HHDS Newsletter June 2012
First we have some good news, then some bad news & finally some dubious news regarding the MEMBERSHIP portfolio.
The good news is that Wendy has been accepted for an “Outward Bound” training course with immediate effect.
The bad news is that this will occupy her full time and has had to take leave of absence for the duration of the course – she will be ‘outward bound’ for several months.
The dubious news is that I have been roped in to perform the Membership duties in her place!
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So let’s go straight to our forthcoming productions
Our next Playhouse production will be the PREMIER production of “Ginger Beer” written & directed by Daryn Jose, it will run from June 29 to 7 July.
By the time you get this newsletter bookings will be open at Computicket, or you could risk being disappointed by trying your luck at the theatre on the night you want to watch!
Then we have “Fiela’s Child” from 13 to 21 July. This show is from Darryl Spykers production company “Carnivals of the Heart.”
Then the play “Crimes of the Heart” directed by Kelly Westraad will run from about 11 to 25 August.
NB: Kelly is looking for an actor age 30/40 to play Doc, he will need to be able to speak in Southern States accent.
Other items to follow include:
A ballet production “Peter Pan” by Gail Hattingh School of Ballet in September, opening on the 7th September with a Gala fund raiser to raise funds for repairs and /or replacement of the Green Room floor.
Next up will be a visit from the Cape Ballet in October &then will be the comedy /thriller “When the Reaper Calls,” in early November.
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Those are forthcoming productions, Interspersed between them will be these other events:-
Members & Friends night
Saturday June 16th – A members & friends evening made up of the “3 P’s” ‘Pizza. Prose and play reading.
Time 7:00 for 7:30.
Admission is free, slices of pizza will be on sale at R 10.00 per slice & the bar will be open.
Poems and monologues will be provided for YOU to perform or you can supply your own (maximum 5 minutes long please).
The play reading will be a +/- 15 minute excerpt from the comedy thriller “When the Reaper Calls,” if you approve what you see, this play will be produced in full and “hit the boards” early in November, the perfect time because it is described as “an ideal play for Halloween.
AUDITIONS
When the Reaper Calls
If “Reaper” is approved auditions for the full production will occur on Sunday 01 July at 7:00 for 7:30.
Please note that although you’ll see people filling these roles during our members evening reading the production roles are open for anyone who auditions! At least 3 of the readers for the members night will not be in a position to take part in the full production and the other 2 know that I do not ‘precast,’ so everyone auditioning has an equal chance.
Anyone who is interested can collect the necessary pieces at any time and I am quite willing to discuss what I need. We will also be needing all the normal helpers as well as people to operate the special effects.
There are 5 parts:
Victor – Late 20’s to early 40’s, quite handsome & stylishly dressed in the latest backwoods fashion. A loveable rogue, he has the kind of delivery that makes it hard to tell when he is joking. Basically playful & mischievous.
Dora (Victor’s wife) – An austere woman, once attractive but several years of unrelieved surliness have prematurely aged her
Harlan – A staid looking man the same age as Victor, not unattractive but terminally bland. A soft spoken academic who studiously avoids displays of violent emotion. But can be “drive over the edge” when the right buttons are pushed.
Colleen (Harlan’s 2nd wife) – Early 20’s, very pretty with an enduring innocence, but can show real teeth if necessary
Officer McGuire – A young policewoman — looks almost too young to be in the police. Extremely earnest and devoid of humour – standing very upright and tough as nails.
THE STORY:
Victor and Harlan are young philosophy professors who have been friends, rivals and pranksters since their college days. But now Harlan has become a Stoic and has adopted a strict unemotional regimen in preparation for the afterlife. Victor is the opposite, he has turned into a wild hedonist who believes that “when you’re dead, you’re dead” and so he intends to squeeze every drop of pleasure from each fleeting moment.
While they are vacationing with their long-suffering wives at a remote cottage on the Wild Coast, Victor sets a trick to prove the falseness of Harlan’s philosophy, but the trick goes murderously wrong!
Slice of Saturday Night
There will be an audition for “Slice of Saturday Night” on either 19 or 26 Aug.
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Shiraz in Concert
In September we will have a hire – Shiraz in Concert to enable them to raise funds for sound equipment.
It has been suggested that in October the dance studios present a Variety show to raise money for repair / replacement of the green room floor.
More details regarding these 3items will be in our next newsletter.
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Directors’ Forum
MVDS have an interesting take on the Directors’ Forum which we are considering for our own forum.
Prospective directors – whether experienced or newcomers, members of a dramatic societies or not – should give some thought to the possibility of directing in the coming year(s). Contact us to discuss the options or for more information and/or delivery of a copy of the play. Keep in mind that (as always) no payment is received by our directors, cast and crew. Please find a (short) proposal form for interested potential directors attached to the end of this newsletter.
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Chirps & chips
There is still very little interest in this item, I can only assume that everyone is happy with the way things are (Lawrie you’re a fool, everyone waits for the AGM!) – Who said that? You don’t have to wait until then – we want to communicate with you NOW!
I did get a couple of responses, John Thornton was the first to notice that we had the wrong date on the last newsletter. My reply to him was he knows me well enough to realize that I spend ½ my life living in the past.
One reply was not really a chirp or chip but a rapid response to the call for pigeon feathers, thank you Sue Diepevene for providing the contact details.
If you have comments, chirps, chips or contributions contact me (how’s that for alliteration) on – lawrie@lpwest.co.za with your suggestions.
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The Masque Directors’ Forum 2013
Proposal Form
I would like to direct a play for any of the HHDS. The following details are relevant.
Personal information
Surname ______________________________First name/initials__________________________
Address _________________________________________________________________________
E-mail address ___________________________________________________________________
Telephone_____________________________Cellphone _________________________________
Experience (if any) ________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Production information (if at all possible let us have a copy of the script ASAP)
Genre ___________________________________________________________________________
Title of the production _____________________________________________________________
Author ___________________________________________________________________________
Translator (if applicable) ___________________Composer (if applicable) ___________________
How many acts? _________________________Approximate duration in minutes _____________
Particulars re set, costumes, etc. _____________________________________________________
Please note my intention to propose the following production for (Year) ____________________
Signature _________________________________________ Date ____________________________
Hottentots Holland Dramatic Society
@ The Playhouse Theatre,
cnr Lourensford Road & Swalle Street,
Somerset West, 7130
PO Box 361, Somerset West, 7129
http://www.theplayhouse.org.za
http://www.facebook.com/PlayhouseSW
Booking Office: 021 852 5182
Bookings at Computicket
Backstage/costumes: 021 851 7271
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