MRS. KLEIN
Mon 25th – Sat 30th October 2010 By Nicholas Wright Directed by Yasmin Nixon
Drama Struggling to come to terms with the death of her son, Mrs. Klein finds her control over a rigidly compartmentalised life slip as we follow this witty and poignant study of mother-and-daughter relationships. In the ensuing power struggle, the rôles of torturer and victim, analyst and patient, blur and clash as they edge towards a resolution.
Cast   Crew Mrs. Klein Maggie May   Stage Manager Colin Edgerton Melitta Sharon Laws   Set Design Yasmin Nixon Paula Kate Perry   Set Construction Alan Croft & The       Chipstead Players       Construction Crew     Production Manager Jon Laws     Lighting Don Hindle     Sound Glen Nixon     Properties Anne Hopkins &       Katharine Salter     Wardrobe Margaret Ramsdale &       Jemma Chapman     Furniture Clare Sparshatt     Prompt Rosalind Heath
JOHNNY FUTURE & DNA (YOUTH THEATRE DOUBLE BILL) 15th – 18th September 2010
Johnny Future Devised, written & produced by The Chipstead Players Youth Theatre
Short film Teenager Johnny escapes his tiring and emotionally draining life as main carer for his disabled father by creating an alter-ego with a very special power, one that makes him the envy of all his friends!
Cast   Crew Johnny Future Lewis Khan   Producers Lauren Milsom & Freddie Rob Bradshaw   Jo Hopkins Reporter Alex Clark   AD/Mentor Lauren Milsom Dad Noel Harris   Camera/Sound Jonathan Laverock & Frankie Grace Mander   Graham Hall Gossips Amy Pinder-Hales &   Lights & Steady Cam Ben Gilbert Rosie Jones   Gaffer Graham House Millie Sam White   Wardrobe Jo Hopkins & Band drummer Gus van Manen   Edwina Marrow Protester Katie Bignell   Props, Catering &   Dave Dan Baty     Best Boy Jo Hopkins Band members Hope Elsdon,   Props Katie Bignell Rachel Reeve &   Production Manager Edwina Marrow Katherine Mill   Locations Laverock/Millsom/ Cheerleaders Izzy Draper,   Hopkins & Sophie Hazel,   Julia Mander Molly Rose &   Editor Jonathan Laverock Hazel Barnes   Runners Vick van Manen, Dame Judy Stench Elayne Teague   Elayne Teague, Games Mistress Vicky van Manen   Noel Harris, Games Master Glyn Jones   Edwina Marrow &     Abigail Marrow
DNA By Dennis Kelly Directed by Lauren Milsom & Jo Hopkins
Drama A group of teenagers do something bad, really, really bad, then panic and cover the whole thing up. When the cover-up unites them and brings harmony to their otherwise fractious lives, where’s the incentive to put things right?
Cast   Crew Mark Alex Clark   Production Manager Edwina Marrow Jan Molly Hopkins   Lighting Designer Graham House Leah Abigail Marrow   Video Filming & Phil Lewis Hayes     Editing Jonathan Laverock Lou Samantha White   Wardrobe Roz Hayes John Tate Alex Marrow   Stage Manager Roise Jones Danny Grace Mander   Sound Gus van Manen Becky Sarah Macdonald   Lighting Operator Ben Gilbert Cathy Lettie Egan   Prompt Noel Harris Brian Denholm Spurr   A Boy Rob Bradshaw
OUTSIDE EDGE
4th – 10th July 2010 By Richard Harris Directed by Colin Edgerton
Comedy It’s not cricket but it’s great fun! Roger’s having trouble assembling his cricket team to play against the British Railways Maintenance Division Yeading East, but these complications pall before those among the players’ various wives and girlfriends. As a final catastrophe, the rain begins to fall. Soon, it’s fun and games in the pavilion.
