Archive for July, 2016

Claremont Chat – July 2016

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Claremont Chat

Claremont Dramatic Society Newsletter
The Hok, Thicket Street, Claremont, 7708
email: claremontdramatic@gmail.com
www.claremontdramatic.wordpress.com
July 2016 – Number 158

Hi everyone!

Rather a lot going on theatre-wise at the moment: auditions galore and many interesting productions in the offing.

**Reflections on Top Girls from Jenny Brandt**

Directing ‘Top Girls’ was an enriching experience for me on several levels. It was a challenge to me intellectually and artistically because I was working with a style of theatre (Brechtian) that was unfamiliar to me. It was rewarding on a philosophical level because it raised women’s issues to the forefront of my mind, challenging me to see the world from a particular view. On an emotional level, I took great delight in working with a team of enthusiastic, passionate women, who were unafraid to share of their deepest selves.

Unfortunately, fulfilling as the experience of the production was to everyone involved, we did not manage to share our final product with many people. Audiences were extremely small, which was disheartening for everyone, particularly those actors who are new to the Masque and Claremont Dramatic Society. Admittedly, the subject and style of the play were not easily accessible, but I feel that the greater community of thespians that our societies form should have been more supportive.

Traditional Masque audiences are not going to appreciate this type of theatre, which is all the more reason for the support to come from the ‘theatre community’. Surely we all wish to grow thought-provoking, artistically merited theatre. If this is indeed the course we want to take, we need to make a concerted effort to support the artistically brave in their endeavours.

– Jenny Brandt

Director’s tickets

We need new directors for our CDS productions. If you are interested in directing, we’d love to have you! All you need to do is stage a short play or play extract at a members evening to get your director’s ticket. For more information or to propose a play, contact our members evening convenor Matt Roy (contact details at the end of this newsletter).

Members evenings 2016

There will be three more members evenings for CDS this year. The next one is our traditional winter soup and rolls evening on 26 August at the Hok. Entertainment for the evening will feature a quiz by the inimitable Roy Oldfield as well as a short play extract.

The other members evening dates, so you can diarise them now, are 7 October and 4 December.

Silly Cow update

The cast and crew of CDS’s next play for the year, Ben Elton’s Silly Cow, moved into the Hok this week to start rehearsals. The play is directed by Faeron Wheeler and will open at the Masque Theatre on 21 October. The cast:

Doris – Kim R²
Sidney – Trad Nogueira-Godsey
Peggy – Santie du Toit
Douglas – Matt Roy
Eduardo – Justin Wyatt-Smith

**AUDITION NOTICE: Habeus Corpus by Alan Bennett**

Nigel Sweet will be directing HABEAS CORPUS by Alan Bennet for Constantiaberg Theatre Players. It will play at the Masque Theatre from 25 November to 3 December.

Date: Sunday 17 July

Time: 14h00

Venue: Bergvliet Guide Hall

From the director

In my opinion this is the most complete script and vehicle for competent actors to give an evening’s farce/comedy entertainment of great worth.

Personally it has given me the most memorable theatrical experience, including meeting and falling in love with Felicity when I played in my first major stage role as Shanks in 1975. Felicity is now Mrs Sweet known to most as Yvonne Finch/Copley.

Anyway, having played both Shanks and Cannon Throbbing during a two week run at The Baxter both on alternate shows! I feel well confident to be able to say I understand the piece very well.

So to characters I would like to audition, the interpretations are mine, you may wish to elaborate or re-evaluate.

In general, all characters are believable but all verging on over the top fantasy, but never going quite that far.

Dr Wicksteed (40–60, Male) – An intelligent dashing mature rogue who does little to disguise his lecherous desire for young ladies. All his implied comments are with twinkle in the eye. A great role for a male mature actor confidence in himself.
Muriel Wicksteed (30–60, Female) – His long suffering, though mildly tolerant frustrated wife.
Dennis Wicksteed (20–30, Male) – Their son who lives a loveless life due to his permanent “incurable fantasy” diseases.
Constance Wicksteed (20–30, Female) – Their flat chested romance seeking daughter who longs for a “bigger bust”.
Mrs Swabb (20–70, Female) – Now here is a character who really knows all and keeps it to herself, till it suits her, lovely comedy link role.
Cannon Throbbing (30–50, Male) – His name tells all, a closet lecherous (but hidden) vicar looking for someone to love, “so to speak”.
Lady Rumpers (50–70, Female) – A “lady” of the past now totally at a loss as to where her power has wasted away: “England my poor England what have they done to you”.
Felicity Rumpers (20ish, Female) – Lost in the wilderness drop dead gorgeous girl, in the family way, looking for a possible “blame for her misfortunate accident”.

