HAY FEVER
31st October – 5th November 2005 By Noel Coward Directed by Peter Whittle
Synopsis: Judith Bliss invites a young admirer to the family home for the weekend. So does her husband. And her daughter. And her son – each without consulting the others. Who will get the bedroom? And who will accompany them to it after the evening’s parlour games, tantrums and general mayhem?
Cast   Judith Suzi Whittle Richard Colin Edgerton David Charlie Crowther-Smith Sorel Amy Coates Simon William Palmer Sandy Ben Hilder Jackie Alex Giles Myra Anne-Marie Carlile Clare Mary Richards-Jones
DIVINE & DEADLY
14th – 17th September 2005 Directed by Emily Evans, Sarah Mabbutt & Louise Sinnerton
Junior Revue Our hugely talented Juniors produced and directed themselves in a wickedly wonderful revue of singing, dancing and acting.
DANGEROUS OBSESSION
4th – 9th July 2005 By N.J. Crisp Directed by Sharon Radburn
Synopsis: Mark and Sally Driscoll met John Barrett at a trade show. When John show up on their doorstep 18 months later, claiming that the two of them were responsible for the death of his wife, we are presented with a mystery about the nature of truth. It’s a character study that probes how far ordinary people will go to hide (or rewrite) the past, and how they react when their version is shattered.
Cast   Sally Driscoll Katie Phillips John Barrett David Kay Mark Driscoll Jerry Phillips
SITUATION COMEDY
23rd – 28th May 2005 By Jonnie Mortimer & Brian Cooke Directed by Ken Nicholson
Synopsis: The deadline is looming for the new TV series written by Charles and Arthur. With ideas in short supply, they relieve the pressure with a night at Charles’ house, enjoying Arthur’s home-made wine and a slide show of the recent joint holiday in Spain with their wives. By the following morning, they have swapped wives – a situation that might provide the idea for their new sitcom. Or it would, if they could agree on an ending.
Cast   Doris Ann-Marie Carlile Charles Colin Edgerton Beryl Lauren Milsom Arthur Ashley Holloway Miss Trotter Jan Robinson Maurice Geoff Thorn
Review By Derrick Graham of The Surrey Mirror
Chipstead Players’ latest production, "Situation Comedy", is one of those tricky plays about a play, or to be exact about a TV comedy series. The two writers for the series hope to follow their success of earlier comedy productions and are a pair of diverse types who together make an effective team. Charles, wonderfully portrayed by Colin Edgerton, is a smooth, polished man about town, married to Doris, a house proud lady, making meals to cordon bleu standard and living in a tastefully furnished London flat. Arthur is from the north, with a far from polished background brought superbly to life by Ashley Holloway. He is married to Beryl, who has no interest in housework or preparing meals (most of which come out of tins or packets) spends all their money on hairdressing, beauty treatment and clothes. The sort of clothes that show off all her assets, especially the slit black leather skirt for the opening scenes. The ladies have rather opposite views on how to keep their husbands happy, Doris (Anne-Marie Carlile), by her performance in the kitchen and Beryl (Lauren Milson) in the bedroom. But Arthur’s failure to keep her satisfied (mainly due to the lack of good food) causes her to look at Charles as a prospect. After a few drinks at a dinner party Charles and Doris are giving to the other couple, he falls for her charms. His wife having gone back to Arthur’s flat to help him get some more home made wine, they sample a few bottles to make sure it is all right. Doris falls asleep on the sofa, whilst Arthur goes up to bed alone. Charles cannot believe her protestations that nothing happened between her and Arthur and the wife swapping becomes permanent. The interiors of the flats now change as the women impose their differing life styles. The local gossip, Miss Trotter (Jan Robinson) keeps tabs on what is going on by popping in for a cup of sugar etc. Under pressure from their agent Maurice, well portrayed by Geoff Thorn, the men finally have to get back together to write the script for the show. Stuck for ideas, they decide to use their own domestic situation as the plot, trying it in a 30s Mayfair Noel Cowardish style, then in a northern pit village. Wonderful changes in character by both the women and their husbands, with the gossip now the Marchioness of Trotter.The set provided a small problem in that the stage had to accommodate the living rooms of two flats (one with hideous colour scheme). In the centre was a large desk really supposed to be in both flats, but lack of space sometimes meant the cast straying over the centreline as they used it. Lighting came up on whichever flat was being used. A superb comedy directed by Ken Nicholson, excellently costumed to bring out the class differences and played at the unfaltering pace of farce.
