THE ROTHERFIELD PLAYERS PRESENT

Transcription

1 THE ROTHERFIELD PLAYERS PRESENT Music by RICHARD RODGERS Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE Suggested by "The Trapp Family Singers" by Maria Augusta Trapp This amateur production is presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER LTD. on behalf of R&H Theatricals of New York 10 th - 12 th May 2012 Rotherfield Village Hall Programme 2

2 The Wheatsheaf Public House Mount Pleasant, Crowborough, TN6 2NF Tel: Bed & Breakfast Hill Cottage, Mount Pleasant, Crowborough, TN6 2NF Maggie & Ted Hirst offer a really warm welcome to their charming 17th century cottage in a peaceful spot on the outskirts of Crowborough. Pete and Becky extend a hearty welcome to you at Crowborough s most traditional and friendly pub, with great beer, fine wine and good company Delicious homemade food is available at lunchtime (Mon-Sat), and in the evenings(tues-thurs) Roaring fires and no pretensions For details and availability call Telephone: bandb@hillcottage.me.uk or visit the Website: FROM THE CHAIRMAN James Gallifant It is perhaps a masterstroke that the Players acquired the licence to produce The Sound of Music as soon as it became available. (Licences for us rural amateur groups are not available when professional productions are running in London or the suburbs). The show is a classic, of course, but the realisation sets in when the glee of the licence acquisition is replaced by the planning phase. Just how does one fit an audience of 200, a back stage crew, a cast of 40, a 16 piece orchestra and a mountain into the Rotherfield Village Hall? How will the sets be designed, the costumes be acquired, let alone designing a rehearsal schedule of singing and acting that will provide a first class production. The Players have gained a tremendous amount of experience in running large shows (i.e. Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors and the annual pantomime) but there is always a risk that a key member of a show will break a leg, lose a voice or break a finger nail resulting in their absence from the show. We do not have the luxury of understudies for key roles or musical directors. Suffice to say that we have never had to use an actor with a script in his or her hand during a show or lost the services of a key musician (no pun intended) since the Players formed in There have been some close calls, I can tell you!! NEW MEMBERS This show has brought many new members to The Players. Perhaps that s why I didn t get picked for the part of Maria!! We do hope that you enjoy the show as much as the cast, band and crew enjoyed creating it. 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: , members@rotherfieldplayers.co.uk For more information about Rotherfield Players, go to Programme Printed by Units D-G, 18 Chapman Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3EF Published by The Society of the Rotherfield Players

