was quite a coup, and I was so pleased that he agreed to take on the part of Sgt Connelly. One of the weaknesses I used sometimes to see when adjudicating other people's productions in Somerset was a tendency to put less able actors into the smaller roles. But with IRITF there were no 'less able actors' and having experienced people like David Riley, and Debby and Heather, and Lesley and Val, and Geoff and Den, all supporting the main two roles meant that we had strength in depth. A real 'dream team' in fact...

What pleased me most though was that we found two great newcomers to FDC – Tom Cant (playing Dr Connelly) and Ben Macfadyen (playing Leslie) who both brought such skill and energy to their roles, and were so obviously delighted to have become part of the team. It would be lovely to see both of them back on stage in the not-to-distant future.

And talking of teamwork – we mustn't forget the enormous contribution which Alan Woolley and his quietly efficient Production Team made to the success of the show. They were: Ally, Trixie, Steve and Denise, with Gillie doing all the make-up and supervising some incredibly quick changes of costume in the wings. I don't know how many of those who saw the show appreciated the hours which Trixie put in just making those paper chains, in addition to finding all the props, and she and Ally ran their department like clockwork. And remember how Geoff whizzed on and off in his wheelchair? That was Denise's job, and she timed it to perfection. Steve (Hooper) is a returnee to backstage at the Merlin, having been heavily involved in the last few FPCo productions, and we couldn't believe our luck when he turned up looking for something to do in the evenings!

A special mention though to Alan who constructed all the elements of the set in our garage, with the help of Bill Jaques (another new and very welcome member, who also helped on the design of the swing doors and painted that fabulous backdrop). And in addition to Stage Managing, Alan master-minded the get-in and the get out, recruiting an army of willing club members to help.

The whole production was an example of teams working at their very best, and I loved everything about it!

PMdeG

AWARDS FOR OF MICE & MEN

For the first time in several years we entered The Phoebe Rees Drama Competition with this year's Spring Production. The competition is organised by The Somerset Fellowship of Drama for full length plays and productions are judged by a visiting Adjudicator who writes a full report afterwards.

Of Mice & Men obviously made a big impression on the organisers of the competition who nominated us for awards in almost every category – an unprecedented 14 nominations in all! And at the Awards Ceremony in October we won a total of four trophies – Best Lighting, Best Set Design, Best Artistic Impression and the overall Best Production award - the Phoebe Rees Trophy itself. Nice.

We didn't enter It Runs In The Family for the Phoebe Rees because the majority of the cast voted not to, but we shall no doubt consider the option again with future productions.

CASTING FOR THE CRUCIBLE

There seems to be lots of interest in the Club about our next production, which is to be Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Those who came to the reading in September were really impressed with the quality of the writing and the drama of the story. Actually we only got about 2/3rds of the way through it because we started so late, which was a bit frustrating. For those who don't know the play, the third act makes your blood boil with frustration and the final scene is almost unbearably tragic. If you wept over Lennie's death in OM&M (and we heard a lot of sniffling going on in the auditorium) then make sure you bring plenty of tissues for this one.

It's a large cast. There are 21 speaking parts and we shall want some non-speaking extras/stage crew as well, so we will need a big turnout for the next reading on Monday 4^th December at 8pm, upstairs at The Packhorse.

Casting will follow soon after, and we should be able to announce the full cast by Christmas. If you are interested in taking part, but cannot make it to the reading then please let Philip know right away. Telephone: 01373 472997, 07980010997 or email him: pmdeglanville@blueyonder.co.uk He still has a few scripts available for anyone who wants to have a look and decide which part(s) to go for, but you will need to bring your copy to the reading or get it back to him before Monday.

STEPPING OUT

Our happy tappers continue to meet weekly at Janice Alden's Dance Studio and are making considerable progress.

With just under twelve months to go until the show we now have almost everyone we need to cast it, and we are ready to do so, but the man who will play Geoffrey still hasn't appeared. We know he is out there somewhere... Would he please step forward?

FAREWELL TO ALAN WOOLLEY

For years Alan ran the FPCo Production team, in the days before the Merlin took over, and within weeks of retiring from his job with NATO he came straight back into the fold to build the set and Stage Manage our Spring 05 production of Cold Comfort Farm , He's been doing it ever since – 'Allo 'Allo, Of Mice & Men and now It Runs In The Family, to magnificent effect.

Very sadly for us, he and his wife Penny have decided to move to the Taunton area and we will all miss his input tremendously. The cast and crew of IRITF had a whip-round and bought him a hammer at the end of the production week as a memento of two very fruitful, happy, but all-too short, years with FDC.

I still think we should have bought him a screwdriver...

PLAYREADINGS

September's playreading was our first look at The Crucible. Even though we didn't finish the play for lack of time, the power of the writing was extraordinary and everyone's enthusiasm gave us a clear mandate for choosing it as next year's Spring Production.

In October Michael Hoskinson led a really enjoyable reading of that hoary old chestnut The Ghost Train. The writing is so dated now but responds very well to being sent up, and that's what we did, without mercy and with enormous delight. Everyone had a go, and it was really good fun.

We have skipped November because of the Autumn Production, and December because of the Christmas Party, so next up is Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire which we are very much hoping Geoff Hunt will direct in April 2008.

Geoff will post a detailed synopsis on the website in due course – suffice to say here that it is a stylishly dark drama set in New Orleans in the 1940's, and provides three very strong leading roles (Blanche Dubois, and her sister Stella, plus of course the iconic role of Stanley Kowalski (Stella's husband) with three good supporting roles and quite a few extras.

FDC Programme

Monday 4^th December
Playreading with a view to casting:
Production Meeting IRITF
The Packhorse, 8pm
Please come in good time if you want a part - it's a long play, and we need to finish it this time.

Monday 11^th December
FDC's CHRISTMAS PARTY
by Arthur Miller
Upstairs at The Packhorse, 8pm
The theme is 'X-dressing', the drinks will flow and, of course, there will be fun and games.

Monday 8^th January
AGM
The Packhorse, 8pm
in the Merlin Theatre Foyer
All welcome – the Committee need your support & ideas!

Monday 22^nd January
Playreading
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
The Packhorse, 8pm
Likely to be our Spring Production in 2008 – you know the film, now read the play!