Darlington Theatre Players Present A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn Directed by Luke Miller 5 - 27 July 2019 MARLOO THEATRE An Amateur Production BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ORiGiN™ THEATRICAL, ON BEHALF OF SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. Please turn off your mobile and kindly do not take any photos. Also, it is strictly forbidden for audience members to make any form of recording of this production. Darlington Theatre Players Inc. Darlington Theatre Players Inc. (DTP) was established to encourage participation in all aspects of theatrical arts. Formalised from an existing group in the artistic hills of Darlington east of Perth, Western Australia in 1956, early performances were in the local hall, formerly a wine cellar. Following representations from DTP, the local shire built the main hall next to the existing hall in 1960, and later rebuilt the stage house and added the verandah and toilet block to the structure in 1978. In 1984 they took up a lease on the disused old Greenmount Primary School in Marloo Road. After several building projects financed from their own resources, and from Federal, State and Local Government grants, DTP have one of the best equipped local theatres in the Perth area – the Marloo Theatre. About the Playwright Alan Ayckbourn Alan has worked in theatre as a playwright and director for over sixty years, rarely if ever tempted by television or film, which perhaps explains why he continues to be so prolific. To date he has written more than 80 plays, many one act plays and a large amount of work for the younger audience. His work has been translated into over 35 languages, is performed on stage and television throughout the world and has won countless awards. Major successes include: Relatively Speaking, How The Other Half Loves, Absurd Person Singular, Bedroom Farce, A Chorus of Disapproval and The Norman Conquests. In recent years, there have been revivals of Season’s Greetings and A Small Family Business at the National theatre, in the West End Absent Friends, A Chorus of Disapproval, Relatively Speaking and How The Other Half Loves. 2017 saw a major revival of The Norman Conquests at Chichester Festival Theatre. Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph theatre from 1972 - 2009 where almost all his plays have been first staged, he continues to direct his new work there and from where his productions regularly tour to New York as part of the Brits Off Broadway to great acclaim. He received the 2016 Oxford Literary Festival’s Honorary Fellowship and in recent years, he has been inducted into American Theatre’s Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics’ Circle Award for Services to the Arts and became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards. Earlier this year, he was appointed the SJT’s first Director Emeritus. He was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre. Source: Alan Ayckbourn’s official webiste www.alanayckbourn.net Luke Miller - DIRECTOR Luke was Assistant Director for Jungle Book in 2017 and directed the youth one-act Welcome to Nose-Dive Airlines in 2018, both at Marloo Theatre. This is Luke’s first time directing a full-length play. Luke made his acting debut here 20 years ago and has been a regular on stage ever since. You may have seen him recently in 1916: A Love Story, The Anniversary or Out of Order. A Chorus Of Disapproval Director’s Notes In 1999 I was working behind the counter in a restaurant when I was randomly asked to be in the musical Calamity Jane, at Marloo Theatre. This was my debut on stage and I was immediately bitten by the bug. I returned the same year in my first large role in Alan Ayckbourn’s play Taking Steps. Twenty years later, very fittingly, I make my Directorial debut with an Alan Ayckbourn play about a musical, where it all started. For my first time round I probably should have chosen something simple. A fixed set without music and a small cast. Instead I have a large cast that seems to keep growing, more set pieces than I can find space for, a ridiculous amount of singing and even a live pianist! I threw all the balls up in the air and would surely have dropped them all if it wasn’t for all the amazing help I have received throughout. I was lucky to find an incredibly funny script and a supremely talented cast. I was even luckier to find so many wonderful people who have helped me put this show together. Community Theatre is all about community and I don’t believe there is a greater community than the one at Marloo. