Curtain Up on Murder
DATE: 22nd November 2023
SOCIETY: Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS Theatre Club)
VENUE: Gayton Road Community Centre
TYPE OF PRODUCTION: Play
DIRECTOR: Richard Mayes
WRITTEN BY: Bettine Manktelow
“Curtain Up on Murder”, Bettine Manktelow’s play about an amateur theatre company rehearsing at the end of the pier. Outside a storm is raging and the doors to theatre are suspiciously locked. What better ingredients for the weird and seemingly inexplicable goings-on that unfold?
Like any theatre company, it’s intriguing cast of players assemble, and Charlemont Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS Theatre Club) is no exception, all the twists and turns of red herrings and bona fide clues are mixed up with humour and intense and complicated relationships plus the odd death thrown in for good measure.
As the Prompt/Props Mistress meets her death as she falls through a trap door added to the strange, ethereal apparition (or is it?) set the scene for Richard Mayes’ delightful ensemble production of this murder mystery. We are gently introduced to our cast of characters who soon came into their own. ‘Harry’, the seemingly rustic theatre caretaker, played by Richard Corrado, sets the scene for the unexplained goings-on with the homely ‘Sandra’, the ill-fated Prompt, played by Niamh Smith, along with her friend, ‘Ginny’, played by Emilie Tunnacliffe, demonstrate all the enthusiasm of newbie society members, attracted by the potential theatre glitz and glamour and try to infectiously instil it in the more hardened members of the company, but fail - especially after Sandra’s accident – or was it? ‘Alex’, played by Louis Elsmore, captured the essence of the stereotypic leading man wonderfully showing contempt for his associates – but he has a secret as well as a reputation to uphold. The production’s leading lady and full-time diva, ‘Sylvia’, is not only the director’s wife but is also, in the best tradition of theatre cliches, having an affair with her leading man. For him, it is serious, for her, more a question of convenience. James Smith very convincingly playing the boringly tunnel visioned director, ‘Martin’, has no idea of his wife’s dalliance, ensuring that all his attentions are directed towards the production and nothing, not even a death, is going to divert him. By far the most odd ball of the odd balls is ‘Moppet’, an endearing character played superbly by Jamie Cross, always ready to say out loud what the others had wished to remain unexpressed. Add into the mix the slightly paranoic ‘Linda’, played to great effect by Tammy Steventon, who just happens to live with Alex and chooses this rehearsal to confront him about his behaviour!
Lots of stage ploys are used to great effect in this cleverly constructed script and were handled superbly by the cast, albeit after a slightly tentative start on their opening night, but this was short-lived as the cast soon came into their own, guiding us through the various set pieces – the play within the play, within the play! The mistaken identities, the unexpected plot twist and the subtlety of guiding the audience into thinking they have the answer and then finding their chosen assassin gets poisoned!
A deceptively simple single set allowed the action to flow freely and atmospheric lighting (by Sara Hill) and sound (by Daniel Richards) added to the evening’s enjoyment – especially the vicious and unexpected clap of thunder at the end of the first scene had the audience jumping out of their seats. There was a tremendous feeling of friendliness pervading the auditorium, the audience were there to enjoy themselves and their willingness to contribute with their deliberations of who’d done it but always at an appropriate break, not impinging upon the action. They had a great time, as did I, thanks to everyone at CADS for being so welcoming and I look forward to my next visit.
One for the Road
Society Name: Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS)
District: Eight
Title of Production: One for the Road
Production Reviewed by: Dave Brown
Date of Review: 31/5/23
Venue Name: Gayton Road Community Centre
Director: David Hill
Stage Manager: Craig Hill
Assistant Stage Manager: Michael Steventon
Sound: Daniel Farmer
Lights: Sara Hill
One for the Road, Written by Willy Russell
31/5/23
Thank you to all at Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) for your hospitality this evening. It was truly great seeing you all again. CADS are an extremely friendly, supportive and welcoming company, from the warm greeting by Front of House, David Payne JP, to the friendlessness and inclusivity of long-time members and influential in the running of the company David and Sylvia Hill, to the atmosphere of feeling totally at ease with the local community and being part of the whole experience, this evening was very special in a lot of ways.
Members of CADS tonight performed Willy Russell’s play, “One for the Road” and they should be very proud of what they have achieved. The production crew and cast worked very hard and they succeeded in providing an amazing night of entertainment with some strong moments. I was fortunate enough to catch their first night of the run and despite the audience numbers being low on this first night, the audience were very responsive, I could tell they enjoyed the evening immensely. The reactions from the audience were spot on as the comedy landed with the desired effect with good moments of confidence and timing.
