MARCH 2012
The month when hares behave oddly……hence the saying “As mad as a march hare”.
More recently this has been questioned and it is now thought that hares behave oddly – boxing, jumping etc. – throughout their breeding season, which extends over several months. Be that as it may hares have that reputation, which will surely stay with them.
Lewis Carroll is among many who have used this in stories – “The March Hare … as this is May, it won’t be raving mad – at least not so mad as it was in March.”
From, of course, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Let us now “march” on with this month’s news!
UPCOMING PRODUCTION
Congratulations to the cast of Season’s Greetings who are (in no particular order): Miranda Lewis, Angela Lee Wright, Barrie Howard, Shaun Browne, Mark Jennings, Kirsty Cunnington, Fiona Carling and Brian Notcutt. Backstage crew currently consists of Lynda Jennings (Production Secretary extraordinaire), Barbara Basel (willing ASM), and June Edwards (genius specialist props maker). They would love to add some additional bodies to this team – contact Lynda on (021 7158558 or 072 246 1194) if you would like to assist. Director Coleen reports that the cast provided a real good belly laugh at their first read through!
MEMBERS’ NEWS
A little birdie tells me that Raymond Rudolph cracked a couple of ribs during or shortly after the run of Breakfast Club and we trust that this has forced him to take a well earned rest to allow them time to recover.
Helen Mathers recently had a shoulder op and is recuperating at her sister’s home and we wish her well.
We welcome Samantha Davies, Brad Julian Howie and Jo Frater to our society and look forward to getting to know them in the near future.
Not really ABOUT a member but definitely FOR all members: Wendy Morling spent hours trawling second-hand furniture shops and has acquired a BEE-YOO-TI-FUL new lounge suite for our clubhouse! Thanks, Wendy!
HAPPENINGS PAST AND PRESENT
CATA EVENING:
MVDS unfortunately did not win any awards (despite a good dozen nominations!) but I’m sure all who attended will agree that it was a great evening with witty Andrew Weiss acting as Master of Ceremonies. Our society presented entertainment which provided many laughs and was described as “light hearted and comical”, with “Snow White providing a marvellous ending”. Thanks goes to all those involved who so generously gave of their time to rehearse. We look forward to seeing what Hottentots Holland will come up with next year!
A full list of winners is attached and our congratulations go to all!
MASQUE AGM:
Sunday 20 May at 18.30 at the theatre. More details next month.
MASQUE FUNDRAISER:
Saturday 26 May in the theatre foyer. And evening of 80’s fun and frolic! Diarise this NOW – more info to follow!
DIRECTORS FORUM :
OK, you are being advised of this reeeeeeeeealy early! On 14 July 2012 at 14:00 at the Madhouse, 57 Promenade Road, Lakeside, we will be holding our annual Directors’ Forum to decide which productions our society will present in 2013. So you have LOTS of time to prepare if you would like to apply for one of our 2013 slots. Please prepare a short presentation of the production you have in mind (it would be ideal if the committee could get a copy of the script in advance in order to have read it by the time of the forum), including pros and cons, estimated costs (as best you can – special costumes needed?, minimalist set or big stage?, props, etc) and any information you might think useful for the committee. Non-members and members of other societies are also VERY welcome to make a presentation. Newcomers (i.e. people who have not yet directed) will be very much appreciated. Why not make a presentation for a one-act play to be presented at one of this year’s members’ evenings? Please contact birga Thomas at birgatom@iafrica.com or leave a message at 021–788 5272 if you are interested. You can also discuss possible royalties for your intended production and delivery or collection of a script with her.
We could be looking forward to some ‘play & poem’ readings in the future
and some exciting “stuff” planned for Members’ Evenings
so watch this space!
SUBS
Payment for subs for the 2012 year may be made by cheque or by electronic transfer/deposit or leave your payment in an envelope at the Masque box office, clearly marked “birga Thomas, MVDS subs”. You may also pay any member of the committee at any time. Subs are R50 for a single person, R70 for a couple and Pensioners/Students pay R30.