3 FROM THE DIRECTORS Kate Organ - Director Having worked together on a number of shows over the last few years Sue Burnett and I have known for a while that we wanted to put on a musical together. In fact we first proposed to the committee that we wanted to do so in 2009, always knowing that our first choice would be The Sound of Music. However, at the time amateur performing rights were not available due to the show still being on in the West End and a professional touring version following immediately afterwards. So we worked our way through many alternative shows finding that we could never find something that we thought would be as good for the Rotherfield Players. Finally, just as we were beginning to lose heart, we received an at the beginning of 2011 stating that the rights would, once again, be available for productions in The society secured the performing rights to do the show within 2 weeks of them becoming available. Ever since this point in time excitement about the show has been amazing generating a wonderful positive atmosphere. More than 40 children turned up to audition to be one of the Von Trapp children leading to our decision to have 2 teams for all except the oldest 2 children. Overall we have a cast of nearly 40 people who have all worked extremely hard meaning that it has been a pleasure to have been involved from the moment we started rehearsing. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of performance and singing that the Rotherfield Players achieve in musical productions considering they are not a specialist musical society (as so many others are in the area)! Huge thanks must go to Sue for her wonderful music and Becky Syms who stepped in as choreographer after Catherine Ireland had to drop out due to ill health (our best wishes go to Catherine); ably supported by Louise Coe who has also undertaken to set a couple of songs for the children. I would also like to thank Andrea Butler (Producer) and Heather Campbell (Stage Manager) who together make up the most organised and effective production team you can work with. Never forgetting the amazing costume team plus the set design and build crew who managed to understand our vision and make it come true. I m sure that you will all enjoy watching this spectacular show as much as I ve enjoyed working with this wonderful cast and crew. A true team effort! Production Team Andrea Butler, Kate Organ, Becky Syms, Sue Burnett (and Heather Campbell) Sue Burnett - Musical Director With this production of The Sound of Music I am fulfilling two ambitions: ever since I saw the film, when it was first released in the mid 1960 s, I have wanted to be part of a performance. As youngsters, long car journeys were transformed as the whole family sang the music from start to finish including the Overture! Secondly, having worked with Kate many times over the years, I also wanted to co-direct a musical with her. We both like to be well-prepared in everything we do, and the ten months of planning, via text, and in meetings, before we even started the rehearsals, were exciting and enjoyable, and proved that we have a similar vision! I have also worked with Becky in the past, and it was very good news when she kindly agreed to step in and take on the choreography for us. The Sound of Music is probably the best known of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. It is certainly the most challenging musically, and our amazing cast have risen to that challenge brilliantly. Their enthusiasm and hard work have made rehearsals fun, and I can t thank them enough. Many of the cast have taken on other aspects of the production as well: Louise Coe has helped with some of the choreography, Mary Ann Mellor is heading up the scenepainting team, which includes other members of the cast, and Alison Organ and Ros Williams are part of our incredible team of Wardrobe Mistresses. Without them, and without all the other people needed to get this show on the road we should have been lost. I know that Kate has already expressed her thanks to everyone involved in the set-building, back-stage, technical and front-of-house aspects, but I should like to take this opportunity to add my thanks to them all a show is only as good as its backing team. And finally, to the Band! The task of a small band in such circumstances is a difficult one. They need to be able to play music written for a large orchestra and a large theatre in such a way that the musical nuances and character are maintained, without becoming overpowering. I am very lucky in that I have a group of talented musicians who are willing to take part in a production such as this. Katherine and Victoria date back to our production of My Fair Lady & beyond, and indeed Katherine has been involved in every production with me, be it full-blown musical or pantomime, ever since that time. Karen, Mark, Nigel, Phil and Robin have joined us over the years, and this time we are delighted to welcome back Helen and Peter after a period of absence. For Imogen, Jennie McGhie, Jenny Kyne and Liz, this is their first venture playing in the Players Band, and I hope it won t be their last! My thanks to EVERYONE involved in helping me to realise my particular ambitions, and to all who read this I hope you enjoy the show.

4 THE CAST Maria Rainer Alexandra Bond Mother Abbess Mary Howells Sister Berthe Gussie Penny Sister Margaretta Grainne Cotter Sister Sophia Mary-Anne Mellor Captain von Trapp Chris Walton-Turner Franz (Butler) David Close Frau Schmidt (Housekeeper) Deidre Cornford Liesl Amelia Gabriel Friedrich Hector Hadlow Louisa (Thurs & Sat evening) Millie Coe (Fri & Sat matinee) Scarlet McCarthy Kurt (Thurs & Sat evening) Joseph Thorpe (Fri & Sat matinee) Louis Griffiths Brigitta (Thurs & Sat evening) Eliza Close (Fri & Sat matinee) Charlotte Arnold Marta (Thurs & Sat evening) Sydney Boyd (Fri & Sat matinee) Georgie Dolding Gretl (Thurs & Sat evening) Leah Hanlon (Fri & Sat matinee) Freya Hiles Rolf Gruber Patrick Cotter Elsa Schraeder Louise Coe Ursula Stacey Brackley Max Detweiler Adam Hardy Herr Zeller Jonathan White Baron Elberfield Ken Mellor New Postulant Holly May Penny Admiral von Schreiber David Penny CHORUS OF NUNS, NOVICES & POSTULANTS Alison Organ Cynthia Moth Frances Plummer Harriet Lyons Heather Stewart Jacky Jenkins The Nun s Ensemble Kim Martin Jess Hardy Bethany Earle Cecilia Marshall Liberty McCarthy Rosie Kyne MIXED ENSEMBLE Alison Organ Holly May Penny Ken Mellor Liberty McCarthy Paul NcNally Phil Ireland David Penny Ros Williams Rosie Kyne Sammy Dawkins Some of the Mixed Ensemble Mother Abbess and the Sisters Ursula, Franz and Frau Schmidt