This play has a strong theme of rebellion and it is a lot of fun. The character of Dennis was struggling (a lot) with his current lifestyle, especially as he was heading towards middle age, he gradually comes to the conclusion the only way to escape is to literally escape and disappear by hitting the road with his backpack, leaving everything behind, becoming independent again. It doesn’t quite go according to plan and he changes his mind at the end to stay, it suggests it was the promise of an affair with his neighbour Jane which sealed the deal amongst other things. Throughout the play, Dennis was constantly trying to recreate a life to keep himself entertained and to distract from his “mundane existence”. Dennis defaced Roger’s vegetable patch with spray paint displaying his talent for changing cabbages and cucumbers into male and female anatomy parts. Also, Dennis turned out to be the mysterious Garden Gnome defacer as the culprit chopping off their heads.
His wife Pauline felt quite different to her lifestyle, or she had quite forgotten the free-spirited life she may have had herself or maybe shared with Dennis prior to moving to the estate. Pauline felt a bit more content in fitting in, but towards the end of the play revealed some secrets of her own. Pauline displayed a person who was satisfied they had achieved their place in the world (or society) mainly by owning a property on an actual estate, in a bungalow, with their own things!
The general norm of what we think we expect through life is interesting to contemplate. Each stage or chapter as it comes to us is reflected upon, do we, like Dennis back track and change direction? It is never too late to be what you might have been, after all.
Dennis and his wife Pauline invite their neighbours Roger and Jane over for a dinner celebration for Dennis’ 35th Birthday. They brought a lovely physical dynamic to the dinner party unlike Dennis’ parents who were invited, but never showed up. Instead, they were trapped and lost in the estate. They spent most of the play on the phone asking for directions. There were some nice moments of frustration from Dennis and Pauline and this was delightfully displayed, such as all the bungalows looked the same which continued to confuse Dennis’ parents even more. The imagery of these two being lost was fun and relatable due to the wonderful acting on the telephone of Richard Corrado who played Dennis and Danielle Cook who played Pauline.
Richard Corrado played Dennis with a superb mix of personality, with an interpretation which surprised and remained unpredictable as he struggled through his personal journey of realisation.
Triggered by his Birthday and anger which was fuelled by drink, Dennis falls into a reactive turmoil, full of frustration at his life so far. His only real pleasure seemed to be taking time to enjoy his records peacefully on his own, until he decides to sabotage that and seek pleasure by flinging them like frisbees across the garden. His birthday present he received from Roger, a record travel case, suggested to me he could if he wanted to bring his records with him on the road. Obviously, these things are not practical to take with him and Dennis continued to vandalise and break things as a way of coping. Probably even more satisfying was breaking a John Denver record. Safe to say Dennis was not a fan of John Denver.
Pauline, his wife, played by Danielle Cook was excellently cast. Danielle kept her Liverpudlian accent consistent and strong and portrayed the character of Pauline with a nice level headed approach she was trying to adhere to. Pauline felt that this was the right (normal) thing to do, to fit in. Kind of!
Roger, played by Richard Mayes was very funny and kept a nice exuberance to his character with a nice energy. Jane, his wife, played by Emilie Tunnacliffe had moments of witty interaction and excellent timing. The interaction between all 4 characters worked well with some of the best moments coming out when the cast relaxed. You could tell there was some seriously hard work on the stage tonight and excellent teamwork and support. The play was snappy and lots of fun.
Some of the biggest laughs of the evening came from Dennis and Roger throwing records in the garden which accidentally destroys every pane of glass of Roger’s greenhouse, the revelation that Roger had been having an affair with pretty much everybody! The wonderfully delivered Terry Wogan scene which was really funny. The audience were with the action all of the way and there was a nice reaction when the audience showed they were two steps ahead when Dennis received a John Denver record for his birthday.
The director David Hill successfully brought out the gold in the script. The writing being as strong as it is. The cast portrayed it with excellent analysis and character interpretation. Back stage, lights and sound as usual provided a successful production and wrapped up a positive and successful working team.
A very special acknowledgement to David and Sylvia Hill who after many years of support and contribution they have given to CADS are moving forward to help support CADS in other ways. My first experience of CADS will remain memorable for me and this was mainly due to the incredible community spirit David and Sylvia helped create with genuine friendly ease.
The Autumn production is yet to be announced, but it will be showing 22nd-25th November 2023 at Gayton Community Centre B71 1QS. Be sure to check out www.thecads.weebly.com for more details and how to book tickets.
Congratulations to you all. You smashed it! I hope you took some time to enjoy the moment and I wish you all the very best for the future. Take care.
District: Eight
Title of Production: One for the Road
Production Reviewed by: Dave Brown
Date of Review: 31/5/23
Venue Name: Gayton Road Community Centre
Director: David Hill
Stage Manager: Craig Hill
Assistant Stage Manager: Michael Steventon
Sound: Daniel Farmer
Lights: Sara Hill
One for the Road, Written by Willy Russell
31/5/23
Thank you to all at Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) for your hospitality this evening. It was truly great seeing you all again. CADS are an extremely friendly, supportive and welcoming company, from the warm greeting by Front of House, David Payne JP, to the friendlessness and inclusivity of long-time members and influential in the running of the company David and Sylvia Hill, to the atmosphere of feeling totally at ease with the local community and being part of the whole experience, this evening was very special in a lot of ways.
