The Centralian Players present A Comedy Thriller by Norman Robbins 27th, 28th 29th January 2011 at Henderson Hall, Abbots Langley Curtain up at 7.45pm 200th Production Programme £1.00 Celebrating our 200th Show Prepare to meet thy Tomb is the third play in a trilogy of comedies by Norman Robbins, The Centralians have previously performed Tomb with a View in April 1990 and most recently Tiptoe through the Tombstones in October 2000. Tonights production will be the 200th show the society has performed and the eighty second show we’ve performed here at Henderson Hall as we once again visit Monument House the home of the Tomb family. Cast members from Tiptoe through the Tombstones production 169. in Oct 2000 also appearing in tonight’s production :- Wendy Gardner, Rachel (Scott) Gentleman, Wendy Read, Linda Freeman, Jayne Dugan, Mark Nichols and Diane Booth (tonights producer). The other cast members were Nigel Taylor and John Ahern and a very popular clown? ( answer on page 12) A Word from the Producer Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen A Happy New Year to you all. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for supporting us on our 200th production It’s an honour to asked to produce the Centralians 200th production! Had it been suggested when I first joined the Society in 1994 that I would one day be sitting in the producers chair especially taking charge of the society’s 200th show I would never have believed it. I have to say the great thing about taking on the responsibility of any Centralians production is the support.and encouragement you receive from the other members of the group especially when it comes to taking on new aspects of drama and stage work. Help and advice is always welcome and I’d like to thank all those who have offered it - to be honest, most of the group!. The rehearsals have been very enjoyable and all the cast have really got involved in their characters, so much so that we are all watchful of what we are eating and drinking!!!! I can’t say more unless I give too much away. We hope that you enjoy this evenings performance and thanks again for supporting us tonight ..... Diane About the writer Tonight's author, Norman Robbins, is an accomplished performer and playwright. Born in Yorkshire in the mid 1930s, he made his first stage appearance aged three, and spent many years in Amdram, acting in plays, pantomimes and musicals. His first pantomime, Sing a song of Sixpence, was written in 1952 and was presented by amateur societies all over Britain and Canada on reputation alone prior to publication in 1978. Norman's first play, Pull the Other One, was written for comedian Ken Platt and actress Peggy Mount in 1970, but unfortunately they never appeared in it. A tour, however, with veteran comic Ben Warris (cont) Tonights Cast Rachel Gentleman (Drusilla Tomb) Rachel, 41, is a 24-hour-a-day Mum-of- two from Bricket Wood. A Centralian for 11 years, this is her second murder mystery. She is not afraid of the dark - only having to get up in it! If she was a Cluedo character, she'd be Miss Scarlet and use the candlestick, as that and the spanner are the only things she has at home (and the spanner is apparently in the garage - a no-go zone). She'd probably commit the murder in the conservatory, as "that is where the computer is, and my husband works from home in there". It's Dr Black you'd murdering Rachel, not your husband! Wendy Gardner (Hecuba Tomb) Wendy, 71, lives in North Watford, and has clocked up a blood-curdling 53 years with The Centralians. As you'd imagine, Wendy has appeared in murder mysteries before, including 'Who Killed Santa Claus?' and 'Night Must Fall'. In terms of Cluedo, Wendy would like to be Mrs Peacock - because she likes blue - and would kill Dr Black with the revolver - it's "clean and quick" - in the conservatory. Not sure you've give much thought to the perfect murder Wendy - won't the bullet risk cracking the glass?! 89 195 153 Mark Nichols (Sir Beverley Comstock) Mark, 59, is an IT Architect from Watford. He admits to sometimes being scared of the dark "when alone in old houses". Quite what Mark does alone in old houses isn't clear, but we're sure it's all legal and above board. This is his second murder mystery, after 'Tiptoe Through the Tombstones'. His Cluedo alter ego would be Professor Plum, and his murder weapon the revolver - "quickest and least messy" - in the Ballroom ("most stylish"!). That's our Mark - professional with a dash of panache (and just for rhyming good measure, he used to have a 'tache!). Jayne Dugan (Miranda Torrence) Centralians' chairwoman, Jayne, 57, is a registered childminder and pre-school worker from Watford. Having clocked up 30 years with the group, she has appeared in the two previous 'Tomb family' stories. Definitely not afraid of the dark, Jayne would bump off Dr Black as Miss Scarlett with the dagger in the lounge ("could be more cosy!"). Yes, cosy for you Jayne, not so cosy for Dr Black! You see, even when they're contemplating murder, women are thinking about soft furnishings - typical! 