ROBIN HOOD
13th – 16th April 2005 By Nick Pryor & Ian Brown Directed by Ian Brown
Synopsis: Not the traditional legend, but a brand new play with songs specially written for The Courtyard, telling of Robin, Maid Marion, Friar Tuck and the other well-loved characters from the folk tale.
Cast   Forest People   Robin Hood William Palmer Maid Marion Louise Sinnerton Will Scarlett Mark Nathan Alex Scarlett Mary Burke Little John James Mabbutt Alan a Dale Lizzie Fitzwater Daniel Oliver Robinson Millie Alex Farquharson Mary Green Fay Powell Daisy Belle Kerry-Ann Radburn Merrie Maids Elspeth Marrow, Maria Neville, Emma Taylor, Hanna Taylor
Townspeople   Father Mitchell Baldock Son Daniel Baty Daughter Amy Pinder-Hayles Dad Ben Perry Old Woman Rhian Hayes Old Man Alex Marrow Young Woman Siân Hayes Young Man Sam Harris Cedric Charlie Mabbutt Paul Nesbitt Daisy Marsh Big Mac Rebecca Hollington Saleswoman Katie Milsom Hangman Jonathan Land Master of Ceremonies Grace Hopkins King Richard Alex Marrow
Sheriff’s Court   Arbuckle Mitchell Baldock Sherrif of Nottingham Daniel Baty Lady Katerina Amy Pinder-Hayles Mrs Baker Ben Perry Edgar Rhian Hayes Deek Alex Marrow Mauding Siân Hayes Whittaker Emma Green Gibbs Charlie Mabbutt Skivvies Alice Baty, Kelly Burke, Felicity Carr, Molly Hopkins, Nazgol Kafai, Grace Mander, Abigail Marrow, Katie Milsom, Josie Searle
Soldiers   Soldier 1 Lewis Hayes Soldier 2 Gus van Manen Perik Sarah Macdonald Vain Soldier Alexander Clark Wet Soldier Laura Pinder-Hayes
An appreciation By Peter Van Manen, Chipstead Players Member
Robin Hood was a beautifully crafted and executed production which was a joy to watch. A cast of thousands (well it did seem like it at times…), delightful music, an imposing split-level set, beautiful costumes and superb lighting and sound effects all came together to transport us back to the forests of Sherwood and the castle of Nottingham. In the forest, Will Palmer gave a fine performance as Robin Hood, showing a maturity in his acting that was great to see. Louise Sinnerton was a perfect Maid Marion showing just the right balance of feisty determination and charm. Mark Nathan, James Mabbutt and Lizzie Fitzwater completed the band of principal merry men and showed us that they could not only act and sing, but also handle swords, quarterstaffs and a touch of dancing with the merry maids with aplomb. For me though, the revelation in the forest was Mary Burke, playing Alex Scarlet. Her performance was just wonderful and she sung like an angel. In the Sheriff’s court, Sarah Mabbutt was brilliant as Arbuckle, showing us yet again what a hugely talented performer she is. We were also treated to the finest pair of villains that we could wish to see (and boo!). Harry Van Manen was a suitably smug and sinister Sheriff of Nottingham and Sarah Perry as Lady Katerina, somehow managed to radiate evil. This was an amazing transformation for them both as they are really quite pleasant people in real life. The Sheriff’s advisors, played by Emma Green and Suzie Fitzwater, provided some great comic moments, as did the taxmen played by Nima Kafai, Lucy Bennett and Katherine Sparshatt, who started and finished the show. Almost stealing the show though, before the first act was even finished, was Joanna Hollington playing Ma Baker (Marion’s mother). She came on with her skivvies to delight us with a killer combination of stage presence, music and imaginative choreography. The soldiers, forest people and townspeople kept the play moving along at a brisk pace and at the same time, treated us to some fine individual performances. Laura Pinder-Hayes captured our sympathy as the put-upon Wet Soldier, Sarah MacDonald gave us some fine singing and swordplay (and a convincing death scene) as Perik, and Alex Clark dug out the biggest individual laugh of the evening with his beautifully delivered throw-away comment after shooting down Sarah. Grace Hopkins, as the Master of Ceremonies, used her considerable stage presence to good effect in maintaining momentum in the quite complex and pivotal Contest Scene in the second act. Another superb comic moment came straight after the breathtaking quarterstaff competition between Rebecca Hollington as Big Mac and James Mabbutt as Little John. Her lines delivered in that Scottish accent almost brought the house down. While on the subject of accents, I can only hope that James’ French teacher was not in the auditorium during the contest scene! The original music, composed by Colin Warnock, was superb and the band of musicians, comprising Chris and Emily Evans on keyboards and Tom Milsom on drums, played it beautifully. Robin Hood was a production of quite epic proportions. I understand that the ink was still drying on the original script by Nick Pryor when rehearsals started with the cast of more than 50 actors. Along with the wonderful cast, Ian Brown, as Director, brought together a hugely talented group of people to extract great individual and ensemble performances from everyone. Lauren Milsom and Nick Pryor assisted in the direction, Barbara Richardson choreographed the dances, fight sequences and movement of the masses, and Jacqui Burke transformed the outlaws, town folk and baddies into harmonious singers. There was also a large backup crew behind the scenes to make the production a success. This really was theatre at its finest.
