SMALL TALK We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas and New Year and are now full of energy ready for whatever 2015 will bring. Best wishes for a great New Year from all at Toads SMC. Of course 2015, for Toads SMC, means LEGALLY BLONDE, our big show in June at the Princess Theatre. Pre audition rehearsals and the first set of auditions for principal roles took place last week and by the end of January we hope to have most of the Principal line up in place. The main audition day was a long day for the panel with 35 auditioning and it was a hard choice for the panel as all auditions were of a high standard illustrating just what talent lies within the society. Thanks go to Margaret Aulton for providing refreshments all day and to Phil Laugee for standing in at the Last moment when it became clear we needed a runner. The committee are hard at work dealing with the complexities of staging a large production and there have been production meetings and many discussions relating to technical issues, scenery, costumes, sound and lighting. However running side by side with the production preparations are our ever expanding fund raising exploits led by our President Mary Qiriaqi and also our own fund raising team headed by Julie Hale. More details on those events later in the newsletter. On the subject of emails. If you do change your email please do let us know so that the records can be amended. Similarly if you would rather we use an alternative email address please let us know. As regards LEGALLY BLONDE REHEARSALS these will be on Thursday nights for Full company music and Wednesday nights for Principals music (as called) until further notice. Commencing on Feb 4th. Floor rehearsals will commence sometime in March but music rehearsals will continue alongside floor rehearsals as the music is quite complex. We welcomed some very talented new members at our New members auditions in November but we could do with some more men for the show. This is a regular request nowadays. We are expecting to have some male places still vacant after the auditions, so if you know of anyone, please let Iain Douglas know. We re fabulous baby! AWARD WINNING The excellence of our production of Sister Act has been recognised by NODA as we have been awarded the district Achievement Cup For the production and are also nominated for the Best Chorus Singing Cup and also the Best Musical Cup. The district achievement award is for South Devon, the nominations are for the entire South West. The Award Ceremony is on Feb 28th in Bristol and a contingent of 12 from the society are attending. We are limited to 10 tickets but Iain managed to get another 2!!! TOADS SMC IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO 268829 PAGE 1
From our President The Committee are in a state of excitement! Not only have we welcomed some great talent to our company with the recent membership auditions but we have also kicked off our Legally Blonde journey with the LAUNCH get together! So now the festivities and pantos are over, we can really concentrate on the job in hand! I can t wait to see the auditions and I know it s an anxious time for you all but we are not ogres (!) and just want the best for the show... We will make the atmosphere as relaxed as possible under the circumstances. Be well prepared, do your best and enjoy the experience. On other fun and fundraising events, we have had two lunches, the December one with our friend Ann George (Gosh I remember Ann when we were in Fiddler on the Roof!) who came along with another friend, Ed Ketch, to sing for us. Thank you. They were very accommodating and let us sing a few carols with them! The beginning of January lunch welcomed another dear friend of Toads SMC - Joe McNulty who not amazingly, managed to charm one and all! Thanks Joe. For our next lunch on 4th February we will welcome Janet Downer, who is better known for her involvement with Toads Little Theatre. Janet is a trained South West Tourist Board guide and will be talking to us about Dark Deeds of Devon. Be very afraid.. I must mention the fun evening we had at one of our VP s, Kay Cooper-Roger s beautiful home on 29th November. (Thank you Kay!) Cabaret Time was the opportunity for some of us to make fools of ourselves for everyone else s delight! We had singing, piano playing, skits, poetry reading etc. 10 acts in all. We also partook of one or two (?) glasses of wine and a selection of cheese and then before leaving, we repaired to the vast kitchen for coffee and mince pies. A really soooper evening and we all laughed a lot. Good for the health I m sure. Another evening thoroughly enjoyed by VP s, members and friends, was at the beautifully decorated Lincombe Manor on 13th December and for 15 you could imbibe a glass of mulled wine on arrival, and later enjoy coffee and mince pies. (There is always a well stocked bar at The Manor too which is naughty but nice). The singing and readings were organised by Julie Hale whose beautiful voice joined with those of Jenny Abbot and Andrew Prowse. The wonderfully amusing readings were thanks to the excellent ladies, Ruth Bettesworth and Brenda Loosemore all of whom performed on the grand staircase of the Manor. Stunning. We then retired to the drawing room for some singalong carols sung, in the best stately home tradition, around the grand piano. All this would have been nothing without the HUGE talent of