Heidelberg Theatre Company HEIDELBERG THEATRE COMPANY (HTC) BOOKINGS 03 9457 4117 ENQUIRIES 03 9455 3039 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.htc.org.au HTC is a member of the Victorian Drama League. HTC acknowledges financial assistance from the City of Banyule. presents BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN THEATRICAL, ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD

11 Jul - 27 Jul 2013 Noël Coward (1899—1973) The Brish actor, playwright, and composer is considered by many to be the foremost writer of English comedy since Oscar Wilde. Coward made his stage debut at the age of 10 in a Christmas play and ten years later was playing juvenile leads in West End comedies and wring songs, sketches and plays. In 1923 he sang and danced through the revue ‘London Calling’, having contributed to the book and score, and in 1924 caused a sensaon as actor and author with his play ‘The Vortex’. Subsequently Coward exhibited wit PerfecƟon in art, as in every thing else, is a quesƟon of degree. All and style in a succession of revues, genuinely creaƟve arƟsts strive to plays and musicals including ‘Fallen achieve it within the limits of the Angels’ and ‘Hay Fever’ (1925), form they have chosen. I must say, ‘Bier Sweet’ (1929) ‘Private with what to the reader will seem Lives’ (1930) ‘Design for to be a refreshing gust of modesty, Living’ (1933), ‘Tonight At that in my opinion I have never achieved the perfect play that I 8:30’ (1936), ‘Blithe Spirit’ (1941), have always longed, and will always ‘Present Laughter’, ‘This Happy long, to write but I shall ever be Breed’ (1943), ‘Nude With grateful for the almost psychic giŌ Violin’ (1956), ‘Waing In The that enabled me to write Blithe Wings’ (1960) and ‘Suite In Three Spirit in five days during one of the Keys’ (1966) where he was to make darkest years of the war. It was not his final stage appearance. During meƟculously constructed in advance and only one day elapsed World War II Coward wrote the between its original concepƟon and song ‘London Pride’, and scripted, the moment I sat down to write it. directed and starred in the film ‘In It fell into my mind and on to the Which We Serve’. manuscript. Six weeks later it was Coward’s post‐war plays never produced and ran for four and a half years, and I am sƟll wondering repeated his earlier success, but he whether or not it was 'Important'. triumphed as a cabaret star in Only Time will tell. London and the U.S. and was acclaimed as King Magnus in Noël Coward Shaw's ‘The Apple Cart’ (1953). 1958

The Play Aer his London office and flat had been destroyed in the Blitz, Coward wrote ‘Blithe Spirit’ in 1941 during a holiday at Portmeirion ‐ a fantasy village in Wales. During World War II, Coward felt that Brish audiences would relish an escapist comedy such as this. The play provoked a small outcry at the me of its first performances, as it was seen to be possibly making fun of death at the height of the war; however, such objecons were quickly forgoen, and the play went on to set Brish box‐office records. The play first appeared at the Opera House in June 1941, then premiered in the West End at the on 21 July 1941 and transferred to the St. James's Theatre and then the Duchess Theatre. The principal cast members were Kay Hammond as Elvira, Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arca, Cecil Parker as Charles and Fay Compton as Ruth. The play's run of 1,997 consecuve performances set a record for non ‐musical plays in the West End that was not surpassed unl 1957, by ‘The Mousetrap’. One of the most recent professional revivals was on Broadway in 2009. It starred Angela Lansbury as Madame Arca, Chrisne Ebersole as Elvira, Rupert Evere as Charles, Jayne Atkinson as Ruth and Simon Jones as Dr. Bradman. ‘Blithe Spirit’, the film version directed by David Lean, came out in 1945. It featured Kay Hammond and Margaret Rutherford in the roles they created in the original producon, along with Rex Harrison and Constance Cummings in the lead parts of Charles and Ruth Condomine. The Director Wendy has been connuously involved with HTC for many years as Commiee Member and Wardrobe Manager, and has been integral in numerous producons in roles including Costume Designer, Set Designer, Director and Actor. From Brian Freil’s memory drama ‘Dancing At Lughnasa’ in 1998 through to Tom Stoppard’s comedy ‘Rough Crossing’ in 2004 Wendy directed a show each year for the Company. Last year Wendy was enced from a long meout as director to present Oscar Wilde’s ’The Importance of Being Earnest’ in the Company’s 60th Anniversary Year, and followed this up by appearing as Martha Brewster in ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’. CAST CHARLES CONDOMINE ...... Tim Murphy RUTH CONDOMINE ...... Jeanne Snider ELVIRA ...... Clare Hayes DR BRADMAN ...... Ian McMaster MRS BRADMAN ...... Jessica Battersby MADAME ARCATI ...... Cate Dowling Trask EDITH ...... Madeleine McKinlay Setting: The living room of the Condomine household in Kent, 1941. Act I Scene I: Before dinner on a summer evening. Scene II: After dinner. Act II Scene I: The next morning. Scene II: Late the following afternoon. Scene III: Early evening. A few days later. Act III Scene I: After dinner. A few days later. Scene II: Several hours later.

This play includes smoking .