5 MUSICAL SYNOPSIS Act 1 Scene 1 - The Nonnberg Abbey Preludium The Nuns of the Nonnberg Abbey Scene 2 - A Mountainside Near the Abbey The Sound of Music Maria Scene 3 - The Office of the Mother Abbess, the next morning Maria Sisters Berthe, Sophia, Margaretta and Mother Abbess My Favourite Things Maria and Mother Abbess Scene 4 - A Corridor in the Abbey Reprise: My Favourite Things Maria Scene 5 - The Living Room of the Trapp Villa, that afternoon Do-Re-Mi Maria and von Trapp Children Scene 6 - Outside the Villa, that evening Sixteen Going On Seventeen Rolf and Liesl Scene 7 - Maria s Bedroom, later that evening The Lonely Goatherd Maria and the Children Scene 8 - A Hallway in the Villa Reprise: The Lonely Goatherd Gretl Scene 9 - The Terrace of the Villa, six weeks later How Can Love Survive? Max, Elsa and Captain von Trapp Reprise: The Sound of Music The Children and Captain von Trapp Scene 10 - A Hallway in the Villa, one week later Scene 11 - The Living Room, the same evening So Long, Farewell The Children Scene 12 - A Corridor in the Abbey Morning Hymn The Nuns Scene 13 - The Office of the Mother Abbess, three days later Climb Ev ry Mountain Mother Abbess and the Nuns The Von Trapp Children (performing Thurs and Sat evening) The Von Trapp Children (performing Fri and Sat matinee) INTERVAL Bar Open and Ice Creams available (no teas or coffees) Act 2 Scene 1 - The Terrace, the same day Reprise: My Favourite Things The Children and Maria No Way To Stop It Elsa, Max and Captain von Trapp Something Good Maria and Captain von Trapp Scene 2 - A Corridor in the Abbey, two weeks later Scene 3 - The Office of the Mother Abbess, immediately following Gadeamus Domino The Nuns Scene 4 - A Cloister Overlooking the Chapel Reprise: Maria The Nuns Confitemini Domino The Nuns Scene 5 - The Living Room, one month later Reprise: Sixteen Going On Seventeen Maria and Liesl Scene 6 - The Concert Hall Stage, three days later Reprise: Do-Re-Mi Maria, Captain von Trapp and the Children Edelweiss Captain von Trapp, Maria and the Children Reprise: So Long, Farewell Maria, the Children and Captain von Trapp Scene 7 - The Garden of the Abbey, that night Finale Ultimo The Company

6 THE BAND Woodwind section Helen Gurr Katherine Crowley Victoria Ansell Nigel Burnett Robin Fox Brass section Jenny Kyne Karen Boynton Peter Gurr Philip Illman String section Jennie McGhie Liz Shepherd Jeremy Smith Percussion Imogen Coda Mark Howard PRODUCTION & BACKSTAGE TEAM Director Musical Director Producer Choreographer Set Design and Build Props Stage Manager Prompt Sound Lighting Costumes Front of House Programme Photographs Bar Manager Box Office Kate Organ Sue Burnett Andrea Butler Becky Syms Andy Miller Mark Tasker Mary Howells Alison Close Mary-Anne Mellor Brett Seath Heather Campbell Tom Tapsfield Steve Allen Hugh Douglas Lynn Lunn Sue Exton Beattie Smitham Frances Boyd Ros Williams Alison Organ Shelagh Whitehead Helen Gallifant Judith Hardy Gillian Earle Mark Gambrill Jane Littlefair James Gallifant Musical Director, Sue Burnett at the piano Rehearsals have been great fun!

