Theatre 62’s 2019 season launch

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2019 season launch

We are revealing our exciting 2019 season of productions at Theatre 62 on Saturday 15th September at 8 p.m.

Directors of each play will introduce their 2019 production and give members a chance to register their interest in auditioning for a role or working as part of the back stage team.

Not a member yet? Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a member to come along on the 15th, but you will need to join if you take part in one of our productions.

It’s a great opportunity to get all the information you need about our 2019 season and fab night out too – the bar will be open and nibbles will be provided!  Hope to see you all there!

Location details here

Review: Di & Viv & Rose

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Review of Di and Riv and Rose by Theo Spring, 25 June 2018.

Performed at Theatre 62, West Wickham, from 25-30 June 2018

As is eruditely pointed out in the programme notes endorsing female friendships in literature, Amelia Bullmore’s play brings a modern take on the enduring friendship between three girls of very diverse characters.

As is only clear from the closing scenes, it seems to have been kind, ebullient and rather promiscuous Rose who threaded the three university friends together in their house share. Viv is the studious, brainy one, aiming for a first class degree, Di, a lesbian, is sporty but unsure of her way forward and Rose, who sleeps around, who cooks, who cares and soon loses any career prospects when she gives birth to twins from who knows which of eight possible fathers.

The casting for the three seemed perfect. Laura Gamble’s Viv was prim, proper and, with one delightful exception, un-giving,  again until a final reveal. Diane Carters’ Di gave lesbian dating problems both humour and angst and Rachel Cormican’s Rose was warm, funny, affectionate to her friends and the mainstay of the trio’s friendship.

So much was good about this production. Spanning the period from 1983 when the girls first met at university, to 2010 when they are worldly-wise women, an overhead screen led the audience through the time scale with additional clues given through their changes in costume. Music played a prominent role with tracks from the various years.  There was one spectacular musical eruption when all three let go with exuberant well-choreographed moves to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now which, played back at the end, after the tale had taken a sad turn, revived the joy of their house-sharing time.  This playback was just one of many excellent uses of back-projection and images in the hands of Jon Lewis and technical co-ordinator Ian James, all seamlessly delivered.  The demands of a set requiring, amongst others, a corridor in university halls complete with old-fashioned pay phone, a main set of the student’s living area, an apartment in New York and a café on the concourse of a busy train station were so well met by set designer Alan Matthews where ingenuity was copiously used.  Costumes were changed with rapidity, as demanded by the change of year (s) and here Wardobe Mistress Diana Quinn and her team had input from the cast from their own wardrobes. On a very hot June night, my sympathy went out to Laura Gamble as Viv, in her thick black winter coat.  The delivery of what was certainly a high calibre production does not come without dedicated and enthusiastic collaboration from a wide group of personnel. The programme bears witness to many of the names involves and, as always with such productions, there was likely input from un-named helpers too.

Director Howard James can only have been thrilled with the way his ‘girls’ interpreted their roles and most certainly did both him and Theatre 62 proud.  The play was new to me – I was very pleased to make its acquaintance and, should it come my reviewing way again, I doubt I shall see it better performed.

Box Office open for Di and Viv and Rose

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…at Theatre 62, West Wickham from 25th to 30th June

It’s 1984 and, as Prince says, ‘Let’s Go Crazy’.  This witty, heart-warming and moving play features three fun-loving young women, house-sharing for the first time. They are each very different but it isn’t long before they are living in each other’s pockets. Together they can do anything.

But life has unexpected plans for them as their story unfolds over the next 25 years.

Di and Viv and Rose is a thoughtful exploration of friendship’s impact on life, and life’s impact on friendship.

Contact the Box Office here

Auditions for The Ladykillers

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…are taking place at Theatre 62, West Wickham, in July.

Read through
Thursday 19th July – 8.00 pm

Auditions
Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th July – 8.00 pm

Rehearsal nights will be Tuesday and Thursdays starting in early Sept. There will be some Sunday rehearsals. Please note: the years below refer to the ages to be portrayed and are a guide.