Refreshments are available in the interval following Act I There is a brief interval after Act II; no refreshments will be served. Production Team DIRECTOR Wendy Drowley PRODUCTION COORDINATION Jim Thomson STAGE MANAGER Melanie Belcher LIGHTING DESIGN Deryk Hartwick SET DESIGN Wendy Drowley SOUND DESIGN George Bissett PROPERTIES & SET DECOR Bronwyn Parker COSTUMES Diane Brennan MECHANICS Bruce Moorehouse ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Sheelagh Belton LIGHTING OPERATORS Michael Rowe & John Rowe SOUND OPERATOR Bruce Moorehouse STAGE ASSISTANTS Sally Ockenden & Andrew Adorno SET CONSTRUCTION Owen Evans, Paddy Moriarty, Des Harris, Neville Wilkie, Ian McCabe, Mal Cother, Doug McNaughton and HTC members REHEARSAL PROMPT Bobbie Parish PHOTOGRAPHY David Belton PROGRAMME & POSTER Chris McLean PUBLICITY Bruce Akers, Toni Tyers, Chris McLean BOX OFFICE Toni Tyers, June Cherrey, Linda Coutts, Jenni Purdey FRONT OF HOUSE Jenny Gilbert and HTC members TIM MURPHY (Charles Condomine). Tim has previously appeared at HTC in ‘See How They Run’, ‘Moon over Buffalo’ and ‘The Patrick Pearse Motel’. Over the years he has played a variety of roles including Cliff in ‘Cabaret’, Billy Flynn in ‘Chicago’, Robert in ‘Company’ and Al in Stagestruck Productions very successful Australian premiere of the musical ‘Working’. Noel Coward’s beloved linguistic gymnastics are a true challenge for any actor and Tim finds it a joy to be back at HTC exploring this wonderful play with Wendy, a great cast and crew and the odd ghost… or two.

JEANNE SNIDER (Ruth Condomine). Jeanne first performed in High School productions, and returned to the stage in 2003. Her favourite roles include Claudia Draper in ‘Nuts,’ Paulina Salas in ‘Death and the Maiden,’ Jennie Malone in ‘Chapter Two,’ Judith Bliss in ‘Hay Fever,’ and Actor Number 8 in ‘The Laramie Project.’ This is Jeanne’s first time performing at Heidelberg Theatre. She is thoroughly enjoying her experience at HTC with a director, cast and production team who are all so very talented, supportive and high-spirited!

CLARE HAYES (Elvira). Clare had her first taste of acting at age 6 and continued her interest as a member of ‘Victorian Youth Theatre’ in her teenage years. After high school, Clare became involved in screen acting, building on her craft and landing a role in the feature film ‘Taj’, directed by Winston Furlong. Clare has a strong passion for amateur theatre and has previously been in plays at Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group, including ‘The Mousetrap’ and 'Hay Fever'. This will be Clare's first appearance at Heidelberg.

CATE DOWLING TRASK (Madame Arcati). Cate last appeared at Heidelberg in ‘Under Milk Wood’ (2011). Her recent theatre credits include two seasons of ‘Calendar Girls’ playing Marie, first with Brighton Theatre Company and then Lilydale’s Athenaeum Theatre Company, ‘Man Alive’ (Malvern Theatre), ‘The Cemetery Club’ (Encore Theatre), ‘Later Life’ (also at Malvern) and ‘Habeas Corpus’ (Williamstown Little Theatre). Playing ‘complicated’ women, particularly in comedy, has become something of a speciality for Cate, and she is delighted to be adding the redoubtable ‘Madame Arcati’ to that list. IAN McMASTER (Dr Bradman). Ian is happy to be back on the Heidelberg Theatre Company stage after a lengthy absence. Ian last appeared in ‘Cherry Orchard’ at HTC. Previously he appeared here as Lionel Toop in ‘See How they Run’ and Jerry Evans in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’. Ian has also worked at Malvern Theatre Company, Encore Theatre and Williamstown Little Theatre. Earlier this year he was in ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ at Malvern.

JESSICA BATTERSBY (Mrs Bradman). It’s been over a decade since Jess has been on an Australian stage, but making her return with ‘Blithe Spirit’ has proved to be an excellent plan. Jess has just returned from London where she played the Provost in ‘Measure for Measure’ at the Bridewell Institute, and Sailor/Politician/Falkland Islander in Steven Berkhoff’s rhyming satire about the Falkland wars, ‘Sink the Belgrano’….as you do. She’s absolutely thrilled to be part of Heidelberg’s cast, and is finding it all ‘extraordinary’.

MADELEINE McKINLAY (Edith). Madeleine has been an avid stage performer since studying with the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet and the Australian Ballet School for over a decade. Following this she appeared in 'Fiddler On The Roof' and 'My Fair Lady' with M2 Theatre Company and 'The Penelopiad' and 'No Exit' with Tau Sigma Theatre Company. She has also studied screen acting at the Victorian College of the Arts. This is Madeleine's first production with Heidelberg Theatre Company.

To assist those with hearing difficulties, a hearing loop is installed in the theatre—seats 1 to 10 in rows A to F. HTC gratefully acknowledges a City of Banyule grant for this service. HTC Artspace ARTWORK by artists at Araluen

The artwork on display had been produced by artists working in the studios of our neighbours at Araluen.

Araluen is a not-for-profit organisation providing support services for adults with intellectual disabilities. Programs focus on building life skills and enhancing choice, opportunity and social inclusion.

The Studio Art Program nurtures the talents of 65 local artists and supports their aspirations to exhibit their work in the mainstream art world by coordinating a comprehensive promotional schedule. Artists earn recognition and income on the basis of ability and make a positive contribution to their communities. Araluen’s artists are gaining a reputation for producing diverse and original contemporary artwork that is spontaneous, expressive and vibrant.

Artists’ works can be seen online at http://www.araluen.org/art-at-araluen/ art-gallery. For further information the Araluen enquires number is 9439 2805.

Up on the Mezzanine you can view a selection of wedding gowns from Heidelberg Theatre Company’s costume collection. Our Next Production BLITHE SPIRIT Heidelberg Theatre Company Season 2013Play 3