7 ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS Alexandra Bond (Maria Rainer) Alexandra is 26 going on 16, spends her days designing clothes out of old curtains, and generally not doing as she is told. She trained at City Lit in Covent Garden completing a 2 year acting diploma, and is currently studying part time for her theoretical BA at Rose Bruford. During the day, Alexandra works for Perform drama schools, running educational workshops for schools, a familiar role teaching children to sing and dance in formation, and is also a freelance voice over and performer. Alexandra has experience working on the London Theatre Fringe circuit, films, and is currently producing a show for this year s Edinburgh Fringe. Alexandra is thrilled to be a part of the Rotherfield Players and has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of such a fantastic and professional team. Chris Walton-Turner (Captain von Trapp) I ve been involved with Rotherfield Players for 12 years now and have been lucky enough to be cast in a wide variety of roles but this is the first time I ve become a Dad to so many children! However, working with the children has been a breeze compared with learning to play the guitar and getting enough different sounds out of the bosun s whistle! For a show with a cast this size rehearsals have been intense but great fun I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know my children and, much to their amusement and possible disgust, snogging (their words not mine) and marrying Maria! The whole cast and crew have been hugely supportive of each other and great to work with - I hope this comes across as we sing and dance our way through this iconic musical. PLEASE JOIN IN... Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Every morning you greet me. Small and white, clean and bright, You look happy to meet me. Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow, Bloom and grown forever Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Bless my homeland forever. Lyrics reproduced by permission of Josef Weinberger Ltd. Mary Howells (Mother Abbess) Mary has led a fairly nomadic life and enjoyed doing amateur dramatics, pantomime and choral work in Germany, Bahrain, Doha and Dubai. Since her return to the UK she has become a member of TWODS and more recently joined the Rotherfield Players for their hilarious production of The Mikado. Obviously the days of playing Principal Boy or Girl are distant memories and there are few musical roles for the more mature lady, so it has been a delight and challenge to play Mother Abbess, especially with such a friendly and fun group of people. Everyone has been very supportive. Adam Hardy (Max Detweiler) It was a big shock to be offered the part of Max and I have had great fun playing the part. It has been great to work on such a wonderful production. I have been in many shows with the Rotherfield Players and played many different roles: a corpse in 'A Murder is Announced', Muchkin Farmer in 'The Wizard of Oz', Morris Dixon in 'Present Laughter' and Abanazar in 'Aladdin', to name but a few. I hope you enjoy this fantastic musical as much as I have enjoyed being a part of it. Louise Coe (Elsa Schraeder) Having grown up watching the Sound of Music so many times, I couldn t resist being part of this production. I absolutely love playing Elsa Schraeder, and let me make it very clear, I finished with Captain Von Trapp, I mean do I look like a woman who really wants 7 step children? It has been so much fun, I have thoroughly enjoyed working on my nasty look particularly for benefit of the lovely Alexandra Bond. Amelia Gabriel (Liesl) I am currently at school studying for my GCSEs including both music and drama and working towards my grade 8 singing and 7 piano exams. Other than school performances, this is my first production for a few years and I have absolutely loved every moment of being part of a friendly company. Patrick Cotter (Rolf Gruber) Patrick is 16 and is a pupil at Bethany School and at Yew Tree Theatre School. He recently appeared in Bethany's production of 'Our House' as Good Joe, and has previously been in Bugsy, Aladdin Jnr, Annie, Guys and Dolls, High School Musical 2, Grease, Alice in Wonderland, Fame and 'Oliver!'. Patrick is a member of Kent Youth Singers and Kent Youth Barbershop. He is enjoying working with the players for the first time.