Email: marshall.paul100@gmail.com if unable to attend audition dates

Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his ruthless gang of criminal misfits rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her, unwittingly, in Marcus’ brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left stumped but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to their ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs Wilberforce is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to face the music?

Characters

MRS LOUISA WILBERFORCE = Old lady. Sweet and unassuming. She has to interact with her parrot, General Gordon. Age: 70 + but female of any age welcome to audition.

PROFESSOR MARCUS = The leader of the group of would-be robbers. Devious yet disarmingly charming. Age: 40+ but again can be aged up.

MAJOR COURTNEY = A typical army type, gone through Eton and Sandhurst “What what”. Age: 50+

HARRY ROBINSON= Young “Spiv” and “teddy boy” type. Age: 20-30

ONE-ROUND = Ex boxer. Unfortunately as his name suggests famous for not winning in the first round. Big guy though and still tough. Age: 30-45

LOUIS HARVEY= The most sinister of the gang with an air of menace and trusting no one. Age 30s to early 50s.

CONSTABLE MACDONALD = Good old fashioned, solid, Bobby. Loves walking the beat and checking up on old ladies who’ll offer him a cuppa. Age: 30-50

MRS JANE TROMLEYTON
A friend of Mrs Wilberforce. Loves tea, cake and gossip. Age: 70+ but again can be aged up.

Mrs Wilberforce’s Guests: 5 Females who attend the musical soirée hosted by Mrs Wilberforce who have non-scripted parts, but make plenty of noise!

Auditions for The Prisoner of Second Avenue

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…are taking place at Theatre 62, West Wickham, on Sunday 1st July at 2.00 p.m. and Thursday 5th July at 7.30 p.m.

Plot
Mel Edison lives in an average New York apartment with his loving wife Edna. He’s got an average job, average clothes, average TV… Life’s just ticking along until the day he gets fired. Money becomes scarce, opportunities for a man chasing 50 are even more scarce and all this in the midst of a 1970’s heatwave when the temperatures roaring and the economy is crashing. Left with no choice but to pace the boards of his shrinking apartment, Mel’s mind begins to fall apart and it’s up to Edna to try and keep it all together.

This fantastic Neil Simon comedy is, for the most part, a great two hander for a couple of skilled performers. It is made all the more relevant today with topics such as mental health, class divide and materialism all bubbling under the surface.

Characters

Mel Edison – Male – 40-50 yrs. Very large role.
A neurotic New Yorker who’s hot temper hides his insecurities but even as he loses his mind his wit remains intact throughout. Mel has fallen into his life, he’s happy enough but dreams of something more. Throughout the play he becomes more and more unhinged and unpredictable. His moods swing from anger to empathy in the space of half a page. This is a great role for a performer looking to stretch their range.

Edna Edison – Female – 40-50 yrs. Very large role
She’s a chic but strong-willed woman who can be wife, matron and verbal sparring partner to Mel. Edna is the rock in Mel life. She is always there for him but as he falls apart we see she finds it harder and harder to keep him whole to the point that fractures begin to appear in her own sanity. This role would suit a performer with the ability to play many conflicting emotions beneath a gentle facade.

Harry Edison – Late 50s. Medium role
Mel’s big brother who incurs respect by his very presence. The acting head of the family and the one who got all the breaks, as far as Mel can see. He has an air of authority and superiority but underneath all that there’s a heart of gold… if you can find it!

Pearl, Jessie and Pauline: 40s – 50s. Small roles
Mel and Harry’s sisters. Family-centred, gossips, agony aunts and loyal to a fault. They will always put family first but years of being kept at a distance by Mel and Edna has not gone unnoticed.

PLEASE NOTE: the director will not be using a stage prompt during the performances.

If you have any questions, please contact the director, Wayne, via theatre62prompt@gmail.com

WANTED

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We are looking for a plastic or glass insect/fish/reptile tank.  One is needed for the December 2017 production Comfort and Joy.

If you possess one, or know someone who does, please contact Sandie on 07971 415 680 or s.cambell5@btinternet.com.

Tanks a lot.