Members of CADS tonight performed Willy Russell’s play, “One for the Road” and they should be very proud of what they have achieved. The production crew and cast worked very hard and they succeeded in providing an amazing night of entertainment with some strong moments. I was fortunate enough to catch their first night of the run and despite the audience numbers being low on this first night, the audience were very responsive, I could tell they enjoyed the evening immensely. The reactions from the audience were spot on as the comedy landed with the desired effect with good moments of confidence and timing.
This play has a strong theme of rebellion and it is a lot of fun. The character of Dennis was struggling (a lot) with his current lifestyle, especially as he was heading towards middle age, he gradually comes to the conclusion the only way to escape is to literally escape and disappear by hitting the road with his backpack, leaving everything behind, becoming independent again. It doesn’t quite go according to plan and he changes his mind at the end to stay, it suggests it was the promise of an affair with his neighbour Jane which sealed the deal amongst other things. Throughout the play, Dennis was constantly trying to recreate a life to keep himself entertained and to distract from his “mundane existence”. Dennis defaced Roger’s vegetable patch with spray paint displaying his talent for changing cabbages and cucumbers into male and female anatomy parts. Also, Dennis turned out to be the mysterious Garden Gnome defacer as the culprit chopping off their heads.
His wife Pauline felt quite different to her lifestyle, or she had quite forgotten the free-spirited life she may have had herself or maybe shared with Dennis prior to moving to the estate. Pauline felt a bit more content in fitting in, but towards the end of the play revealed some secrets of her own. Pauline displayed a person who was satisfied they had achieved their place in the world (or society) mainly by owning a property on an actual estate, in a bungalow, with their own things!
The general norm of what we think we expect through life is interesting to contemplate. Each stage or chapter as it comes to us is reflected upon, do we, like Dennis back track and change direction? It is never too late to be what you might have been, after all.
Dennis and his wife Pauline invite their neighbours Roger and Jane over for a dinner celebration for Dennis’ 35th Birthday. They brought a lovely physical dynamic to the dinner party unlike Dennis’ parents who were invited, but never showed up. Instead, they were trapped and lost in the estate. They spent most of the play on the phone asking for directions. There were some nice moments of frustration from Dennis and Pauline and this was delightfully displayed, such as all the bungalows looked the same which continued to confuse Dennis’ parents even more. The imagery of these two being lost was fun and relatable due to the wonderful acting on the telephone of Richard Corrado who played Dennis and Danielle Cook who played Pauline.
Richard Corrado played Dennis with a superb mix of personality, with an interpretation which surprised and remained unpredictable as he struggled through his personal journey of realisation.
Triggered by his Birthday and anger which was fuelled by drink, Dennis falls into a reactive turmoil, full of frustration at his life so far. His only real pleasure seemed to be taking time to enjoy his records peacefully on his own, until he decides to sabotage that and seek pleasure by flinging them like frisbees across the garden. His birthday present he received from Roger, a record travel case, suggested to me he could if he wanted to bring his records with him on the road. Obviously, these things are not practical to take with him and Dennis continued to vandalise and break things as a way of coping. Probably even more satisfying was breaking a John Denver record. Safe to say Dennis was not a fan of John Denver.
Pauline, his wife, played by Danielle Cook was excellently cast. Danielle kept her Liverpudlian accent consistent and strong and portrayed the character of Pauline with a nice level headed approach she was trying to adhere to. Pauline felt that this was the right (normal) thing to do, to fit in. Kind of!
Roger, played by Richard Mayes was very funny and kept a nice exuberance to his character with a nice energy. Jane, his wife, played by Emilie Tunnacliffe had moments of witty interaction and excellent timing. The interaction between all 4 characters worked well with some of the best moments coming out when the cast relaxed. You could tell there was some seriously hard work on the stage tonight and excellent teamwork and support. The play was snappy and lots of fun.
Some of the biggest laughs of the evening came from Dennis and Roger throwing records in the garden which accidentally destroys every pane of glass of Roger’s greenhouse, the revelation that Roger had been having an affair with pretty much everybody! The wonderfully delivered Terry Wogan scene which was really funny. The audience were with the action all of the way and there was a nice reaction when the audience showed they were two steps ahead when Dennis received a John Denver record for his birthday.
The director David Hill successfully brought out the gold in the script. The writing being as strong as it is. The cast portrayed it with excellent analysis and character interpretation. Back stage, lights and sound as usual provided a successful production and wrapped up a positive and successful working team.
A very special acknowledgement to David and Sylvia Hill who after many years of support and contribution they have given to CADS are moving forward to help support CADS in other ways. My first experience of CADS will remain memorable for me and this was mainly due to the incredible community spirit David and Sylvia helped create with genuine friendly ease.