Cast   Crew Roger Mike Strong   Stage Manager Yaz Nixon Miriam Jan Robinson   Set Designer Mel Morgan Bob Jeremy Taylor   Set Construction Mel Morgan & The Dennis Mel Morgan     Chipstead Players Maggie Sharon Laws     Construction Crew Kevin David Kay   Production Manager Mary Morgan Ginnie Lesley Parker   Lighting Graham House & Alex Noel Harris     Andy Mills Sharon Molly Hopkins   Sound Jon Laws     Properties Delia Lord &       Ann Hopkins     Wardrobe Pat Andrews     Furniture Jo Hopkins     Prompt Glen Nixon
Review: By Diana Eccleston of The Surrey Mirror
As a one-time cricket widow, I’ve always loved the in-jokiness of this Richard Harris comedy and have seen it so many times his characters seem like old friends. Chipstead Players fielded a first class team under Colin Edgerton’s direction and the set might have passed for a professional one with its pavilion and exterior combo complete with real grass. There’s not a duff character in this line-up, led by Mike Strong as the insufferable captain, Roger. He is priming his men against the combined might of the British Railways Maintenance X1 Yeading East who, before the match, are spotted downing Bloody Marys – allegedly with real blood! But his players do not share Roger’s obsession with the game and have other distractions. I enjoyed Jan Robinson as his prim, prissy wife Miriam, who cares about having the all-important tea ready on the dot. Mel Morgan (who also designed the set) convinced as smarmy Dennis, with Noel Harris getting up everyone’s noses as arrogant solicitor Alex. Bob (Jeremy Taylor) has an ex-wife to juggle against the demands of her successor, Ginnie (Leslie Parker), so drowns his troubles in the pub with amusing results. Scene-stealers are usually the big Maggie / Little Kev partnership and Sharon Laws and David Kay made sure their innings was a winner.
’ALLO ’ALLO
22nd – 29th May 2010 By David Croft & Jeremy Lloyd Directed by Jeff Stone
Comedy Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once: the Führer is arriving in town. That’s bad news for René, the hapless café owner in occupied France, as he and his wife Edith struggle to hide a priceless portrait (in a sausage in the cellar) plus two British airmen trying to contact London through a wireless set disguised as a cockatoo. Yes, we’re reliving the classic TV series!
Cast   Crew Rene Geoff Thorn   Stage Manager Andy Mills Airman 1 Martin Bassindale   Set Designer Alan Croft Airman 2 Bertie Watkins   Set Construction Alan Croft, Edith Maggie Taverner     David Franks & The Yvette Lauren Milsom     Chipstead Players Michelle Fiona Radford     Construction Crew Mimi Pauline Summers   Lighting John Gallagher Colonel von Strohm Paul Brown   Sound Mike Dyson Helga Geerhart Anne-Marie Carlile   Wardrobe Anne Hopkins & Alberto Bertorelli Andy Wiggins     Linda Hall Herr Flick of the Nick Foster   Props Anne Thorn &   Gestapo   Katherine Salter Crabtree Glyn Jones   Furniture Clare Sparshatt Leclerc Nick Gane   Prompt Rosalind Heath Gruber Noel Harris   Production Managers Margaret Ramsdale & General von Charlie Crowther-   Christine Earp   Schmelling   Smith   Many thanks to: Peasant Rosie Jones   Pianist Bob Dear Peasant Elaine Prior   Violinist Clare Kennington     and to Jo Risolino for her choreography of Herr Flick’s tango and Edith, Yvette and Mimi’s cabaret number.
Review: By Diana Eccleston of The Surrey Mirror
This BBC sitcom is one of the evergreens of telly depicting the antics of café owner René and his staff in German-occupied France during the Second World War. The joke is that everyone speaks with cod accents, camps everything up outrageously, with plenty of innuendo and double entendres by the bucketful, while most of the cast end up disguised either as Hitler or Goering. Jeff Stone’s production for Chipstead Players was a valiant effort but didn’t quite win the war, so to speak. It needed more attack, more robust playing, to give it the fizz it needed. There were lots of laughs, but not the gale force guffaws which the witty script deserved. Geoff Thorn captured the accent and attitude of beleaguered René but was too low-key, and I didn’t believe in his shenanigans with his waitresses. Lauren Milsom shone as sexpot Yvette and Maggie Taverner was good value as Edith. Adding to the fun were Andy Wiggins as Italian buffoon Bertorelli, Paul Brown as Von Strohm, Nick Foster as pervy Herr Flick of the Gestapo, Anne-Marie Carlile as Helga, Noel Harris as Gruber and Glyn Jones as Crabtree.
