The Rotherfield Players Presents an Amateur Performance of
Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society’s Production of
„The Mikado‟
14th - 16th October 2010 Rotherfield Village Hall Programme £2
An operetta by David Mcgillivray and Walter Zerlin jr Based on "The Mikado" or "The Town of Titipu" By W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan Music arranged by Sue Van Colle
An amateur production by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd
Registered Charity No: 1119458
Rotherfield St Martin
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From the Director
Alison Organ On first reading the script of The Farndale Avenue Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society’s production of “The Mikado,” I knew The Rotherfield Players had to do it. With Sue Burnett as Musical Director and Catherine Ireland as Choreographer it became a reality. The cast, including several new members, has been wonderful, working their Japanese socks off. We have had such fun.
My thanks go to the backstage crew, who have excelled themselves, with Ian Hunt stepping into the breach as Stage Manager at a late hour; Mark Tasker making the arch and the large wooden cut outs; Helen Gallifant and Beattie Smitham producing all the costumes that were not hired from Bryan Philip Davies; Barbara Fee gallantly finding props and Nigel Cassford creating the lighting.
The business side of putting on a production must not be forgotten. James Gallifant, in the role of Producer, has dealt with finances, tickets, programmes etc, and Judith Hardy, as Front of House Manager, ensures that you, as members of the audience, are comfortably seated and that refreshments are available.
The Mikado is a comic operetta and the Farndale ladies try very hard to do it justice, but the resulting humour in their production does not arise from the pens of Gilbert and Sullivan but from their own idiosyncratic efforts.
Sit back and enjoy the show.
From the Musical Director
Sue Burnett Having grown up with a father who knew almost every Gilbert & Sullivan operetta inside out and back to front, I developed the typical teenage attitude that G & S was, in today‟s parlance, “not cool”. This attitude became even more ingrained during my 3 years studying at the Royal Academy, where such music was regarded as “pop” and ranked alongside Mick Jagger and “The Who”!
Now, nearly 40 years later, I have finally agreed to take part in a production of “The Mikado”, and I have discovered that both words and music have come flooding back from the dim recesses of the mind where my teenage antipathy banished them, and that there is much to admire and enjoy in the work of W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan.
The whole journey, from casting to Show Week has been terrific fun. Working with Alison is always a great experience, and the cast have been excellent, working hard, but with a tremendous sense of enjoyment. The humour in the script has been further enhanced by this attitude and I can‟t remember a rehearsal when we didn‟t dissolve into fits of laughter.
On a more serious note, the music has been challenging, not to say tough, and the way the soloists and chorus have tackled the difficulties has been inspirational.
It is always a pleasure to work with the band, and this year we welcome back Robin Fox on bassoon, and two completely new members – Jenny Maltby on flute and Zach Coe on trumpet. I should like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their time, hard work and support. They have also tackled their additional roles with enthusiasm, but hasten to point out that these are only an extension of what goes on with the band all the time!
From the choreographer
Catherine Ireland Catherine is an ex-professional dancer and has worked with many great stars and loves helping out with the players. “I get great satisfaction when someone says „I can't dance‟ and then works really hard to learn a routine and enjoy it.”
From the chairman
James Gallifant With four productions this year it seems that The Players are working non-stop. It is not an illusion. Rehearsals of The Railway Children overlapped both Present Laughter and this Farndale Avenue production. I‟ll call it “Farndale” because the title is so long and I will bore you. We do have a membership of over 100 people but a shortage of people in key areas, mainly those clever people who can make things such as stage properties and costumes. Although we hire a large number of our costumes from the brilliant Bryan Davies, we are lucky to have Helen Gallifant and Beattie Smitham who labour through the night creating costumes for the chorus characters. Observe the detail of the obi‟s and the dragon, for example. We are also lucky to have Mark Tasker join us recently. He manufactured the signalling equipment in the Railway Children. The great levers were identical to those found in signal boxes in the glorious days of steam (I remember those days well‼). Mark has manufactured an enormous number of stage bits and pieces for this play.
When Alison Organ and Sue Burnett suggested this show last year I couldn‟t have been more enthusiastic because I laughed my socks off in the Farndale production of Macbeth back in 2003. However, this is a musical and thus it is four times as difficult to produce as compared to a traditional play. Poor Alison has gritted her teeth with a fixed smile at times but it is a credit to both of them that every rehearsal has been immense fun for the cast.
Alas, I will be away in Spain during this production but I‟ll be thinking of the fun that you will have watching The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Operatic Society's Production of 'The Mikado'. It‟s a cracker.