The Autumn production is yet to be announced, but it will be showing 22nd-25th November 2023 at Gayton Community Centre B71 1QS. Be sure to check out www.thecads.weebly.com for more details and how to book tickets.
Congratulations to you all. You smashed it! I hope you took some time to enjoy the moment and I wish you all the very best for the future. Take care.
Allo Allo
DATE 22nd October 2022
SOCIETY Charlemont Dramatic Society
VENUE West Bromwich Community Hall, Gayton Road
TYPE OF PRODUCTION Play
DIRECTOR Sylvia Hill
STAGE MANAGER AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Craig Hill
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Michael Steventon
LIGHTS Sara Hill
SOUND Dan RichardsReport
Author: Dave Brown
Thank you very much for the kind invitation to see 'Allo 'Allo. This production was by Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) who completely blew me away with their one act plays earlier in the year. Receiving a warm welcome from David Payne (Front of House Coordinator) and Director Sylvia Hill added to an almost immediate feeling of relaxation, which soon reminded me of how supportive and nurturing CADS are. The support CADS received from the local community was great with a sold-out show tonight.
Also, I was really pleased to hear that CADS had recruited new members since I last saw them in March 2022, with many acting tonight.
'Allo 'Allo is set in war-torn France. The action happens in a small but seemingly popular place called Café Rene where the proprietor (called Rene) with his long-suffering wife Edith are trying to run a business. Rene is having an affair with both Yvette and Mimi with moments of physical comedy at its greatest. Rene is also hiding two British Airmen in his café and has stashed a stolen priceless portrait of The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies in a sausage!
This play is an ambitious one and with all famous sitcoms (like 'Allo 'Allo) there will always be expectations from certain members of the audience when performing well known characters. Therefore, confidence in the right casting choices could help cement the overall show. Characterisation, including accents, mannerisms and personality traits will help bring to life an instantly recognisable character.
I saw another play recently from another company which was based on a sitcom (another David Croft and Jimmy Perry classic) and similar feelings on this production came about. I feel as long as you are successful in portraying a believable character no matter how crazy the situation, investing in the story (or situation) comes with the skill of the director and actor. Most characters were most definitely in very capable hands of some talented actors who understood the situation they were in. Fortunately, the copious and witty writing was also there to be taken full advantage of. The script is full of jokes, one liners, innuendos and risks and Sylvia Hill (Director) has the experience to know when to take those risks and push a little bit further.
Some of the jokes could have been further enhanced with more awareness of delivery and pace. Overall, there was incredible team work on stage and some well-loved characters of the TV show were portrayed with excellent skill. For example, Captain Alberto Bertorelli (Richard Corrado) was as extravagant as the TV series and of course Chad Dent who played Rene, successfully brought the show together. Both had excellent accents and utilised the comedy in the script well.
Also, another potential challenge was the size of the play in the venue of a small community hall. But the venue did not hinder the production. The set was constructed really well and the stage management and backstage crew (and actors) handled the scene changes effortlessly which resulted in little interruption. The set was of Café Rene and when the action moved on elsewhere the lights, sound and props helped create this. There was some creative use of props for example, the scene where Rene and Edith were in bed; Actually, they were still in the café on chairs, dressed in nightclothes with a sheet over them.
The lights and sound were also effective in keeping some pace, but overall they successfully created the illusion of a different setting, to show not only a café, but a cellar, a cinema and Herr Flick’s home all within the same backdrop. The scene in the cinema showed a brilliant use of lights which portrayed a projector screen, combined with authentic sound which transformed the set: these moments comfortably let you leave Café Rene behind for a moment or two.
My favourite moments in the production were when Rene interacted with the audience. The rapport brought in a wonderful crossing of barriers akin to the TV show. This was done excellently by Chad Dent who played Rene. Chad delivered some of the best all-time favourite lines, such as “You stupid woman!” which got a huge laugh. Chad was perfect for the role of Rene. Excellently cast.
Rene’s wife Edith was played by the very talented Amy Whistance, who comfortably sang out of tune. Amy put her mark on the character and fully immersed herself in this role.
Emile Tunnacliffe, Niamh Smith and Tammy Steventon who played Yvette, Mimi and Michelle were wonderful supporting characters, including the peasants Eoghann Millard and Maddie Corrado. Great work.
Eoghann also played one of the British Airmen and a German Solider. Harry Rillet also played a British Airman, a German Solider and was voice of a stuffed parrot (the secret wireless communication between France and London!). This was a great scene where Lieutenant Gruber thought Rene was flirting with him but it was misunderstood messages from the voice of the parrot.
David Hill who played Colonel Kurt Von Strohm with his “Viglet” played the character with the right sense of awareness which made his delivery of his lines funnier and his relationship on stage with Richard Corrado as Captain Bertorelli strong. They were simply a great duo.