122 97 181 The Centralian Players present their 200th Production The Cast Drusilla Tomb Rachel Gentleman Hecuba Tomb Wendy Gardner Sir Beverley Comstock Mark Nichols Phillipa Collins Wendy Read Daphne Summers Linda Freeman Anthony Strickland Andrew Gardner Quentin Danesworth Paul Mathews Robert Sandbrooke Tim Mahoney Miranda Torrence Jayne Dugan Cicely Venner Linda Hirst Producer - Diane Booth Induction Loop System, Smoking, Flashlight Photography and Recording An induction loop system in Henderson Hall, which can be used by switching suitably equiped hearing aids to ‘T’. The audience is reminded that smoking is not allowed in the auditorium. The use of flashlight photography during a performance can distract those on stage and we would therefore ask that members of the audience refrain from this practice. The audience is also reminded that the use of any electronic recording device is forbidden under the terms of our licence to perform the play. The action of the play takes place in the Garden Room of Monument House Hotel and Alternative Health Farm, some fifty miles from London Act I Scene 1 Late Saturday afternoon in February Scene 2 The same An hour later Act II Scene 1 The same. Half an hour later Scene 2 The same, An hour later Time the present There will be a twenty minute interval between the Acts 1 and II when coffee and tea will be available The bar will be open during the interval and also before and after the performance PRODUCTION STAFF Stage Manager Paul Hammond Prompt Gemma Burke Set Design Andrew Gardner Lighting David Gardner Sound David Gardner Costume Coordination Janet Thorpe Make Up Janet Thorpe Poster Design Jamie hamilton ADMINISTRATION STAFF Front of House Manager Janet Thorpe Box Office (Advanced Booking) Janet Thorpe Box Office (Henderson Hall) Malcolm Dearing Andrew Gardner (Anthony Strickland) Andrew, 46, from North Watford, is an IT field service engineer. He has an impressive list of murder mysteries to his name, including Murder by the Book, An Inspector Calls and Deadly Nightcap. He admits he's "murdered numerous other parts in a variety of other plays" - we'll not argue with you there, Andrew! He sees himself as Colonel Mustard with the revolver - because he's too lazy to bash, strangle or stab someone! He'd choose the library for his evil deed, as he believes in doing a job well and it would be handy to have a few reference guides to hand (!). God, what a clever Dick! Tim Mahoney (Robert Sandbrooke) Tim, 36, is a Business Development Manager from Northwood. After eight years with The Centralians, this is his first ever murder mystery - so enthusiastic was he to appear in one, he admitted he would "kill" for a part. Luckily, due to the shortage of male actors, this wasn't necessary. He sees himself as Colonel Mustard, and would prefer the rope as his murder weapon (as he is good at tying knots!). The murder scene would be the ballroom, so he could commit "murder on the dancefloor" - a killer with a sense of humour; Tim's victims always go to the grave laughing! 198 194 178 Wendy Read (Phillipa Collins) Wendy, 70, from Kings Langley, recently celebrated 50 years with the Centralians. While retired, she describes herself as "secretary, head cook and bottlewasher, electrician, gardener, nanny and anything else you care to name." Where she finds time to learn her lines, is anybody's guess! She's never been afraid of the dark and often walks round the house, Derek Acorah-like, without turning the lights on (looking for spirits we assume - gin, whiskey, you name it!). Her Cluedo persona would be Miss Scarlett - and she's not fussy about which weapon or which room she does it in. A true all-rounder! Linda Hirst (Cicely Venner) Linda, 50, is a nurse practitioner and lives in Watford. She played the housekeeper, Agatha Hammond, in 'Tomb with a View' where she was murdered with her own meat cleaver, still being used in the current play - as Linda says: "They don't make utensils like they used to!". Linda isn't afraid of the dark, unless there is an "axe-wielding mass murderer or an escaped wild animal in the vicinity". She'd love to see herself as Miss Scarlett with the revolver over the billiard table (!), but fears she is now more likely to be Mrs White in the kitchen with the rolling pin.