Claremont Dramatic Society Newsletter
Box 50, Eppindust, 7475
Tel: 021 671 2242 Cell: 082 821 4353 Fax: 021 528 2299
www.claremontdramatic.wordpress.com
October 2009 – Number 83
________________________________________
Hello all fellow dramatists!
I’m writing this afternoon from Malmesbury where I’m on the set of a film being made by some very talented young students who have written and are directing, producting and editing this local fliek.
From time to time we get requests for actors on these films – and it is well worth taking the opportunity if you have the time. It’s so different to working on stage – really fascinating process.
Member’s Evening reminder
This time around we have a movie evening planned and we’ll be showing two short films, one of which most of you will know, and another that may be new to some of you.
One is the timeless classic “Dinner for One” (or “Der 90. Geburtstag”).
The other movie is called “The Plank” –
The Plank is a popular 1967 British slapstick comedy short film. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Pennington. The story was based on a comedy sketch called “Sykes and a Plank”, which was written by Eric Sykes for his comedy television series Sykes.
Although not technically a silent film it is unusual in having little spoken dialogue; instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects.
Two builders buy a floorboard for a house they are building. They return to the house with the plank on top of a battered car, but the journey is fraught with unexpected difficulties.
The film is a series of “plank jokes” elaborating on the “man with a plank” slapstick routine seen in vaudeville and silent films, and adding new ones. For instance, at one point the plank is tied to the top of the car and projects backward into the open back of a large van. A man enters the back of the van and sits down. The van drives away, leaving him suspended in mid-air sitting on the end of the plank.
It stars Eric Sykes & Tommy Cooper
This evening should be in your diary already – but please check again – on Friday 23 October 2009, from 19h30 at The Hok.
Member Missives
I’d like to welcome a new member to the Claremont Dramatic Society – Leigh Douglas. It’s great to have you on board, and look forward to meeting you at the next member’s evening.
We’ve also had the following message from our member Nava Bastani:
Hope you are doing well. Robbie and I have been in Alaska for the last 3 months and are probably extending for a year. Good opportunity to save money. I have gotten involved in theatre here and the play “The Big One, Chronicles of the Exxon Oil Spill” opens tonight. I play an environmentalist Rikki Ott who will actually be coming to see the show. I miss Claremont dramatic society a lot and have been thinking of the great time I had in Barefoot in the Park. Please send my love to all I know and take care.
Nava
” Be united in counsel, be one in thought. Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday. Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pagentry of wealth and riches….” Baha’u'llah
Get to the theatre – “Abigail’s Party”
Wesley Figaji’s production “Abigail’s Party” by Mike Leigh is opening at the Masque on 30 October 2009.
It is described as a dark comedy: This very funny social satire is set in London in the 1970’s. The cast includes a few of our own CDS members: Wendy Goddard, Jane De Sousa, James Skilton and Jo Darby.
So even more of an incentive to go an support this Constantiaberg production!
Masque Theatre Bookings on 021-788 1898
The Hok
Our Hok Manager Adrian has sent me this update on our home:
The Hok has been upgraded and now looks like a gentlemen’s club – there are pictures of Her Majesty-and of Edward VII, rescued from the Mayor’s Office (i.e the props’s room) The gentlemen’s ‘retire’ now boasts a sign noting that the “hangings gardens of Bablyon have nothing on the hangings in our toilet.”
Inspections and tours will, on request, and at an appropriate fee, form part of a ‘tour de force’.’ One has to thank Kim for liberating the artifacts hitherto buried in the Mayor’s Office. Thanks to Simon Sutton for his indefatigable efforts in adding to the ongoing improvements. The Hok Manager is most grateful.
Inter-Society Quiz 2009
Don’t forget to diarise Sunday 22 November 2009 for the annual Inter-Society Quiz. More details to follow in due course.
Thanks to those of you that sent me questions for the quiz – I’m still taking suggestions if anyone has any. This is not limited to CDS members – so please invite all societies’ members to send me their submissions.
The categories I’m still working on are:
TV Politics
Musicals Technical
Logos World History
And that is it for October – I look forward to hearing from any or all of you with any news you may have!
