General Chat

Its Theatre time again - providing the snow holds off - Pity that I cant get to some of these places too easily but if you live in the locality you may be interested in : 'Crazy for You' - Fantastic show and performed very well by all the amateur groups thatI have been to It will be in Hornchurch 24-28 Jan, Markinch (Fife Scotland, I think) 20-25 March Wolverhampton 4-8 April Newark 3- 8 April Oxford 4-7 April Alfreton 10-15 April Oxted 18-20 April Gainsborough 25-29 April Ruislip in May Gershwin music at its best, and several humorous bits in this show. You could also try 'Flower Drum Song' - it was at the Palace Theatre London in the 60s - and at last seems that amateurs are reviewing the viability of staging it. Excellent Rodgers & Hammerstein. It was filmed in 1961, but Hey , who needs the film ? 15-18 Feb Hungerford 13-18 Mar Loughborough 'Little Me' was a Russ Abbott vehicle back in the 60s and though I dont particular;ly like him I have to say that he made this show - hope that amateurs can do as well - 2-4 March Penarth 9-11 Mar Cardiff.

Hello, Can I please ask....did anyone see 'An Inspector Calls' in the UK when it toured there.... It has now come to Sydney and I'm going next Sunday....

Have just booked to see 3 plays for £21 - they are on in March They are : Dry Rot by John Chapman Men of the World by John Godber Old Times by Harold Pinter The local theatre does these offers twice a year, we have been before and not seen a duff production (yet) Dee ;-))

Sydney Sal - it toured here for 6 months until June 2005 You can read all about it on www.aninspectorcalls(.)com/welcome Certainly looked like a winner. Remove brackets from the addy.

Thanks for that Joe....will check it out now. Can't wait as loved the old black and white film.... Very excited!!!!!!

Hi Dee, seems like you have a good deal going. I remember seeing 'Dry Rot' at the Whitehall Theatre which was ruled by Brian Rix back in the 50s, and this was the sort of farce that was built for him, people rushing from room to room and, of course, Rix usually got down to his underpants at some stage. 'Men of this World' also a ood 'un but I know nothing about the last one of the trio. Enjoy.

Thanks Joe The three plays are usually very different, several have been by John Godber The disappointing thing is that the theatre is never more than half full, it seems people are not interested these days Dee xx

I wish we lived near you Dee. You get some really good deals don't you:))

We may see you at te theatre Dee, looking into that set of plays, just seeing if the dates are o.k. What days are you going? Lynda

Dee, Half empty I would have thought was the norm for plays. On the other hand musicals (which are my passion) are often full especially for the better known names. You have seen that I have given several dates for 'Crazy For You' and that is a show that should never have been terminated in London, though having said that, I am glad that it has given amateurs a chance to shine - and I have seen that show so many, many times. Now I did go down to Eastbourne on one occasion and they were turning people away at the door ! and that happened elsewhere too - if you live near one of those places listed I recommend it. You will sing the music for weeks after. Also you have to compare the cost of staging a play compared with a musical - the play can be done virtually on a shoe-string but a musical will run into tens of thousands.

Chrissie, you, me and Lynda could have gone together if you had been nearer. Lynda, I have sent you a pm with the dates I am going . ;-)) Joe, I know what you mean about the costs, some of the plays have only had two or three actors in them, and scenerly costs seem to be kept to a minimum. I'm not over keen on musicals, but the OH is so will look out for the one you mentioned Dee x

Just to say that I went to see An Inspector Calls today and loved it!!!!!!!

Well tonights the night, off to see Dry Rot Will let you know what we thought of it Did you get tickets in the end Lynda, or are you going to the Marlowe? Dee xx

Hi Dee, when I spoke to her the other day she said she was booked to see East is East - but can't remember when for! Maz. XX

Dry Rot One of the most successful farces ever to appear in London, Dry Rot was recently voted one of the top one hundred plays of the 20th Century in a national poll The story follows a crazy, but very likeable gang of bookies who, in order to be near a racecourse, are staying at a country hotel – The Bull and Cow. Secret rooms, sliding panels, mistaken identity and a nice little bit of romance are some of the main ingredients of this very racy, slick and side splittingly funny farce, which never lets up for a moment. Well it was brilliant, and if you haven’t already seen it I would recommend it, I had tears running down my face at times it was so funny.

Glad you enjoyed it Dee, I never went in the end, we went to see the Four Tops at the same theatre last week, they were great. I got my dates mixed up with East is East and Smaller a play with dawn french & Alison Moyet, it's doing the rounds before it goes to London, but couldn't;t get seats, i rang everyday to see if the had any returns too :(( I have booked today to see Frank Sinatra at the Palladium in May, it is all done with lasers, sounds fascinating, really looking forward to it. Lynda

Hi Lynda, just seen an ad for Smaller - there are tickets left only in Nottingham (13-18 mar) and Birmingham (20-25 mar) - from 29th March it is at the Lyric Theatre in London 0870 890 1107. I was interested to see it is directed by Kathy Burke. I bet it is really good! Maz. XX

Have now been to see the second of the three plays we booked Men of the World by John Godber A touching, often hilarious, bittersweet comedy which follows three coach drivers preparing for a mystery tour to Scarborough. They pass the time remembering more exciting times from the past, such as the last one don the Rhine Valley to Heidelberg It was hilarious, had tears running down my face, the three actors were brilliant. Dee x

Old Times – Harold Pinter Deeley, a filmmaker, and Kate, his wife of twenty years, live in an isolated farmhouse by the sea. The calm and seclusion of their world is splintered by the arrival of the beautiful Anna, a solitary dinner guest and old friend. As the trio reminisce, they bring to life the events and echoes of a shared past in 1950’s London. But memories like these, mixed with desire, can be dangerous. Soon a battle of wills begins, an emotional duel in which past ant present will merge with shattering consequences… I understand that Pinter is difficult to follow and I certainly couldn’t follow this play at all. I, and the people I went with, came away totally bemused. Not my cup of tea at all. Would be interested to know if anyone else has seen it and what they thought of it It was the last of the series of plays I had booked and I have certainly been to see plays I may not have thought of seeing. We got to see 3 plays for £21, so it was excellent value. I shall look out for the next season; hopefully they will repeat the offer in the autumn. When they do another season I’ll give you a shout Lynda. Dee x

Going to see the Sinatra show at The Palladium next week, anyone been?