ANNIE
12th – 17th April 2010 Book by Thomas Meehan Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Martin Charnin Directed by Ian Brown
Feel-good musical The Courtyard becomes home to a large group of orphans, a billionaire, two crooks, a president and a dog when we retell the stpry of little Annie, who is desperate to escape the orphanage. Sing along to "It’s a Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow" as we dance towards a better world.
Cast Principals   Annie Katie Bignell (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat matinee) Molly Rose   (Tue/Thu/Sat evening) Miss Hannigan Amy Pinder-Hales Daddy Warbucks Lewis Khan Grace Farrell Abigail Marrow Rooster Simon Long Lily Samantha White Bert Healy Hope Elsdon Roosevelt / Officer Ward Ben Marrow Perkins / Boylan Sister Katherine Mill Bundles / Morganthau Jordan Crabtree Drake / Hull Lewis Hayes Ickes / Servant Charlie Mabbutt Howe / Mrs. Pugh Benita Murphy Mrs. Greer Rosie Jones Annette / Boylan Sister Kelly Burke Cecile / Boylan Sister Emily Synnott Sophie / Brandeis Rachel Reeve Apple Seller / Wacky Kit Foulkes Sandy Sandy / Tully   The Orphans   Molly Zoe Kirk Pepper Hazel Barnes Duffy Georgia Pearson July Fran Loosley Tessie Holly Artis Kate Charlotte Roberts Jenny Samy Rowlinson M-J Dani Rowlinson Jersey Amy Hall Ruby Maria Gallagher Red Ellen Newman Lois Sophie Hazel Martha Eleanor Percival Other parts played by members of the cast   The Band Piano / Conductor Keith O’Gorman Sax / Clarinet / Flute Lydia Pearce Trumpet Chris Hickox Bass Guitar Bob Ward Drums Tom Atherton   Production Team Assistant Director Sarah Pearson Musical Director Keith O’Gorman Choreographer Joanna Risolino Rehearsal Pianist Jacqui Burke Production Manager Lesley Parker   Backstage Crew Stage Manager Grace Mander     Mentor: Edwina Marrow Set design Linda Hornzee-Jones Set construction Mel Morgan & The Chipstead Players Construction Crew Wardrobe Roz Hayes, Pat Andrews & Grace Mander Furniture & Properties Clare Sparshatt & Jean Pinder-Hales Lighting Ben Gilbert & Siobhan Ledden     Mentor: Jonathan Laverock Spotlight Sully Pearson Sound Josh Morris & Ellie Jones     Mentor: Glyn Jones Make Up Molly Hopkins Backstage Kate Shields, Sam Smith & Harriet Thorne     Mentor: Don Hindle Poster & Programme Cover Design Georgia Pearson
Review: By Lauren Milsom of The Chipstead Players
The latest production for the Youth Theatre is the musical Annie, the story of a poor orphan girl in New York trying to escape the misery of the orphanage and find her parents. From the moment the little orphans peeped out from their meager bedding to perform the first number, it was clear that this was going to be a strong production, with clear, confident singing and great characterization by every actor on the stage. Annie (played by Molly Rose on the night we saw it, shared with Katie Bignell) made her appearance with a mass of curly red hair that could have upstaged her had she not immediately launched into a confident performance, clearly showing the caring and capable side of her character, comforting and calming the other orphans. This show provides a wealth of well-drawn character parts. The cruel, drunken head of the orphanage Miss Hannigan (Amy Pinder-Hales) and her crooked cohorts Rooster and Lily (Simon Long and Samantha White) raised plenty of laughs with their bungling money making schemes, whilst the philanthropic billionaire Daddy Warbucks (Lewis Khan) and his devoted assistant Grace (Abigail Marrow) oozed success and efficiency. The dance routines from the outset were fresh and interesting, obviously well rehearsed and performed with energy and enthusiasm – a credit to the talent and inspiration of choreographer Jo Risolino. Another vital element in the professional look of the show were the costumes, created by Roz Hayes and Pat Andrews, all spot on for the period and accurately reflecting each character. From the co-ordinated uniforms of Warbucks‘ staff to the sharp suits for the businessmen, they all fitted perfectly and helped in the deception that small boys really can be members of the American Congress! Annie is packed with songs, some more memorable than others, and not all of them easy for young voices to sing, but Keith O‘Gorman did an excellent job as Musical Director, encouraging