THE HOUSE OF BERNADA ALBA
7th – 12th March 2005 By Federico Garcia Lorca Directed by Pamela Jarrad
Synopsis: Set in rural Spain, the play is about ‘women whom love moves to tragedy’. It tells of the repression of five daughters by a domineering mother, and of how their natural spirits circumvent her but bring violence and death.
Cast   Bernada Maggie Taverner Angustias Sharon Radburn Magdelena Lesley Parker Amelia Louise Delaney Martirio Katie Philips Adela Christine Henderson Poncia Julie Combo Maid Rosalind Martin Maria Josefa Cynthia Coatts Prudencia Jennifer Catley Beggar Woman Vicki Van Manen Little Girl Molly Hopkins Mourning Women Lucy Bennett, Jane Bunner, Estelle Forsberg, Emma Green, Sheila Green, Siân Hayes, Grace Hopkins, Jo Hopkins, Linda Hornzee-Jones, Yasmine Leighton, Margaret Palmer, Jean Phipps, Jean Pinder-Hales, Margaret Ramsdale, Angela Wright Children Katie Milsom, Amy Pinder-Hales
Review By Diana Eccleston of The Advertiser Group
This is rather a strange choice of play with which to launch such an auspicious occasion as the 10th anniversary season of the Chipstead Players’ lovely little Courtyard Theatre. "It’s a bit heavy," I heard a member of Monday’s audience comment. And he wasn’t wrong. What many consider Lorca’s masterpiece may be beautiful and poetic but it is far from jolly, since it is a tragedy about a family of women who are suffering the after effects of their father’s death. Strict disciplinarian mother Bernarda has decreed that her five daughters and the female servants will remain in mourning and confined to the house for eight years. Straightaway tensions begin to simmer. We feel the heat of the relentless Spanish sun and the pressure of rivalries between the sisters for the attention of the same handsome young villager. This all-female piece presents marvellous opportunities for actresses, and Pamela Jarrad’s production features some strong performances. One of them was, unexpectedly, her own. Due to the sudden indisposition of Julie Combo on Monday, Ms Jarrad went on with the script to play one of the major roles, the servant Poncia. Although she was sometimes a little quiet, she otherwise made a terrific job of it and set an example to her cast. Maggie Taverner makes a formidable Bernarda and gives her enough of a human side to stop the woman slipping into one of those dragon-like caricatures. The "beatings" she hands out to her children could be more realistic, though. The daughters are an assorted quintet. I liked the strength and acidity of Lesley Parker’s Magdalena and the hidden depths of the lovelorn, hunchbacked Martirio (Katie Phillips). Sharon Radburn is the assured eldest, Angustias, who takes betrothal to the much-fancied Pepe as her birthright, while Christine Henderson displays the passion and recklessness of youth as the baby of the family, Adela – a bit of a Lydia Bennet type. Louise Delaney is the tranquil presence as Amelia. There’s an excellent cameo from Cynthia Coatts as the deranged granny and Rosalind Martin is the appropriately earthy maid. The austere set, creative lighting and ensemble of well-dressed funeral mourners in their black lace, all add to the success of a difficult play.
TREASURE ISLAND
5th – 9th & 12th – 15th January 2005 By Iain McGrath & Ian Radburn Directed by Lesley Parker
Synopsis: Join Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver and his gang as they make their way to Treasure Island with a motley crew of pantomime misfits, in the re-working of the classic tale. Plenty of traditional "Yo-ho-ho", "Shiver me timbers!" and "He’s behind you!!"
