HATSTAND A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Well, what a busy few months it s been! www.hatstheatre.org APRIL/MAY 2004 We ve had A Play in a Day in February, Toppers in March and Little Red Riding Hood (and a wolf called Elvis) in April. Now of course, we commence rehearsals for our next season Threesome. This season contains three original one act plays. Two of the pieces have been written by HATS regulars, Michael Olsen and Bruce Foot, whilst the third has been written by a newcomer to HATS, Michael Jeffreys. They are all funny and unique plays and are sure to be highly entertaining! Also coming up is our AGM in July. More information on this in the next edition of HATSTAND. Be sure to keep an eye out for it in your mailbox in June! Until next edition, Laura Little Red Riding Hood (and a wolf called Elvis) performed April 2004 CONTENTS: Page 1: Intro Page 2: Toppers 2003 Winners Page 3: Karaoke Pictures (Toppers) Page 4: A Play In A Day Page 5: Little Red Riding Hood (and a wolf called Elvis) Page 6: Threesome Page 7: HATS off, news & views Page 8: Fridge Page
TOPPERS 2003 HATSTAND page 2 WINNERS AND GRINNERS The productions in 2003 were Play It Again Sam, Cinderella, Greendoor (Juliet, Room Service & The Last Dance of the Plum Sisters), Still Under the Brim (Graceland, Mother Figure & Doreen) and Stepping Out. Winners from these productions were: Best Technical Achievement: Best Set Design: Best Supporting Actor (Male): Best Supporting Actor (Female): Best Actor (Male): Best Actor (Female): Best Director: Best Production: Best Original Script: Chairman s Award: Audience Appreciation Award: Adjudicator s Awards: Deborah Monrad-Hunt {sound for Stepping Out} Kim Edwards {The Last Dance of the Plum Sisters} Andrew Newman {Play It Again Sam} TIED: Lindy Monrad & Janeen Sonsie {Stepping Out} Tyson White {Play it again Sam} Joanne Watt {Stepping Out} Kim Edwards {The Last Dance of the Plum Sisters} Play It Again Sam Michael Olsen {The Last Dance of the Plum Sisters} Andrew Toomath Katherine Payne {Stepping Out} David Swann {for DVD magic} Miranda Lukey {Choreography in Stepping Out} After a highly entertaining evening hosted by Narelle Olsen and featuring the acting talents of Dave Swann, Heath Thomas, Narelle Olsen, Laura Bradley and Luke Tarrant, we all headed back to the home of Janeen Sonsie for the official AFTER PARTY. Karaoke was on offer, and HATS
members sang until the wee small hours of the morning! {See over the page for photographic images of this after party}. Congratulations to all our nominees and winners. Well done! Good luck to those in productions in 2004 who knows, it could be your turn next!! HATSTAND page 3
A PLAY IN A DAY On February 28 th we produced our second A Play in a Day, a unique concept where plays are written, rehearsed and performed within 24 hours. At 10pm on Friday night (27th) the actors, directors, writers and crew gathered at Vermont Secondary College where they were randomly assigned to one of six teams. The writers then picked themes out of box and then spent the next hour with their cast and director discussing ideas. At 11pm everyone except the writers went home. The writers stayed up all night writing their plays and at 6am the next morning the directors arrived, ready to read them. After breakfast, the tired writers left for their well-earned sleep. At 7am the actors arrived and commenced rehearsing. HATSTAND page 4 Rehearsals continued through out the day, broken up only by meal breaks and production meetings. While the actors and directors were working to remember their lines, the crew were working tirelessly rigging lights, securing sound effects, finding props and sets and doing all the usual tech jobs. Then at 8pm that night these short plays were performed in front of an enthusiastic audience. These plays were (in performance order): Einstein s Cow ~ written by Stella Glorie. Directed by Michelle Swann Featuring Narelle Olsen, Janeen