some impressive vocal performances from the cast, all delivered with feeling and clarity – and well supported by Keith and his ensemble from their lofty perch above the stage! Finally, no review would be complete without mention of the scene-stealers in this production, and a first for the Courtyard Theatre – the presence of not one but two real dogs in the cast! Though everyone felt great sympathy for the little orphan‘s plight, the biggest "aahs" were reserved for the shaggy stray Sandy (Sandy/Tully) that befriends the lonely Annie, and who sat, stood, laid down and exited the stage perfectly on cue and to rapturous applause that did nothing to faze him! Well done to Ian Brown and his production team on an excellent production and congratulations to every one of the cast for their great performances.
DINNER
1st – 6th March 2010 By Moira Buffini Directed by Sharon Radburn & Rick Thompsett
Black comedy Paige may be a rich bitch, but why should the advance payment for her dinner party for five be £25,000? Why are murder, truth and suicide the chosen topics for conversation? And who IS the gatecrasher at the party? If revenge is a dish best served cold, this evening it is being served frozen.
Cast   Crew Paige Jan Robinson   Stage Managers Colin Edgerton & Waiter Lars Sawyer     Nick Gane Lars Mike Strong   Set & Lighting Design Graham House Wynne Anne Page   Set Construction David Franks & The Hal Neil Hobbs     Chipstead Players Siân Emma Jones     Construction Crew Mike Mark Pendry   Lighting Operator Siobhan Ledden     Sound Glyn Jones     Props, Wardrobe & Edwina Marrow,       Furniture Jo Hopkins &     Lauren Milsom     Production Manager Jon Laws     Prompt Lesley Parker     Production Photos Russ Gregory
Review: By Peter Steptoe of The Croydon Advertiser
Rating: Moira Buffini’s play broke the rules of playwriting to great effect, helped along by Chipstead Players. The play was mainly static, for the cast were seated for long periods at a dining table. But, fascinated, we were drawn into their repellent company, as they consumed the monstrous meal prepared for them by their host. The wit was acid, sulphuric amost in its intensity as the barbs hurtled to and fro across the dinind table. Paige, deliciously played and enunciated by Jan Robinson dressed in hugging scarlet, had prepared a dinner party to celebrate the success of her husband’s best seller and pot boiler on philosophy. It told others how to live in a style he was unable to follow. Mike Strong as husband Lars gave a combative performance to counter his ‘rich bitch’ wife (her description). She had hired a waiter by means of the internet and the play had the constant presence of his glass filling capacities. Lars Sawyer was the tall figure that imposed his silence upon the stage with a subtle feeling of menace. The two acts were divided into four scenes described as The Aperitif, The Starter, The Main Course, and The Dessert. The Aperitif set the scene with the guests arriving and consuming the purple fluid in the cocktail glasses. First to arrive was the dippy artist Wynne (Anne Page), whose husband Bob had just left her for another, but she herself was entangled emotionally with Lars. She portrayed her vegetarianism skilfully and her defence of the main course was very amusing. Neil Hobbs was the insecure scientist Hal, whose girlfriend was the sarcastic monosyllabic Sian (Emma Jones), a journalist and news presenter. They bickered throughout and reconciled at the end, but this weakness of character was the fault of the writer, not the actors. The arrival of primordial soup dressed with Algae set the scene for what was to follow, and Apocalypse Lobster arriving in its live state with the guests given the choice of boiling water in the kitchen or survival in the garden pond, really set the play alight. The empty seat of Bob was taken by working class Mike, whose van had broken down, and his request to use the telephone was converted by Paige into an invitation to stay for dinner. Mark Pendry gave a laid back performance and brought a degree of sanity into this middle class world of pretensions The play ended with a murder, but who did what to who would be telling and it only remains to congratulate props for the lobsters and to say that the dessert was ‘Frozen Waste’.