Cast   Principals   Jim Hawkins Alex Richardson Ma Hawkins Rick Thompsett Long John Silver Guy Hudson Black Dog Tom Milsom Tom Morgan James Mabbutt Nutz Sharon Radburn Crackers Ian Radburn Prince Lobotomee William Palmer Empress Pu Pu Jacqui Burke Princess No Wai Yin Rebecca Hollington Tu Young Tu Katherine Sparshatt Tu Dum Tu Grace Hopkins No Wan Tu Rhian Hayes Captain Aboudi Fullas Peter Van Manen First Mate Astu Pidas Geoff Thorn Benn Gunn Kit Wisdom Girl Friday Siân Hayes Genie Barbara Richardson Doris Upchuck Lauren Milsom Captain Billy Bones Peter Shore Days of the Week/Mermaids   Monday Joanna Hollington Saturday Sarah Perry Tuesday Alex Farquharson Wednesday Fay Powell Thursday Laura Pinder-Hales Others Sea Creatures Alice Baty, Kelly Burke, Mary Burke, Felicity Carr, Molly Hopkins, Grace Sojia Mander, Katie Milsom, Amy Pinder-Hales Pirates Kerry Ann Radburn, Daniel Baty, Lewis Hayes, Jason Bird Sailors Lizzie Fitzwater, Suzie Fitzwater, Sarah Mabbutt, Sarah Macdonald, Louise Sinnerton Oriental Dancers Aimee Davies, Anya Howard Smith, Daisy Marsh
Review: By Derrick Graham of The Surrey Mirror
It was a delight to see Chipstead Players’ recent production of Treasure Island at the Courtyard Theatre, a show written by two members of the company for children – although, on the second night, the almost full house were mostly adults. No smut, good clean fun, brilliant comedy pair (Ian Radburn was one of the authors), good costumes and an effective, if simple, set. Music appeared to be pre-recorded (or else they have a huge orchestra hidden away somewhere) and by sensible use of radio mics, the weaker singing voices could be clearly heard. That only led to one problem, when a duet between the Princess and Jim Hawkins had one mic going on and off, which rather spoilt the excellence of the singing. The chorus singing was excellent; it was a pity they only had two songs in the whole production. Rick Thompsett’s Ma Hawkins was a dame of professional standard, which surprisingly was his first time in drag. His/her son, Jim, was a real panto principal boy (or girl!) played by Alex Richardson with plenty of thigh-slapping and good singing before ‘he’ went on to marry the Princess. The characters’ names were a wonderful piece of imagination. As Treasure Island was off the coast of China, travelling on the "Tight Annic" was the Empress Pu Pu (Jacqui Burke) on her way home with her daughter, Princess No Wai Yin (Rebeccca Hollington), and the man her mother has selected to be her husband, Prince Lobotomee (William Palmer). The Empress has three servants, Tu Yung Tu (Katherine Sparshatt), Tu Dum Tu (Grace Hopkins) and No Wan Tu (Rhian Hayes), who also formed an excellent singing group. Lauren Milsom was Doris Upchuck – a ship’s cleaner very unsteady on her feet. Capt. Aboudi Fullas (Peter Van Manen) and First Mate Astu Pidas (Geoff Thorn) commanded the "Tight Annic" and in the crew was Long John Silver (Guy Hudson) who, with the aid of other pirates, captured the ship and got the treasure map off Jim. Silver was being chased on the ship by two policemen, complete with flashing blue lights on their helmets. As one of the authors, Ian Radburn was PC Crackers. He was brilliant and was well supported by PC Nutz, Sharon Radburn, a reverse dame in this case. On the island was poor Ben Gunn, abandoned by Capt. Billy Bones (Peter Shore some years previously. Fortunately, he had found Aladdin’s lamp in a cave and summoned the Genie (Barbara Richardson) who created for him not only a Girl Friday (Siân Hayes) but also five other beautiful girls for each of the days of the week (he had a rest on Sunday). When Jim finds the treasure, he becomes rich enough to marry No Wai Yin, Ben Gunn (fine singing voice) marries the Empress and the Captain falls for the charms of Mrs Hawkins. A well-directed show by Lesley Parker with a cast who will perhaps start to smile when they get over their initial stage fright!