John Amery on keyboards and piano! Thank you all so much. And to all who worked so hard at the Manor to make a memorable evening. Oh and for future reference, friends have indicated they want repeat events of the Cabaret Time and Carols... The New Year brings renewals... In our case it is renewals of Vice-President membership! This year we had just under 60 members upon whom we relied not only for monetary investment in TOADS SMC, but also for their presence at all the events that we organise. Their support and encouragement has been greatly appreciated and I would like to think that all will sign up again for 2015 and enjoy being with us at the VP night of Legally Blonde. With this in mind, I booked the Preston Conservative Club on Wednesday 21st January for a two course supper with coffee, for only 12 which encouraged VP s to take the opportunity to pass over new membership cheques of 30 each! My money bag was full at the end of the evening and we had fun with the odd shimmy around the dance floor. As I write there are 20 new people who are becoming VP s. How brilliant is that? If you were unable to be present just pop your cheque in the post it will be gratefully received. Have yourselves a very happy, healthy and successful 2015 and happy rehearsals too. Thank for your continued support! Mary Qiriaqi TOADS SMC IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO 268829 PAGE 2
From our Chairman The committee would like to extend a huge vote of thanks to Mary for all she is doing as President. The lunches have raised about 4000 over the last year and the other social events arranged with Vice Presidents in mind but to which many members are welcome, have raised 1500 approx. She has also fostered many new contacts and is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. BRAVO!! Love to all, Amanda Jenkins Interval You know you ve been in amateur theatre too long if. you've ever menaced anyone with a gun held together with electrical tape. your children have ever begged you not to buy them any more Happy Meals. you've ever played the father of someone your father's age. you've ever appeared in a show where the cast outnumbered the audience.. Spring is in the air Well, there must have been something in the air recently as some of our younger members are expecting. Louisa Garner (our chairman s daughter) is expecting her first child in May. And Laura Duncan and Julia Gale are both expecting their second children about the same time. Congratulations to them, and also to Jacqueline Anderson who recently had her second child. Clearly the message is... join Toads SMC and get pregnant!! Happy Birthday Derek! One of our longer standing members celebrated a landmark birthday recently. Derek no longer appears on stage for us but can be found front of house and at our social events. I think I am allowed to say that he was 80!! Did you notice him in our award winning Sister Act production? He was the Pope! (Derek pictured here with Santa s little helper.cheryl! He was being presented with his Christmas Bonus winnings from the TOADS lottery). TOADS SMC IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO 268829 PAGE 3
Cheryl s Specials The monthly coffee mornings continue and the next one is on SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST from 11.15 until 1.15 at the usual venue ST MARTINS CHURCH HALL, BARTON. All are welcome from members through friends and Vice Presidents. Why not pop along for some delicious coffee and cake prepared by Cheryl Merrikin. These mornings are always good for picking up the gossip. We have our regulars at these events but it would be really good to see even more of you popping along. Over the year the coffee mornings have raised a nice sum for funds and thanks are due to Cheryl Merrikin for organising these. Film Show The legally Blonde film night held in November at the Blue Walnut cafe and Cinema was a great night where 24 members and vice Presidents watched a recording of the Broadway production of the show and had a lovely buffet. Not long after that, on December 6th, about 25 members and friends sat down at the ERC for a Christmas meal and dance which was greatly enjoyed. Many thanks to Julie Hale for organising these two events. Coming to on the Pad In the pipeline are a fashion show, a Eurovision Night (actually on the night!!) and a pub Quiz in Starcross. There will be many more events as well, and once firm details are know you will be told. What s on the pad? our calendar of social events and the forthcoming production dates for your diary! January Saturday 31st - TOADS coffee morning - 11:15 to 1:15 - St Martins, Barton Hill Rd, Torquay February Wednesday 4th - Monthly Luncheon with Speaker, Janet Downer - Paignton Club - Please reserve your space via Mary. June Tuesday 23rd to Saturday 27th - Main Production - Legally Blonde - Princess Theatre, Torquay TOADS SMC IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO 268829 PAGE 4
Flash Bang Wallop! Here are some pictures from the events over christmas Cabaret Evening November 29th Carol Evening December 13th (From left to right) - Ruth Bettesworth, Julie Hale, Andrew Prowse, Jenny Abbott, Brenda Loosemore & John Amery. Don t forget to get in contact with us for any articles or items you would like to see in future editions - smalltalk@toads.org.uk TOADS SMC IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO 268829 PAGE 5