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has contributed to making this the best show that has ever or ever will be produced anywhere (unless I direct another one). A Chorus of Disapproval by Alan Ayckbourn SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT 1 Guy Jones, seeking a place to meet new people following the death of his wife, discovers that everyone wants to be his friend. He finds a new place to belong in PALOS, the Pendon Light Operatic Society. He finds himself embroiled in the intrigue of putting on a production of John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera and soon bites off more than he can chew... ~ INTERMISSION ~ ACT 2 Guy quickly works his way up the hierarchy in the Society. He discovers new relationships as the show he is performing in begins to mirror his own life. How will it end? Will it be all right on the night as Guy is pushed and pulled in as many directions as The Beggar’s Opera has characters? Cast LisT Guy Jones ………… Guy Jackson Daffyd ap Llewellyn ………… Mike Moshos Hannah ap Llewellyn ………… Steph Hickey Bridget Baines ………… Suzy June Wakeling Mrs Ames ………… Ann Cahill Enid Washbrook ………… Rachel Vonk Rebecca Huntley-Pike ………… Taneal Thompson Fay Hubbard ………… Kelly Blee Ian Hubbard ………… Benedict Chau Jarvis Huntley-Pike ………… Raymond Egan Ted Washbrook ………… Ryan Perrin Crispin Usher ………… Kieren Elliott Linda Washbrook ………… Jordan D’Arcy Cast Guy Jackson Guy Jones Guy has been involved in many productions over the past few years both onstage and backstage. He started with the Darlington Theatre Players in 2016 where he was the Assistant Director for Terry Pratchett’s WYRD SISTERS. Since then he has directed, acted, stage-managed, sound-designed and much, much more. His recent onstage appearances include: 1916: A Love Story, The Jungle Book and Scrooge the Panto here on the Marloo Stage and performed in Cinderella: A Fairy Tale and Beyond a Joke at The Garrick Theatre. Guy has enjoyed the experience of bringing his first lead role to the Marloo stage. He hopes the hard work of the team pays off. Mike Moshos Daffyd ap Llewellyn Mike is an actor, filmmaker, support worker and mane cultivator with five years experience in theatre and twenty-nine years experience in roguish good looks. He’s been a singing pirate, a storm cloud, a murderous farmhand and on two occasions a fairy, as well as a diverse array of other acting roles. Playing Daffyd ap Llewellyn has been his most challenging role yet, but with the support of a magnificent cast and a next-level director he’s just gotten there. Special mention to cast member Suzy and her wonderful mam Siân Wakeling for tutoring him in the ways of the South Welsh accent. Steph Hickey Hannah ap Llewellyn Since moving to Perth from Melbourne in 2014, Steph has joined the Perth theatre community with enthusiasm leading to a nomination for Best Actress in a Musical at the 2017 Finley Awards for her portrayal as Julia Sullivan in The Wedding Singer (Limelight Theatre). Other notable roles include Sheryl Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (Stirling Players), Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (Roleystone Theatre), Miss Gardner inCarrie (Dark Psychic Productions), Little Sally in Urinetown (WMTC, Melbourne) and Charity in Sweet Chrity (UMMTA). Steph has also appeared in productions of Robin Hood: The Truth Behind the Green Tights, The Addams Family, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, City of Angels and CATS. Steph is thrilled to be making her debut at Marloo Theatre in A Chorus of Disapproval. Suzy June Wakeling Bridget Baines Suzy June has been in many productions at Marloo Theatre before, including her most recent role in Picnic at Hanging Rock; with other productions being The Jungle Book, Terry Pratchett’s WYRD SISTERS, and Footloose. She hopes you enjoy watching A Chorus of Disapproval as much as she enjoys performing in it. Ann Cahill Mrs Ames This is Ann’s second time as a pianist for a show at the marloo theatre and first time on stage! Ann is a pianist for the Wembley Entertainers Choir and a piano teacher. She has enjoyed working with the cast and crew and is excited to be able to perform on stage all at the same time. Rachel Vonk Enid Washbrook Rachel has trodden the boards at Marloo many times before, most recently in Picnic at Hanging Rock. Whilst the character of Enid is not as challenging as her previous role Rachel has found this production a joy to work on and exciting in its own ways. The portrayal of The Beggars Opera through the most solo singing Rachel has ever done on stage is definitely her favourite part. Taneal Thompson Rebecca Huntley-Pike Taneal first trod the boards at Marloo in 2001 as Mary inPride and Prejudice. She had such a good time she hung around for many years, performing in Sweet Charity, Ring For Jeeves, The Real Inspector Hound and My Very Own Story.