Mr Shanks (any age, Male) – Lovely role, great fun. Requires great “feeling” and sense of the moment.

Sir Percy Shorter (45–60, Male) – Again lovely character role, trying to achieve loves lost desires with Muriel (not to give any of the plot away).
Mr Purdue (Male) – Desperate God bless him has few lines but one desire to “end it all” … which he doesn’t get done.

For more info please contact Nigel Sweet 082 351 1143 or bolero@worldonline.co.za.

AUDITION NOTICE: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Date: 6 August

Time: 10h00

Venue: Milnerton Playhouse

Production dates: 25 November to 9 December

Milnerton Players’ end-of-year musical production will be directed by Neil Leachman. He is looking for four male and two female singing actors. For further information, contact Neil on 072 833 2655.

Synopsis

Charles Schulz’s beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesner’s classic musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Brief vignettes span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, from wild optimism to utter despair. Whether you’re keen to fly with the Red Baron, moon over the Moonlight Sonata, or just do your best to find “Happiness,” You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a crowd-pleasing classic.

The Barretts of Wimpole Street by Rudolf Besier

Fish Hoek Dramatic Society’s first 2016 production, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, opens at the Masque on Friday 22 July. Written in 1930, this production is playwright Rudolf Besier’s biggest success. It’s a tale of romance inspired by the true-life love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.

The setting is 1845, and Elizabeth is an invalid after suffering a riding accident which, it was said, injured her spine. From her sofa she has corresponded with many of the great literary figures of the day and written poetry, which has been acclaimed as great. However, her frailty has denied her any mobility and normal life at all. Like an enchanted prince, Robert Browning comes to break the prison walls. Admiration for her work leads him to Elizabeth and his love for her seems to instil vitality into her. They wish to marry, but their greatest obstacle is not Elizabeth’s health but her father, whose tyrannical attitude to his children seems to ruin any chance of happiness.

The large cast features several names that are well-known to Masque audiences, including John McConnell, Jane Cohen, Erika Marais, Dennis Benneyworth, Wayne Ronne and Aubrey Hindle. Directing this beautiful period piece is CATA winner Barrie Howard, who was last seen at the Masque at the helm of the Valentine’s Soiree in 2015 and the hugely successful Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 2014.

See you at the theatre!

Calendar

7–16 Jul	Pulp presented by Underground Dance Theatre	Rosebank Theatre
11 Jul–7 Aug	Jive Cape Town Funny Festival	Baxter Theatre
12–16 Jul	Oom Schalk: From the Heart directed by Celia Musikanth	Somerset West Playhouse
12 Jul–13 Aug	The Inconvenience of Wings by Lara Foot	Baxter Theatre
13–17 Jul	Little Red Riding Hood presented by Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society	Somerset West Playhouse
16 Jul–7 Aug	My Fair Lady presented by Cape Town Gilbert & Sullivan Society	Artscape
17 Jul	AUDITION: Habeus Corpus to be directed by Nigel Sweet for CTP	Bergvliet Guide Hall
18 Jul–3 Aug	Niqabi Ninja directed by Megan Furniss	Alexander Bar
20–23 Jul	Pulp presented by Underground Dance Theatre	Galloway Theatre
20 Jul–6 Aug	I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change presented by VRG Theatrical	Theatre on the Bay
21–23 Jul	To Stand Somewhere directed by Moses D. Rasekele	Alexander Bar
21–23 Jul	Wait directed by Nathalie Vijver	Alexander Bar
22–30 Jul	The Barretts of Wimpole Street presented by Fish Hoek Dramatic Society	Masque Theatre
22 Jul–6 Aug	Boeing, Boeing presented by Milnerton Players	Milnerton Playhouse
24 Jul	Foyer session presented by Ulla Gosebrink	Masque Theatre foyer
26–30 Jul	Borderline presented by Followspot	Kalk Bay Theatre
28–30 Jul	The Worst Auditioner in the World directed by Megan Furniss	Alexander Bar
30 Jul–6 Aug	Of Mice and Men presented by Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society	Somerset West Playhouse
31 Jul–5 Aug	Balck Prophet Down written and directed by Ian Tucker	Alexander Bar
4–6 Aug	Romeo and Juliet produced by Michaela Richards	Galloway Theatre
4–6 Aug	Hello & Welcome … presented by Mother City Sketch Show	Alexander Bar
5–13 Aug	The Real Inspector Hound presented by Constantiaberg Theatre Players	Masque Theatre