Wednesday 22 May 2013

Salad Days Cast

Congratulations to everyone who auditioned last night - it was huge fun! The cast so far is as follows:

The Tramp
Aidan Dwyer
Jane
Paula Fraser
Timothy
To be confirmed
Timothy's Mother
Sue Wookey
Timothy's Father
Paul Kerswill
Aunt Prue
Sue Kennedy
Lady Raeburn
Margaret Snape
Heloise
Alison Gibbs
PC Boot
Barny Shergold
Rowena
Sue Kennedy
Troppo
Dianna Moylan
Fosdyke
Nicole Santelmann
Sir Clamsby Williams
John Epton
Inspector
Andrew Hodges
Nigel
To be confirmed
Night Club Manager
To be confirmed
Fiona
Louise Thonger
Augustine Williams
To be confirmed
Asphynxia
Alison Gibbs
Ambrose
Paul Kerswill
Electrode
Nicole Santelmann
Uncle Zed
Clive Wheeler
Dancing Bishop
Paul Kerswill

There are still some parts to be cast, so if you want to be considered for any of them please contact Paula.

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Thursday 9 May 2013

Triple Bill Review


 Rehearsing Cox & Box

Our Triple Bill presentation of Cox & Box, The Zoo and Trial by Jury was clearly enjoyed by our Regional Noda Rep, Nova Horley, who has given us a really appreciative review:

"A very interesting, lively and amusing evening’s entertainment. I have never seen The Zoo before, but thought it was very interesting and colourful, despite being rather gruesome in content!

We were treated to some excellent performances, lovely costumes and a quirky, different take on Trial by Jury. The Directors had contrived to make each Act very different, which gave us an interesting evening, with some good contrasts.

The musical configurations for each Act were good, with well-rehearsed and harmonious musical numbers – well done to the three MD’s, and I liked the comedy value of Shirley Hale for Trial by Jury!

The set for Cox & Box was good, typifying a gentleman’s lodgings – with two excellent performances from Graham Breeze as Cox and Robert Little as Box. The story, if anything was sillier than usual – Sullivan music with lib by Burnand – but it somehow seemed quite real, with nice contrasts between musical numbers, with various additional silly songs, but all given a believable air by these two gents, who had extremely good voices, created good three dimensional characters which blended well. In this Act Richard Dean played Bouncer – I liked his narrative song about the army.

This then set us up for Act 2 – The Zoo. A very good opening with lovely costumes, and some excellent principals. I particularly liked Brain Miles as Carboy, as well as singing beautifully, he gave us comedy and pathos with his ineffectual attempts to hang himself, and his relationship with Laetitia giving us a softer side to him. Paula Fraser was a winsome Laetitia – who gave us lots of expression, to match her erstwhile suitor, and sung the part well with lots of expression. There were also Thomas and Eliza, played by Graham Breeze and Jo Bigg, who performed a lovely number Ah, Maiden Fair, and I have made a note of good timing from Thomas in We Gather From What You have Said. A simple story, but well told and super costumes, lots of colour, worn well, with nice wigs where required. Tom Gammell completed the principal line-up with a contrasting performance as Laetitia’s father. This piece had brightness and vivacity from the cast and was most enjoyable to watch, despite the rather dark suicide and poisoning plot!!

This was followed by Act 3 – Trial by Jury – and a very different take on this one. The jury were all pantomime characters, as were the Counsel, the Defendant, the Plaintiff, and the Judge. It was hilarious, and so suited the music. The set was again excellent – as were the superlative set of costumes. I loved Brian Miles again, this time as the Defendant, cast as Prince Charming but with the look and ways of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast – a good characterisation, plenty of expression, and nicely sung. Jo Bigg looked super as the Judge, and again was very expressive. Loved her sparkly mauve costume, it really suited her and the part. Paula Fraser gave us a slightly off-beat Cinderella /Plaintiff, which was a nice departure from the norm, and her four attendants were nicely played by Gill Davidson, Ketina Orriss, Alice Bridges and Nicole Santelmann. Frank Banks as the Usher was the only fairly normal character!

So all in all a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment from PBGS – well dressed and well sung with some lovely harmonies and good characterisations."
Thanks Nova, and well done to everyone!

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Salad Days Auditions

We will be auditioning parts for Salad Days on Tuesday, 21st May at 7.45pm. If you are interested you can download and print full details here:

Salad Days Audition Slip PDF
Salad Days Audition Information PDF

There are lots of parts so if you've never auditioned before, be brave, come along and give it a go!


Thursday 2 May 2013

Table-top sale and crafts at Haynes

Shirley is holding a table-top sale and craft event in the Misson Hall in Haynes this Saturday, 4th May. This is a PBGS fundraiser and part of the proceeds will go towards our funds, so please support this event if you can!

The event runs from 2pm - 4pm. The Mission Hall is in Northwood End Road, just by the Longden Close turning (see google link below). I'll be there with lots photography and art cards, nature paintings and some prints!

Haynes Mission Hall

Sue W