8 DONATIONS St Wilfrid s Hospice is a local charity providing skilled and compassionate care and treatment for all patients with complex needs as they near the end of life. Registered as a charity in 1982 by a group of active local supporters, St Wilfrid s Hospice is not just a building; it is a way of caring for people. Hospice care aims to improve the lives of people whose illness is no longer curable. It helps people to live as actively as possible after diagnosis to the end of their lives, however long that may be. The highest value is put on respect and choice. Not only do they take care of people s physical needs, they consider their emotional, spiritual and social needs too. They also support families and close friends, both during the illness and in bereavement. St Wilfrid's Hospice has cared for over 15,000 patients over the last 28 years, free of charge and regardless of patients circumstances. St Wilfred s cares for patients over the age of 18 with any illness that is beyond the point of cure and who has been referred to by a doctor or nurse. For more information visit Futures@Chailey Heritage is a new transition provision from Chailey Heritage School for young adults aged years who have profound and multiple physical disabilities, learning difficulties and complex health needs. As part of the service, we are raising money to build a Life Skills Centre which will offer comprehensive, person-centred provision giving greater choice and a more flexible approach to supporting and preparing young people and their families for the future. This exciting new facility will offer a range of activities available to young disabled adults from the local community and those in our residential provision, including access to training & work experience, IT, recreational & leisure pursuits exercise, cookery, swimming, football, arts & media. Facilities will include an accessible Gymnasium, a Life Skills area, ICT suite with audio books/films/music; Arts & Crafts room and a Café. In addition to funding for the capital element of this project we will also need funds to buy technical aids for speech, mobility, sensory and IT equipment. For more information visit NEXT PRODUCTION The Elephant Man 18 th to 20 th October 2012 Directed by Alan Powell Produced by James Gallifant This famous play chronicles the true story of John Merrick, treated first as a fairground freak because of his hideously, repulsively deformed body and later exploited more subtly by Victorian society. As a carnival attraction, Merrick is known only as The Elephant Man. The play questions the morality of European colonialism, the selflessness of charity, the relative importance of the spiritual vs. the physical, the rampant abuse of exploitation, and the merits of science vs. religion. The von Trapp Children

9 ANNIE WELCOMES CUSTOMERS OLD AND NEW TO A TRADITIONAL PUB THE CATTS INN, ROTHERFIELD FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE WHOLESOME HOME COOKED FOOD SELECTION OF FINE ALES OUTSIDE BARS AND CATERING TEL: Mayfield Osteopaths Lower Steps, High Street, Mayfield, TN20 6AB DON T WAIT TILL YOU LOOK LIKE THIS!!! Treatments for Neck pain, Sciatica, Arthritis, Sports Injuries, Frozen Shoulder, Tennis Elbow, Headaches, Migraine, Cranial Maternity & more. Reflexology and Sports Injury Massage Now Available NO BONES ABOUT IT, WE RE THE BEST AROUND!