General Von Schmelling (Ryan Corry) was excellent in his strong performance. He managed to navigate successfully around the stage with one eye covered by an eyepatch and he also had great reflexes! Crabtree (Richard Mayes) a British spy posing as a French policeman had his moments; this was not an easy part at all but Richard was able to keep his character consistent and delivered his lines well, as written. Richard complimented his scenes with complete attention and the humour followed with the situations he found himself in. A classic scene with Rene in the cellar with Gruber walking in at the wrong moment!
Herr Otto Flick (Anthony Mathias) and Helga Geerhart (Poppy James) were also a great pair on stage. Poppy stripped to her stockings and suspenders to seduce Herr Flick in one scene, then in another scene, Herr Flick (The Master of Disguise) dressed up as a female cinema usher and did extremely well walking in high heels.
The stars of the show were Daniel Farmer who played Gruber and Meshak Simpson who played Leclerc. Daniel portrayed an over-the-top camp German soldier who had feelings for Rene. I had such a genuine interest in these scenes with Gruber and Rene because I was particularly keen on watching the reactions of both actors on stage, with some of the best lines in the play. It is truly a gift of a part and Daniel completely did it justice. Wonderful work. A lot of fun.
Finally, Meshak was just ultimate energy every time he entered onto the stage. He was hilarious as Leclerc, a true master of disguise and again had some cracking lines delivered brilliantly. A truly excellent job. Sometimes when the pace wavered a little bit, Meshak arrived and brought in such an exuberance it lifted the comedy right off the stage.
Congratulations to you all on a wonderfully entertaining evening. CADS will be back with their Spring production, which will be on 26th - 29th April 2023. I am eagerly awaiting their announcement of what it will be. But I do know it will have the same spirit, care and attention which the members of CADS are so good at.
SOCIETY Charlemont Dramatic Society
VENUE West Bromwich Community Hall, Gayton Road
TYPE OF PRODUCTION Play
DIRECTOR Sylvia Hill
STAGE MANAGER AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Craig Hill
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Michael Steventon
LIGHTS Sara Hill
SOUND Dan RichardsReport
Author: Dave Brown
Thank you very much for the kind invitation to see 'Allo 'Allo. This production was by Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) who completely blew me away with their one act plays earlier in the year. Receiving a warm welcome from David Payne (Front of House Coordinator) and Director Sylvia Hill added to an almost immediate feeling of relaxation, which soon reminded me of how supportive and nurturing CADS are. The support CADS received from the local community was great with a sold-out show tonight.
Also, I was really pleased to hear that CADS had recruited new members since I last saw them in March 2022, with many acting tonight.
'Allo 'Allo is set in war-torn France. The action happens in a small but seemingly popular place called Café Rene where the proprietor (called Rene) with his long-suffering wife Edith are trying to run a business. Rene is having an affair with both Yvette and Mimi with moments of physical comedy at its greatest. Rene is also hiding two British Airmen in his café and has stashed a stolen priceless portrait of The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies in a sausage!
This play is an ambitious one and with all famous sitcoms (like 'Allo 'Allo) there will always be expectations from certain members of the audience when performing well known characters. Therefore, confidence in the right casting choices could help cement the overall show. Characterisation, including accents, mannerisms and personality traits will help bring to life an instantly recognisable character.
I saw another play recently from another company which was based on a sitcom (another David Croft and Jimmy Perry classic) and similar feelings on this production came about. I feel as long as you are successful in portraying a believable character no matter how crazy the situation, investing in the story (or situation) comes with the skill of the director and actor. Most characters were most definitely in very capable hands of some talented actors who understood the situation they were in. Fortunately, the copious and witty writing was also there to be taken full advantage of. The script is full of jokes, one liners, innuendos and risks and Sylvia Hill (Director) has the experience to know when to take those risks and push a little bit further.
Some of the jokes could have been further enhanced with more awareness of delivery and pace. Overall, there was incredible team work on stage and some well-loved characters of the TV show were portrayed with excellent skill. For example, Captain Alberto Bertorelli (Richard Corrado) was as extravagant as the TV series and of course Chad Dent who played Rene, successfully brought the show together. Both had excellent accents and utilised the comedy in the script well.
Also, another potential challenge was the size of the play in the venue of a small community hall. But the venue did not hinder the production. The set was constructed really well and the stage management and backstage crew (and actors) handled the scene changes effortlessly which resulted in little interruption. The set was of Café Rene and when the action moved on elsewhere the lights, sound and props helped create this. There was some creative use of props for example, the scene where Rene and Edith were in bed; Actually, they were still in the café on chairs, dressed in nightclothes with a sheet over them.
The lights and sound were also effective in keeping some pace, but overall they successfully created the illusion of a different setting, to show not only a café, but a cellar, a cinema and Herr Flick’s home all within the same backdrop. The scene in the cinema showed a brilliant use of lights which portrayed a projector screen, combined with authentic sound which transformed the set: these moments comfortably let you leave Café Rene behind for a moment or two.