BIRTHDAYS
I have been an extremely clever clogs with our April birthday-ers – I have found someone born on “your” day with “your” name. Okay, so I’ve had to cheat a LITTLE, TINY bit but I should definitely get an A for effort! Some of them are really interesting – just like their MVDS’ namesakes! So here we go:
8th – Clare Stableford / Elizabeth Clare Prophet
Elizabeth Clare Wulf was born in 1939 and in 1961 she attended a meeting of a tiny group known as The Summit Lighthouse, established in the 1950s by Mark L. Prophet. Prophet said he was a messenger for enlightened spiritual beings known as the “Ascended Masters.” Ms Wulf had been a spiritual seeker since childhood and he trained her to be a messenger, too. They married in 1963 and had four children. After Mark Prophet died in 1973, Elizabeth Clare Prophet assumed full leadership of the group and established Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT) whose members believe in a common core in all of the world’s major religions — that all people are divine and on a spiritual path to oneness with God.
They also believe that the Prophets received messages from Ascended Masters such as Jesus, Mother Mary, Moses, Gautama Buddha and others.
16th – Margi Blewett / Margaret Woodrow Wilson
She was born in 1886 in Gainesville, Georgia, the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson and Ellen Louise Axson. She served as the First Lady of the United States after her mother’s death and before Woodrow’s second marriage. She was also a noted opera singer.
18th – Dean Howarth / Michael Dean Murdock
Michael Dean Murdock was born in 1946 in Lake Charles, Louisiana and is a televangelist and pastor of the Wisdom Center Ministry based in Fort Worth, Texas. Murdock preaches around the world and is best known for his promotion of prosperity theology. He preached his first public sermon at the age of eight and began full-time evangelism at the age of 19. He now has his own weekly television program, Wisdom Keys with Mike Murdock.
26TH – Brian Commins / Brian James Anderson
Brian Anderson was born in 1972 in Portsmouth, Virginia, and was a Major League Baseball pitcher for 13 seasons. After injury sidelined him from the game he became a sports broadcaster and coach.
27th Robin Rattle / Robin Platts
Robin Platts was born in Leicester, England, in 1949, and during his career as a jockey he accepted 20,409 mounts, winning 3,245 races. He was one of three riders to win the Queen’s Plate a record four times. Much of Platts’ early success came while working as the stable rider for trainer Lou Cavalaris, who once said of Platts, “You could tell right away the lad had never been near a horse before. He must have been thrown 100 times. But he showed such guts and determination. His progress in two years from absolute scratch in riding was nothing short of fantastic.” Winner of the coveted Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1992 for contributions to the sport in Canada, Platts also earned a Sovereign Award as Canada’s Outstanding Jockey in 1979.
29th Raymond Rudolph / Raymond Lee Daniels
Raymond Lee Daniels was born in 1980 in Sun Valley, California, and is an African-American karate tournament point fighter and kickboxer, with the nickname “The Real Deal”. He earned his black belt in 1992 and since then has repeatedly won virtually every major sport karate competition in the world today. He has recently released a four volume DVD series on sport karate tournament style fighting, which covers different aspects from footwork to blitzes to training drills.
Hope you all have a great birthday and a wonderful year!
CALENDAR
26 – 30 Storybook 2 at the Masque. Some well-loved characters from the previous show
appear together with some new and interesting ones. Includes some well know fairytales which are exciting and hilarious – suitable for ages 4 to 90! Times, prices and bookings through Dale on 021 7810446 (o/h), 0843671046 or email dayleglass@yahoo.com.
13 – 21 April The Winslow Boy by Terence Rattigan, directed by Aubrey Hindle and presented
by Fish Hoek Dramatic Society at the Masque. A heart warming story based on fact. A boy is expelled from a Naval Academy, but his father believes in his innocence and is determined that justice be done. The bond between the boy and his parents is truly inspiring. This, combined with a wonderful script, will leave you with a warm glow.
18 – 21 April Preeoudly Seouff Effriken directed by David Bolton and Kyla Thorburn for Live Acts in association with Cape Town G & S Society, at Milnerton High School. Bookings and further info through lance.kotze@gmail.com.
Please note days, times and prices for Masque Theatre productions
(unless otherwise stated) are Thurs & Fri performances at 20:00,
Saturday matinee at 14:30, Saturday evening at 18:30
Thurs eve and Sat Matinees R55 (Theatre Club members R45)
Other Nights R65 (Theatre Club members R55)
Bookings on 021 7881898
Interestingly enough, the “mad march hare” thing appears much
earlier than Carrol’s writing: This from the Friar’s Tale found in
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales,written between 1387 and 1400:
“For though this man were wild as is a hare,
To tell his evil deeds I will not spare.”
And on that note I will “march” off!!
Eve