10 PAST PRODUCTIONS The Happiest Days of Your Life 1976 The Diary of Anne Frank 1976 Lord Arthur Saville s Crime 1977 Rother Jubilant 1977 Pool s Paradise 1977 The Winslow Boy 1978 Goodnight Mrs Puffin 1978 Night Must Fall 1979 I ll Get My Man 1979 Dark of the Moon 1980 The Creature Creeps 1980 Ghost Train 1981 When We Are Married 1981 The Rose and the Ring 1982 Separate Tables 1982 Just the Ticket 1982 Jack and the Beanstalk 1983 A Letter from the General 1983 The Chiltern Hundreds 1983 Aladdin 1984 The Man Born to be King 1984 Doctor in the House 1984 Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs 1985 Berkeley Square 1985 Bedroom Farce 1985 Little Red Riding Hood 1986 The Crucible 1986 A Separate Peace 1986 Season s Greetings 1986 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 1987 Mother Figure 1987 Larkrise 1987 Plaza Suite 1987 The Tinder Box 1988 Moonset Over Zeron 1988 Murder in Company 1988 Key for Two 1988 Pinocchio 1989 The Brute 1989 A Festival of Short Plays 1989 Getting On 1989 Cinderella 1990 Something Borrowed 1990 Arms and the Man 1990 Our Town 1990 Mother Goose 1991 A Resounding Tinkle 1991 How the Other Half Loves 1991 Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat 1991 A Coat of Varnish 1991 Sinbad the Sailor 1992 Rotherfield Pageant 1992 Ten Times Table 1992 The Sleeping Beauty 1993 Bird Bath 1993 Ghost Writer 1993 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1993 All Aboard 1993 The Matchmaker 1993 Ali Baba 1994 Sailor Beware 1994 Hedda Gabler 1994 The Magic Fruit 1995 Queen Alice 1995 Absurd Person Singular 1995 The Happiest Days of Your Life 1996 Babes in the Wood 1997 My Fair Lady 1997 An Inspector Calls 1998 Blithe Spirit 1998 Smugglers 1999 Evening of One Act Plays 1999 Aladdin 2000 A Midsummer Night s Dream 2000 A Review for the Millennium 2000 Cinderella 2001 Oliver 2001 Importance of Being Earnest 2001 Jack and the Beanstalk 2002 Don t Dress for Dinner Years on the Throne 2002 Steel Magnolias 2002 Puss in Boots 2003 Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen s Guild Production of MacBeth 2003 Inn Love with Shakespeare 2003 Dick Whittington 2004 Allo Allo 2004 A Murder is Announced 2004 The Magic Fruit 2005 Calamity Jane 2005 Garden District 2005 The Wizard of Oz 2006 The Final Curtain 2006 An Ideal Husband 2006 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2007 Godspell 2007 Bard from the King s Arms 2007 Caught in the Net 2007 Sleeping Beauty 2008 Kiss Me Kate 2008 Les Liaisons Dangereuses 2008 Cinderella 2009 Busybody 2009 Our Country s Good 2009 Babes in the Wood 2010 Present Laughter 2010 The Railway Children (Junior Players) 2010 Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen s Guild Production of The Mikado 2010 Wind in the Willows 2011 Little Shop of Horrors 2011 Three Characters in Search of a Verdict & Round the World with Class Six (Junior Players) 2011 All My Sons 2011 Aladdin 2012 With thanks to Gary Sherwood The Fabric Shop In aid of St Wilfred's Hospice, East Sussex, in memory of Jane Sherwood Winston House, High Street, Horam, HEATHFIELD, East Sussex, TN21 0ER Tel: more than just flowers Cut Flowers - Hand Tied Bunches Vase/Container Arrangements Special Occasions - Parties - Corporate Weddings - Funerals - Plants - Gifts ~ Coffee shop with homemade cakes, seating upstairs and outside in courtyard garden ~ Floral workshops High Street - Mayfield - East Sussex TN20 6AQ ifo@theflowerhouse.biz

11 Rotherfield St Martin Registered Charity No: Memorial Institute, North Street, Rotherfield Providing social facilities and support for senior citizens. Mon Tue - Fri Opening Hours 10.00am pm 10am pm & 1.30pm - 4pm For information about activities, bookings for therapies and Volunteer Driver Scheme Tel: office@rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk Website: Supported by: Rotherfield Parish Council St Denys Church Kim & Justin welcome you to The Kings Arms Large car park * Open all day * Food available all day Real ales & fine wines * Warm, friendly atmosphere * Log fires Traditional home-cooked food and mixed specialities using fresh local produce Public bar with pool table * Attractive patio & beer garden Double B&B room available High Street, Rotherfield, TN6 3LJ Tel: VAT No

12 Copper Kettle Kitchen Baked fresh in the Copper Kettle Kitchen, Rotherfield. All our goods are prepared using the finest ingredients. Whether it s a special occasion, or you just want to spoil yourself, Copper Kettle Kitchen can provide bespoke fresh, delicious and beautifully decorated cupcakes, celebration cakes and baked goods. Check out our website & Facebook page. copperkettlekitchen@hotmail.com facebook.com/copperkettlekitchen