My favourite moments in the production were when Rene interacted with the audience. The rapport brought in a wonderful crossing of barriers akin to the TV show. This was done excellently by Chad Dent who played Rene. Chad delivered some of the best all-time favourite lines, such as “You stupid woman!” which got a huge laugh. Chad was perfect for the role of Rene. Excellently cast.
Rene’s wife Edith was played by the very talented Amy Whistance, who comfortably sang out of tune. Amy put her mark on the character and fully immersed herself in this role.
Emile Tunnacliffe, Niamh Smith and Tammy Steventon who played Yvette, Mimi and Michelle were wonderful supporting characters, including the peasants Eoghann Millard and Maddie Corrado. Great work.
Eoghann also played one of the British Airmen and a German Solider. Harry Rillet also played a British Airman, a German Solider and was voice of a stuffed parrot (the secret wireless communication between France and London!). This was a great scene where Lieutenant Gruber thought Rene was flirting with him but it was misunderstood messages from the voice of the parrot.
David Hill who played Colonel Kurt Von Strohm with his “Viglet” played the character with the right sense of awareness which made his delivery of his lines funnier and his relationship on stage with Richard Corrado as Captain Bertorelli strong. They were simply a great duo.
General Von Schmelling (Ryan Corry) was excellent in his strong performance. He managed to navigate successfully around the stage with one eye covered by an eyepatch and he also had great reflexes! Crabtree (Richard Mayes) a British spy posing as a French policeman had his moments; this was not an easy part at all but Richard was able to keep his character consistent and delivered his lines well, as written. Richard complimented his scenes with complete attention and the humour followed with the situations he found himself in. A classic scene with Rene in the cellar with Gruber walking in at the wrong moment!
Herr Otto Flick (Anthony Mathias) and Helga Geerhart (Poppy James) were also a great pair on stage. Poppy stripped to her stockings and suspenders to seduce Herr Flick in one scene, then in another scene, Herr Flick (The Master of Disguise) dressed up as a female cinema usher and did extremely well walking in high heels.
The stars of the show were Daniel Farmer who played Gruber and Meshak Simpson who played Leclerc. Daniel portrayed an over-the-top camp German soldier who had feelings for Rene. I had such a genuine interest in these scenes with Gruber and Rene because I was particularly keen on watching the reactions of both actors on stage, with some of the best lines in the play. It is truly a gift of a part and Daniel completely did it justice. Wonderful work. A lot of fun.
Finally, Meshak was just ultimate energy every time he entered onto the stage. He was hilarious as Leclerc, a true master of disguise and again had some cracking lines delivered brilliantly. A truly excellent job. Sometimes when the pace wavered a little bit, Meshak arrived and brought in such an exuberance it lifted the comedy right off the stage.
Congratulations to you all on a wonderfully entertaining evening. CADS will be back with their Spring production, which will be on 26th - 29th April 2023. I am eagerly awaiting their announcement of what it will be. But I do know it will have the same spirit, care and attention which the members of CADS are so good at.
Last tango in Little Grimley & Joining the Club
Author: Dave Brown
I had a wonderful evening watching the very talented members of Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) perform. The evening was filled with a genuine warmth and community spirit and it was a true pleasure to be part of the audience to watch some first-rate acting with a well-chosen and well written double bill.
The writer of this double bill is a comic playwright called David Tristram, who was brought up in the Black Country (Quarry Bank) and went to school in Dudley. Amongst his many comedic plays and books, he also directed the film about local “celebrity” Doreen Tipton. “It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it!”
Act One was a play called Last Tango in Little Grimley. Directed by David Hill with sound and lights by Craig Hill and Sara Hill. This was about a local amateur drama society with only 4 members left in it. After a committee meeting, a decision to go down in history and pay off their debts led to a vote to advertise a play that will sell tickets, and what is the one word that sells tickets? “Sex!”
Falsely advertised to get the audience in with the real plan to “surprise them with a good farce” seemed to be innocent enough until drastic measures were called for when the character of Margaret (Sylvia Hill) felt she had no choice to rescue the play, resulting in a few marriage proposals afterwards.
The committee meeting at the start of the play, instantly reminded me of the many meetings and rehearsals through the years of amateur dramatic companies that I have attended, with the nuances of personality which I also thought were very relatable in parts. It brought back some fond memories and smiles.
It was wonderfully written, acted and honest. The set design was simple and there was no major distraction, which I enjoyed as the pure focus was on each member of the cast and how they worked together. The venue of the community hall actually was a perfect setting for this play and helped the mood. However, a testament to the acting ability of the 4 cast members who drove the play at a nice pace, with experienced comedy timing and delivery, but also a natural ability which showed excellent team work.