Synopsis of the mikado
The show opens in Titipu when a chorus of Gentlemen of Japan is joined by Nanki Poo, who is disguised as an itinerant musician, a second trombone. He is secretly in love with Yum-Yum, but she is betrothed to her guardian, Ko-Ko, a ”cheap tailor”, who had been condemned to death for flirting but was let off so that he could become The Lord High Executioner. Nanki-Poo is told by Pooh-Bah, who holds every office of state, that Ko-Ko and Yum-Yum are to be married that day.
After telling Yum-Yum that he is really the son of the Mikado and they realise they can never be together, Nanki-Poo tries to kill himself.
Meanwhile, Ko-Ko has received a letter from The Mikado instructing him to carry out an execution within a month or he will abolish the role of Lord High Executioner and reduce Titipu to the status of a village. On seeing Nanki-Poo trying to kill himself, Ko-Ko offers to carry out the deed for him. Nanki-Poo agrees on the condition that he can enjoy one month of married life with Yum-Yum and then Ko-Ko can marry her when she is a widow. As celebrations take place Katisha arrives – she is the woman The Mikado wants Nanki-Poo to marry. She threatens to reveal Nanki-Poo‟s true identity but the chorus try to drown her out.
Act 2 opens with Yum-Yum preparing for her wedding, but it soon emerges that under the Mikado‟s law the widow of a beheaded man must be buried alive. If Nanki-Poo marries Yum-Yum she will suffer a dreadful fate after he is executed, and if he doesn‟t marry her she will have to marry Ko-Ko immediately. Nanki-Poo asks Ko-Ko to kill him immediately, but Ko-Ko can‟t bring himself to do this.
With the arrival of The Mikado imminent, Ko-Ko tries to draw up an affidavit that Nanki-Poo has been executed, so the Mikado thinks his son has been executed. Katisha, thinking Nanki-Poo is dead, agrees to marry Ko-Ko. Then Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo arrive, having got married. The Mikado finally agrees that “Nothing could be more satisfactory”. CAST
Flora Lynn Lunn (playing The Mikado)
Angela Sarah Thorn (playing Nanki-Poo)
Ronnie Kate Organ (playing Ko-Ko)
Mrs Reece Jacky Jenkins (playing Poo-Bah)
Thelma Grainne Cotter (playing Yum-Yum)
Rev. Bishop Adam Hardy (playing Pitti-Sing)
Dawn Becky Syms (playing Peep-Bo)
Felicity Jo Evans (playing Katisha)
The Producer Brian Wright
Pat, the Stage Manager Geraldine Davies
The Chorus
Ann Jennie Whelan Beryl Heather Stewart Betty Louise Coe Doreen Gussie Penny Georgia Mary Howells Hermione Ros Williams Janice Josephine Day Kitty Jess Lunn Liz Annie Darling Marjorie Alice Burrell Sheila Jess Hardy Shirley Clare Carruthers Tricia Mary-Ann Mellor THE ORCHESTRA
Musical Director and Sue Burnett piano (Gwendoline) Flute (Joan - Leader) Katherine Crowley Flute Jenny Maltby Clarinet (Ross) Nigel Burnett Clarinet Kate Shaw Saxophone (Vic) Philip Illman Bassoon Robin Fox Trumpet Zach Coe Drums (Louis) Mark Howard
BACKSTAGE
Director Alison Organ Musical Director Sue Burnett Choreographer Catherine Ireland Producer James Gallifant Stage Manager Ian Hunt Stage Hands Mark Tasker Trevor Skinner Properties Barbara Fee Lighting Nigel Cassford Sound Steve Allen Costumes Helen Gallifant Beattie Smitham Sue Exton Shelagh Whitehead Box Office James Gallifant Publicity Ros Williams Programme Design Gillian Earle Front of House Judith Hardy
Principal Character Costumes supplied by Bryan Philip Davies and Wigs supplied by Barbara Burrows Notes from the cast
Alice Burrell Jo Evans Marjorie Felicity / Katisha This is my sixth year with the Having been in the last Farndale Rotherfield Players and I‟m still loving it, production of Macbeth, I couldn't miss although I didn‟t think I‟d have a baby the chance of being in another bump at the age of 17; that‟s for the role Townswomen's Guild extravaganza, of Marjorie. playing nervous housewife, Felicity, who is playing proud arrogant Katisha! Clare Carruthers Hey ho! It's been such fun! Shirley
Playing the part of an ex-dancer who has Adam Hardy put on a bit of weight has clearly meant Rev. Bishop / Pitti-Sing bulking up for this chorus part! Rehearsals I have really enjoyed my time have been heavily weighted on fun and rehearsing the Farndale Mikado. I have given me hours of laughter, thanks started out as the Stage Manager and to a fabulous cast and crew. ended up as the Rev Reg Bishop who has an interesting array of costumes Louise Coe throughout the show! It has been a lot Betty of fun developing the character and his relationships with I have been with the Players for 5 the other 19 female members of the cast! I hope you all years. I‟m thoroughly enjoying the enjoy watching the show as much as we have all enjoyed Mikado, although I do get “that vexed” rehearsing it. with Flora! Jess Hardy Sheila Grainne Cotter I have been in The Rotherfield Players Thelma / Yum-Yum for ten years now, and this is definitely This is my first role with The Players. the strangest yet funniest play I have My part is Thelma, who plays Yum- been in. Yum. We laugh a lot in rehearsals and hope the audience will find the play as funny as we do. Mary Howells Georgia Annie Darling After an absence of some years, it is Liz great to be "treading the boards" It‟s a wonderful team, and I‟m having a again. I have had such fun making the wonderful time in a wonderful show. I‟m journey from 'front of house' with the so grateful to be included. Players to becoming a 'gentleman of Japan'!