Review: By Theo Spring of The Advertiser Group
Written by members Iain McGrath and Ian Radburn, the script accommodated many of the Chipstead Players’ youth membership. This bias meant few experienced adults took the main roles, where they worked hard to keep the show moving, but the youngsters certainly did well, and there were some good voices amongst them. Appreciating the difficulty of finding musicians to commit to a 10-day run, with payment required an additional drawback, the lack of live music detracts considerably from this show. Dances and vocals are performed to tracks, with which Ashley Holloway on sound is spot on, but it’s really not the same. The four-strong wardrobe team have produced some colourful costumes with the Chinese silks looking splendid – and there are inventive names for the orientals. Empress Pu Pu (Jacqui Burke) is mother to Princess No Wai Yin, petulantly played by Rebecca Hollington, her hand-maids Tu Yung Tu, Tu Dum Tu and No Wan Tu are a lively trio, with Grace Hopkins as Dum stealing the limelight with a bright, well-characterised performance. Rick Thompsett in his first role as Dame could have been an old hand at it when, as Ma Hawkins, she joins the ship’s crew sailing to Treasure Island. Her"son" Jim (Alex Richardson) gave principal boy its expected allure as he fought Prince Lobotomee for the Princess’ hand. William Palmer created an excellent fop as Lobotomee, complete with sustained speech impediment. Long John Silver growled and swaggered his way through the show – Guy Hudson in charge of two young pirates (Tom Milsom and James Mabbutt) who made their mark in spite of their youth. More ingenious names were found for Captain Aboudi Fullas and his first mate Astu Pidas, with Peter Van Manen and Geoff Thorn making the most of the innuendo. Kit Wisdom cleaned up handsomely as Ben Gunn – although why he wanted to leave an island so full of lithesome young girls is curious, and the script writers found a cameo role for Aladdin’s Genie – Barbara Richardson, who also choreographed, making much of her brief appearance. Lauren Milsom added comedy as Doris Upchuck, based on Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques, but the show was held together and given a real panto feel by Sharon and Ian Radburn – Nutz and Crackers of the police force – and an excellent job they do, too. A bevy of dancers, cleverly dressed sea creatures, pirates and sailors added charm to director Lesley Parker’s show.
THE REAL THING
11th – 16th October 2005 By Tom Stoppard Directed by Yasmine Leighton
Synopsis: Henry is a playwright who is witty, clever, detached and wants to remain in control. He embarks on an affair with Annie, wife of the leading man in his new play (a play about adultery) but he is sure that theirs is ‘the real thing’. So he abandons his actress wife, marries Annie and finds that love – the real thing – can be messy, painful and unpredictable.
Cast   Max Philip Laughton Charlotte Sarah Percival Henry Mike Strong Annie Louise Delaney Billy Ian Page Debbie Rhian Page Brodie Colin French
Review: By Theo Spring of The Advertiser Group
It was Sheridan Morley, writing in The Spectator, who wrote of this play "In 1982 this was the one that first showed us Stoppard has a heart as well as a head". The Real Thing turns out to be just that, a play which reminds you why you go to the theatre and why you fall in love. And why, just sometimes, it is all worth the effort. Yasmine Leighton’s production is finely tuned and her cast bring out all the nuances of the dilemma – to love or not to love. Action takes place in three homes, two theatres and a train – not easily depicted on one stage, but Brian Drury designed a set which took us cleverly and seamlessly to each location with considerable assistance from John Fitzwater on lighting. Henry is a writer to whom the use of the English language is sacrosanct. His vocabulary is fast and his wit crisp, but his verbosity seems to fail him when, on falling in love, his ability to express his true feelings evaporate. Mike Strong’s interpretation of Henry is wholly believable – as a husband, lover, father and playwright. He manages to be all those things both separately and together and is the lynch-pin of the production. Around him revolve Annie with whom he falls deeply in love but who is married to Max. Louise Delaney and Philip Laughton hint strongly at their one-sided relationship through body language, which is also used to great effect by all the cast throughout the production. Laughton’s delivery as an actor in Henry’s play "House of Cards" is markedly different from his role as Max, and Sarah Percival as Charlotte – Henry’s wife – shows the same skills playing opposite Max in the play, and in ‘real life’. Louise Delaney is a mercurial Annie – leaving us guessing as to where her true affections lie. Her many duologues with Henry are lifelike and well paced. Waiting until Act II for their entrances, all three of the smaller parts are certainly no also-rans. Ian Page is a total charmer as Billy, Rhian Hayes captures the essence of the wayward teenager Debbie, and Colin French is just as we imagined as the much-discussed but only briefly-glimpsed Brodie. A strong production of an emotionally challenging play using a cast of exceptionally high calibre.