This was a very focused performance which I believed held the attention of the audience well. Richard Mayes who played the character Gordon was perfectly cast, he delivered a dry and candid approach which worked on so many levels. Sylvia Hill played the character of Margaret; she had a nice stage presence but she also gave so much to her surroundings and others. Tammy Stevenson who played the character of Joyce had a nice innocence to her and again had a natural ability with some nice reactions. Ryan Corey played the character of Bernard with an occasional grimace and a confident portrayal.
My thoughts kept coming back to the character of Bernard and I asked myself if Bernard wasn’t enjoying the process, then why was he a member of the drama group in the first place? The answer I think is simple. What all characters had in common was a love for something, a community coming together and helping each other out, which is not so far from the truth.
Act Two was a play called Joining the Club. Directed by Chad Dent with sound and lights by Craig Hill and Sara Hill. Joining the Club tells the story of couple Jenny (Amy Whistance) and Tom (Richard Corrado). Jenny is successful in her job and Tom is not happy in his. The suggestion of a couple who had prioties at one point in their life but may have fallen into the routine of working with little else. Tom hasn’t been happy in his job for a while and one day he finally has enough courage (or he snaps) to resign from his job in a spontaneous outburst which involves insulting his boss. Tom is convinced his colleagues are getting special treatment and promotions because they are in the “baby club”. Then Tom comes home to the news that Jenny is pregnant and Jenny wants to give up work to be a Mom which initially fills Tom with anxiety. Jenny completing the pregnancy test at the start of the play was genuinely tense, again a testament to the wonderful acting of Amy Whistance, Tom’s shock with “suddenly” being a father and then the worry of how he may struggle to contribute in providing for the baby was played by Richard with intensity but a genuine concern. Jenny’s switch from a focus on her job to being a Mom was a complete natural instinct and totally believable.
Tom felt he had little choice and called back his boss and was close to painfully begging for his job back, but then Jenny grabbed the phone and burnt that bridge once and for all. The love shone through at that moment and the unity of both Jenny and Tom with a strong devotion to making it work as a Mom and Dad was a perfect ending.
Amy and Richard worked so well together and reacted well to so many different emotions. There were some very fine acting moments. The best moments involved the hard-hitting dialogue alongside the moments where it was compelling to watch for all the wrong reasons. Again, a testament to the acting ability.
The cast and crew, including sound and lights, props, stage management and set construction mustn’t be forgotten. They also made a proud and welcoming team of a community who obviously love doing what they do.
I was very privileged to have observed this feeling of community tonight and there were some real class moments of acting enjoyed.
Thank you for your hospitality, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can’t wait until your next show.
I had a wonderful evening watching the very talented members of Charlemont Dramatic Society (CADS) perform. The evening was filled with a genuine warmth and community spirit and it was a true pleasure to be part of the audience to watch some first-rate acting with a well-chosen and well written double bill.
The writer of this double bill is a comic playwright called David Tristram, who was brought up in the Black Country (Quarry Bank) and went to school in Dudley. Amongst his many comedic plays and books, he also directed the film about local “celebrity” Doreen Tipton. “It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it!”
Act One was a play called Last Tango in Little Grimley. Directed by David Hill with sound and lights by Craig Hill and Sara Hill. This was about a local amateur drama society with only 4 members left in it. After a committee meeting, a decision to go down in history and pay off their debts led to a vote to advertise a play that will sell tickets, and what is the one word that sells tickets? “Sex!”
Falsely advertised to get the audience in with the real plan to “surprise them with a good farce” seemed to be innocent enough until drastic measures were called for when the character of Margaret (Sylvia Hill) felt she had no choice to rescue the play, resulting in a few marriage proposals afterwards.
The committee meeting at the start of the play, instantly reminded me of the many meetings and rehearsals through the years of amateur dramatic companies that I have attended, with the nuances of personality which I also thought were very relatable in parts. It brought back some fond memories and smiles.
It was wonderfully written, acted and honest. The set design was simple and there was no major distraction, which I enjoyed as the pure focus was on each member of the cast and how they worked together. The venue of the community hall actually was a perfect setting for this play and helped the mood. However, a testament to the acting ability of the 4 cast members who drove the play at a nice pace, with experienced comedy timing and delivery, but also a natural ability which showed excellent team work.
This was a very focused performance which I believed held the attention of the audience well. Richard Mayes who played the character Gordon was perfectly cast, he delivered a dry and candid approach which worked on so many levels. Sylvia Hill played the character of Margaret; she had a nice stage presence but she also gave so much to her surroundings and others. Tammy Stevenson who played the character of Joyce had a nice innocence to her and again had a natural ability with some nice reactions. Ryan Corey played the character of Bernard with an occasional grimace and a confident portrayal.
My thoughts kept coming back to the character of Bernard and I asked myself if Bernard wasn’t enjoying the process, then why was he a member of the drama group in the first place? The answer I think is simple. What all characters had in common was a love for something, a community coming together and helping each other out, which is not so far from the truth.