Jacky Jenkins Geraldine Davies Mrs Reece / Pooh-Bah Pat My character is Mrs Phoebe Reece After being away from them for ten who is the Chairperson of the Farndale years, it is lovely to be part of The Housing Association Townswomen's Rotherfield Players again. Guild. I'm really looking forward to playing her because she's bossy and 'posh' and wears smart clothes. It will make a refreshing change from my usual characters with Josephine Day headscarf, pinny and slippers! Janice I usually do not go on the stage (if I can avoid it), but this looked like fun and I am really enjoying being part of this production.
Jess Lunn spare time I am a full time French teacher at Skippers Hill Kitty Manor! I have done many productions with the Rotherfield Players in my eight years of Becky Syms being a member, one of which was less Dawn / Peep-Bo than six weeks ago (The Railway I have been a member of the Players Children)! I have really enjoyed since their production of “Oliver” in rehearsing for this musical, it is a 2001, and have taken on a variety of hilarious script as you are about to find out. roles (and costumes!). Having appeared in a previous “Farndale Lynn Lunn Avenue” comedy of “The Scottish Play”, Flora / Mikado I had an idea of what to expect from this production but I The character description for the part of have enjoyed many more laughs than expected playing the Flora, the Mikado, reads „50s, dignified, bespectacled femme fatale, Dawn. Scottish scatterbrain‟, so all I had to learn was to speak Scottish. Perfect!! Sarah Thorn Angela / Nanki-Poo This is my third production with The Mary-Anne Mellor Rotherfield Players, and I am hoping Tricia you enjoy the show as much as I‟ve As an alternative therapist I can truly enjoyed the rehearsal period. It's been say this is very alternative! a real hoot! It's a pity the character I play wouldn't agree with me.
Jennie Whelan Ann Kate Organ This is my first time in the Rotherfield Ronnie / Ko-Ko Players. I‟m playing the part of Ann. If Having had great fun taking part in the the show is half as much fun as the previous Farndale Avenue Housing rehearsals it will be a great success. Association‟s production of Macbeth in 2003 I jumped at the chance of auditioning for their latest venture „The Ros Williams Mikado‟, particularly having the chance Hermione to sing and dance as well as act in such a madcap Having been a member of the production. I just hope that the audience in Rotherfield Rotherfield Players for the last ten years doesn‟t think my playing of Ronnie, whose only character and played a range of ages, starting description is „dull as ditchwater‟, is too convincing. with the French Princess Katherine aged 18 in Henry V, Hermione is the Gussie Penny most elderly - she is huge fun. Doreen This is my first production with the Brian Wright Rotherfield Players. I have really The Producer enjoyed working on the Farndale This is my eighth production with The Mikado with old friends and have made Players and my role is something of a a number of new friends. I am looking departure for me (oh! how I wish it forward to future productions. were), inasmuch as 75% of my lines are spoken from the wings. Normally I like Heather Stewart to command centre stage, no matter Beryl what the scene demands. This is my first performance since my school days X number of years ago. I have spent years watching my own children on stage so it is good to get a chance to reverse the roles! I have really enjoyed the rehearsals and in my Raffle Proceeds
The Rotherfield Village Pre-School will be moving into new premises soon, and so they will need to purchase a lot of new equipment for the fantastic new building. Vicky Cheeseman, the Setting Manager, writes:
The village Pre-School has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and as you are all probably aware we will be opening in our new building from January 2011. This is a very exciting time for us as we will be expanding our services to longer opening hours and in the future a Breakfast and After school club. With the continued support of our local community we have created a real legacy for the village which children can enjoy for many years to come. A big heart felt thank you for everyone who continues to support us.