Sonsie & Karen Fisher A Dead Mouse Feels no Cold ~ written by Shannon Patterson. Directed by Ben Plazzer Featuring Lindy Monrad, Ann Murison, Vladimir Tsyganov & Rod Patterson Beware of the Person who has nothing to Lose ~ written by Caroline Briers. Directed by Ian Tweeddale. Featuring Lynette Williams & Jenni Dyson Luck s a fortune ~ written by Colin Donald. Directed by Sue Dyring. Featuring Angela Johnson, Sally Ann Charnock & Paula Armstrong Cactus Steps ~ written by Mary-Anne Burton. Directed by Nicky McFarlane Featuring Daryl Scobie, Matt Fitzgerald & Linda Ellul More Deadly than the male ~ written by Alan Keaughran & Julian Glavacich Directed by Peter Nathan. Featuring Leanne Conn, Melinda Watts & Luke Tarrant On behalf of the production team, I would like to thank everyone for their time, energy and enthusiasm. This show would not have been possible without you all. Thanks also to the fantastic crew; Sheona Paxman, Michelle Swann, Dave Swann, Andrew Toomath, Nick Beaton, Si Preest, Lachlan McGill, Mike McBain, Peter Lyons, Rebecca Martin, Michael Olsen, Caroline Briers, Narelle Olsen, Jill Fisher & David Paxman. We look forward to bringing you a 2005 version of A Play in a Day. Stay tuned! Laura Bradley
HATSTAND page 5 Little Red Riding Hood (and a wolf called Elvis) HATS pantomime for 2004 was the original Little Red Riding Hood (and a wolf called Elvis) written by our own Narelle Lee. Directed at first by Marcia Perry, and then later by Narelle Olsen and myself, LRRH was an experiment by HATS. Usually the pantomimes are performed in the July school holidays, this year we decided to try the Easter break. Whilst audience numbers were less, the show was very popular with both the parents and children. Thanks must go to the fantastic cast. Natasha Jacobs (Little Blue Riding Hood), Ahrain Kidman-Schier (Little Red Riding Hood), James Baker (Elvis the wolf), Caroline McBain (Mother, Stepmother and Supergran), Luke Tarrant (Narrator, Sheep and Detective James Blonde) and Liz Briers (Bo Peep). On behalf of the directors, I would like to thank the cast for doing such a fantastic job and for making rehearsals such fun. Thanks also to Marcia for her great job with the costumes. Laura
HATS OFF! CELEBRATING THE GOINGS ON OF HATS MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT. HATSTAND page 7 WHERFORE ART THOU?. Louise Steele & Rose Hume (Stepping Out) are both appearing in the Hartwell production of Shakespeare s Romeo & Juliet. SAXXY. HATS member Alwyn Lewis and her husband Laurie, alongside HATS member Daryl Scobie (APIAD) performed and produced the original production It s called a Saxophone at Dizzy s over the Anzac Day weekend. WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS? Luke Tarrant (LRRH) has just finished filming for an upcoming Commercial TV production to hits screens in September 2004. BY GEORGE I THINK HE S GOT IT. Paul Fisher has completed a stint appearing as the lead role in Sherbrooke s production of Life after George, directed by another HATS member, Yvonne Manley. SCOUTS AHOY. James Baker (LRRH) will be performing in the June Gangshow with the Australian Scout Organisation. STAG HATS members have been involved in the recent STAG production of Othello. Directed by Valina and Tony Rainer (The Last Dance of the Plum Sisters), and featuring the acting talents of Sophie Angelle (Earnest/2 Women & a Chair). PLEASE SEND ANY NEWS TO THE EDITOR (lbradley@vtown.com.au) SEASON FOUR, 2004 WRITTEN BY OSCAR WILDE DIRECTED BY YVONNE MANLEY AUDITIONS TO BE HELD IN JULY 2004 SHOW TO BE PERFORMED IN NOVEMBER 2004 DRAMA WORKSHOPS Joanne Watt (Stepping Out) has opened her BDC Dance studio for theatre skills workshops and readings of plays. Members of HATS, Hartwell and Players may attend free of charge. Nominal tea/coffee/tutor fee will apply to newcomers. Sessions Friday 7-9.30pm during school terms. Call Joanne on 9888 9908 for more information. A great way to fill up that free time