Act Two was a play called Joining the Club. Directed by Chad Dent with sound and lights by Craig Hill and Sara Hill. Joining the Club tells the story of couple Jenny (Amy Whistance) and Tom (Richard Corrado). Jenny is successful in her job and Tom is not happy in his. The suggestion of a couple who had prioties at one point in their life but may have fallen into the routine of working with little else. Tom hasn’t been happy in his job for a while and one day he finally has enough courage (or he snaps) to resign from his job in a spontaneous outburst which involves insulting his boss. Tom is convinced his colleagues are getting special treatment and promotions because they are in the “baby club”. Then Tom comes home to the news that Jenny is pregnant and Jenny wants to give up work to be a Mom which initially fills Tom with anxiety. Jenny completing the pregnancy test at the start of the play was genuinely tense, again a testament to the wonderful acting of Amy Whistance, Tom’s shock with “suddenly” being a father and then the worry of how he may struggle to contribute in providing for the baby was played by Richard with intensity but a genuine concern. Jenny’s switch from a focus on her job to being a Mom was a complete natural instinct and totally believable.
Tom felt he had little choice and called back his boss and was close to painfully begging for his job back, but then Jenny grabbed the phone and burnt that bridge once and for all. The love shone through at that moment and the unity of both Jenny and Tom with a strong devotion to making it work as a Mom and Dad was a perfect ending.
Amy and Richard worked so well together and reacted well to so many different emotions. There were some very fine acting moments. The best moments involved the hard-hitting dialogue alongside the moments where it was compelling to watch for all the wrong reasons. Again, a testament to the acting ability.
The cast and crew, including sound and lights, props, stage management and set construction mustn’t be forgotten. They also made a proud and welcoming team of a community who obviously love doing what they do.
I was very privileged to have observed this feeling of community tonight and there were some real class moments of acting enjoyed.
Thank you for your hospitality, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can’t wait until your next show.
Celebrity
Author: Dennis Price
A new play Celebrity by Paul Mathews, The plot centres around Max Kettle a writer who has writers block as well as trying to cope with a new baby and struggling to meet publisher's deadlines. His wife Amber is harassed with the celebrity clients demands on her PR agency. The arrival of Marx's long lost ex-con father leads to more complications.
The action takes place in the flat of Max and Amber Kettle in Kensington. Amy Whistance as Amber and Max Darknell as Max were well cast in their roles and worked well together. Joanne Gardiner played the role of Freddy Smith the neighbour who turns up at the wrong moment. Lucy Styles played Max's sister Sarah who could control a crying baby with a George Clooney films her facial expressions were a joy to watch. Sylvia Hill played a sexy cougar, she is always a joy to watch and experience in delivery is a model for all actors. All the remaining roles were well played. I must mention the set, props and costmes, Congratulaions to the set builders on another fine set,
A new play Celebrity by Paul Mathews, The plot centres around Max Kettle a writer who has writers block as well as trying to cope with a new baby and struggling to meet publisher's deadlines. His wife Amber is harassed with the celebrity clients demands on her PR agency. The arrival of Marx's long lost ex-con father leads to more complications.
The action takes place in the flat of Max and Amber Kettle in Kensington. Amy Whistance as Amber and Max Darknell as Max were well cast in their roles and worked well together. Joanne Gardiner played the role of Freddy Smith the neighbour who turns up at the wrong moment. Lucy Styles played Max's sister Sarah who could control a crying baby with a George Clooney films her facial expressions were a joy to watch. Sylvia Hill played a sexy cougar, she is always a joy to watch and experience in delivery is a model for all actors. All the remaining roles were well played. I must mention the set, props and costmes, Congratulaions to the set builders on another fine set,
Salt of the Earth
Author: Dennis Price
This play was a rich slice of Yorkshire life by John Godber, covering forty years in the lives of two sisters Annie and May Parker.
We meet ' Annie' Lucy Styles , 'May' Danielle Millward', 'Roy' Max Darknell and 'Harry' Chad Dent and follow them through the years from 1947 to 1988. Roy is killed working the pits and Annie has to continue a lonely life without him. These four characters were all played well with Max also taking on the role of Paul. Strong support came from Jack Grainger as Tosh, Amy Whinstance as Kay and Tammy Stevenson as Cherry.
Congratulations to Craig Hill on the set and the sound.
Thank you CADS for an enjoyable evening
This play was a rich slice of Yorkshire life by John Godber, covering forty years in the lives of two sisters Annie and May Parker.
We meet ' Annie' Lucy Styles , 'May' Danielle Millward', 'Roy' Max Darknell and 'Harry' Chad Dent and follow them through the years from 1947 to 1988. Roy is killed working the pits and Annie has to continue a lonely life without him. These four characters were all played well with Max also taking on the role of Paul. Strong support came from Jack Grainger as Tosh, Amy Whinstance as Kay and Tammy Stevenson as Cherry.
Congratulations to Craig Hill on the set and the sound.
Thank you CADS for an enjoyable evening