For more information please visit www.rotherfieldpre-school.co.uk
Next production
The Wind in the Willows 3rd, 4th and 5th February 2011
This year‟s winter extravaganza will be the well loved tale of “The Wind in the Willows” adapted for stage by John Morley. He has taken the well loved characters of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger from Kenneth Grahame‟s “The Wind in the Willows and woven their exploits onto an exciting adventure story for all the family. Toad‟s addiction with caravanning and later his obsession with cars: his imprisonment and escape with the aid of Jenny and her washerwomen aunts; and his fight with the Weasels and Stoats to regain Toad Hall are all included. Providing an evening of magic and joy for all.
Directed by Adam Hardy with Sue Burnett as Musical Director and Becky Syms as Choreographer
Familiarisation on Friday 22nd October Juniors at 7.30pm and Adults at 8.00pm
Auditions on Friday 29th October Juniors at 7.30pm and Adults at 8.30pm Past Productions
The Happiest Days of Your Life 1976 Bird Bath 1993 The Diary of Anne Frank 1976 Ghost Writer 1993 Lord Arthur Saville‟s Crime 1977 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1993 Rother Jubilant 1977 The Matchmaker 1993 Pool‟s Paradise 1977 Ali Baba 1994 The Winslow Boy 1978 Sailor Beware 1994 Goodnight Mrs Puffin 1978 Hedda Gabler 1994 Night Must Fall 1979 The Magic Fruit 1995 I‟ll Get My Man 1979 Queen Alice 1995 Dark of the Moon 1980 Absurd Person Singular 1995 The Creature Creeps 1980 The Happiest Days of Your Life 1996 Ghost Train 1981 Babes in the Wood 1997 When We Are Married 1981 My Fair Lady 1997 The Rose and the Ring 1982 An Inspector Calls 1998 Separate Tables 1982 Blithe Spirit 1998 Just the Ticket 1982 Smugglers 1999 Jack and the Beanstalk 1983 Evening of One Act Plays 1999 A Letter from the General 1983 Aladdin 2000 The Chiltern Hundreds 1983 A Midsummer Night‟s Dream 2000 Aladdin 1984 A Review for the Millennium 2000 The Man Born to be King 1984 Cinderella 2001 Doctor in the House 1984 Oliver 2001 Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs 1985 Importance of Being Earnest 2001 Berkeley Square 1985 Jack and the Beanstalk 2002 Bedroom Farce 1985 Don‟t Dress for Dinner 2002 Little Red Riding Hood 1986 50 Years on the Throne 2002 The Crucible 1986 Steel Magnolias 2002 A Separate Peace 1986 Puss in Boots 2003 Season‟s Greetings 1986 Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen‟s Goldilocks and the Three Bears 1987 Guild Production of MacBeth 2003 Mother Figure 1987 Inn Love with Shakespeare 2003 Larkrise 1987 Dick Whittington 2004 Plaza Suite 1987 „Allo „Allo 2004 The Tinder Box 1988 A Murder is Announced 2004 Moonset Over Zeron 1988 The Magic Fruit 2005 Murder in Company 1988 Calamity Jane 2005 Key for Two 1988 Garden District 2005 Pinocchio 1989 The Wizard of Oz 2006 The Brute 1989 The Final Curtain 2006 A Festival of Short Plays 1989 An Ideal Husband 2006 Getting On 1989 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2007 Cinderella 1990 Godspell 2007 Something Borrowed 1990 Bard from the King‟s Arms 2007 Arms and the Man 1990 Caught in the Net 2007 Our Town 1990 Sleeping Beauty 2008 Mother Goose 1991 Kiss Me Kate 2008 A Resounding Tinkle 1991 Les Liaisons Dangereuses 2008 How the Other Half Loves 1991 Cinderella 2009 A Coat of Varnish 1991 Busybody 2009 Sinbad the Sailor 1992 Our Country‟s Good 2009 Rotherfield Pageant 1992 Babes in the Wood 2010 Ten Times Table 1992 Present Laughter 2010 The Sleeping Beauty 1993 The Railway Children (Junior Players) 2010
The Wheatsheaf Public House Mount Pleasant, Crowborough, TN6 2NF Tel: 01892 663756
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Ted and Maggie extend a hearty welcome to you at Crowborough’s most traditional and friendly pub, with great beer, fine wine and good company
Delicious home made food is available at lunchtime (Mon-Sat), and in the evenings (Tues-Thurs)
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New Members
The Rotherfield Players is a vibrant village dramatic society. We have a healthy membership but we always welcome new faces both on stage and back stage. Many different skills are required to put on a show apart from acting, singing and dancing. There‟s carpentry, painting, sewing and even computer skills. If you are interested in joining our group please contact James Gallifant Tel: 01892 654219, Email: [email protected]
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