HOBSON’S CHOICE
11th – 16th January 2010 By Harold Brighouse Directed by Anne Page
Drama Remember the 1953 film with Charles Laughton and John Mills? It’s back on stage as shop owner Hobson blithely drinks away the profits that flow from the talented boot-making hands of Willie Mossop. This is Victorian England, and things should stay like this for ever – unless eldest daughter Maggie has her way. She’s about to revolutionise her (and Willie’s) life.
Cast   Crew Alice Hobson Lettie Egan   Set Design & Alan Croft, Maggie Hobson Anne Ewart     Construction David Franks & The Vickey Hobson Molly Hopkins   Chipstead Players Albert Prosser Chris King   Construction Team Henry Hobson Colin Edgerton   Stage Manager Jeff Stone Mrs. Hepworth Patricia Foley   Lighting & Mike Dyson, Timothy Wadlow Andy Wiggins     Sound Jonathan Laverock William Mossop Noel Harris   Properties Pauline Beckley, Jim Heeler Nick Gane   Fiona Hooper Ada Figgins Louise Delaney   Costumes Anne Franks, Fred Beenstock Eddie Palmer   Pam Jarrad Doctor MacFarlane Will Harris   Furniture Anne Franks,     Jill Kiss     Prompt Yasmine Nixon,     Elayne Teague     Production Manager Louise Delaney
Review: By Theo Spring of The Croydon Advertiser
Rating: Ee by gum, but this was a grand production. Three different sets, a Lancashire accent for almost all, period costumes and the need for a youthful quartet within the cast is more than enough to make an amateur group go weak at the knees. Not so the Chipstead Players, whose delivery of the amusing tale of Henry Hobson, prosperous boot and shoe shop owner was, simply, first class. With Colin edgerton as Henry doing the initial stalwart battle against his three unmarried daughters (with no wife to assist), his performance dwindled carefully from king of the coop to trussed chicken as eldest daughter Maggie got the upper hand. Or perhaps that should read the boot hand, as it was her plan to marry him that swung the pendulum. As Maggie, Anne Ewart’s interpretation was spot on and just as Maggie’s plans needed a strong lass to carry them through, so Noel harris as William Mossop, the boot hand in question, provided the perfect foil with his humbleness. Just as Henry Hobson’s circumstances reduced, so Mossop’s rose and in Noel Harris’ hands it was a joy to watch. Completing the trio of daughters, Vickey (Molly Hopkins) and Alice (Lettie Egan) produced vanity and selfishness along the way of climbing out of the tedium of being unpaid shoe shop assistants – both girls creating characters the antithesis of their oldest sister but eventually owing her their marriages. The husbands in question – Albert Prosser (Chris King) and Fred Beenstock (Eddie Palmer), did well with their courting, helping create the memorable wedding supper scene once Maggie and William were wed. Will Harris turned in his usual high class performance – here as Doctor MacFarlane, and Andy Wiggins made an excellent down-trodden Tubby. Cameo roles were equally high class, with Nick Gane as Jim Heeler, Louise Delaney as Ada Figgins, and Patricia Foley in grand style as the imperious Mrs. Hepworth. Set design and decor, wardrobe and props all deserve their own accolades, but the big bouquet goes to director Anne Page for her vision and confidence in putting Hobson’s Choice so entertainingly on the stage.