Author: Graeme Trotter

PLAYERS LOOK TO NOVEMBER TO STAGE PRODUCTION:

By Brian Bennett

The Morpeth St George’s Community Players were forced to postpone their springtime production ‘Ladies Day’ by Amanda Whittington in guidance with the Government’s measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The players had been scheduled to tread the boards from Thursday to Saturday March 19-21 in the Church Hall before the play was put on hold three days beforehand. Jared Johnson, chairman of the group, said: “We are looking at it as a postponement rather than a total cancellation and – I say this with fingers crossed – we are hoping to stage ‘Ladies Day’ later in the year from Thursday to Saturday, November 19-21 which would have been the slot for our next production.” Mr Johnson added: “Tickets will be valid for the rescheduled date. However people who purchased them from the Chantry Tourist Information Centre and who are looking for a refund should contact the CTIC.”

Bridget is producing the November play for us. It is called ‘Party  Piece ‘ and will be performed on 21, 22, and 23 of November 2019. The audition will be held on Monday 20 May at 7.30 in the church hall. 

A props team will be needed as there is a huge number of props used in this play, also a prompt so, even if you don’t want an acting part, please do come along because a lot of backstage helpers are needed.

                                               Party Piece – a two act play by Richard Harris

It’s party time at Michael and Roma’s fancy dress housewarming BBQ.However, all does not go according to their meticulous plans- a distinct lack of guests, a marauding Zimmer frame and the prospect of an irate husband on the prowl.Their patience is further tested by the arrival of their neighbour, the indomitable Mrs. Hinson, who brings her own brand of party entertainment in the form of the domestic squabbles of her son and daughter- in- law.

The set is the back gardens of the two neighbours and this is a fast paced comedy.

There are 7 characters- 3 men and 4 women.

David Swinton, who is directing the next Player’s performance which is being staged on 21st to 23rd March, is looking for someone preferably aged 18-35 to join the cast. If you think this may be you then please contact David directly at dswinton258@btinternet.com

Or, if you know someone who may be interested then please forward them the details and ask them to contact David. Thanks.

The September 2018 newsletter can be viewed by clicking on the link below. Thank you to Eileen for putting this together and keeping us up to date with all the news!

September 2018 newsletter

Message from Anne Marie Cairns – Director

Our next performance is ENTERTAINING ANGELS By Richard Everett

‘ I’ve made four thousand six hundred medium-sized quiches and personally baked two tons of light crust pastry. And for what?’
As a clergy wife, Grace has spent a lifetime on her best behaviour. Now following the death of her husband Bardolph, she is enjoying the new found freedom to do and say exactly as she pleases. Wanting her own space she does not hold back at telling her daughter to stop fussing and stop being over protective. She is not happy that she will soon have to move out of her home that she shared with her beloved husband as the new vicar arrives to take over. The return of her eccentric missionary sister Ruth, adds more fuel to the fire with some disturbing revelations forcing Grace to confront the truth of her marriage.
Grace’s daughter Jo, battling to support her mother whilst coping with her own grief, befriends the new vicar who worries that something in her past maybe renders her unsuitable for the position of Vicar

With a mixture of sharp-edged comedy and probing wit, this play asks whether God can be trusted to do anything right at all. ‘Or is the whole thing a divine exercise in trial and error?’

Main Characters:
Grace…….. Sharon Lamont .
Bardolph…… David Kiely.
Jo ……. ( Grace’s daughter)……Grace Winpenny
Ruth…… Bridget Rowbottom Grace’s long lost sister of over 30 years.
Sarah (New Vicar) ……..Leah Ashton
( Understudy to vicar……. Sarah Johnson)

Tickets available at the Chantry. Adults £6.50 Concessions 5.50 (includes drink and a programme)

A group of St George` Community Player`s will soon be packing their props, goods and chattels and heading off to the village of Thropton, near Rothbury, for a one night performance of `A Meal to Die For` a murder mystery written by group member Eileen Clark. This is the third outing for Eileen`s play, first on home ground at St Georges Church, Morpeth then, by request at Hepscott
This performance at Thropton is in aid of the ASHRAY a U.K. charity supporting the reconciliation through education work in Israel. Archbishop Emeritus Elias Chacour`s multi faith schools provide enduring and a successful peace process in Israel. The schools have Christian, Jewish, Druze and Muslim pupils and staff. The recent opening of a Learning Room , known as The English Room, is open to the whole community and it is hoped that future funds will help provide some essential equipment.
Eileen has written many plays and sketches for the `Players` and is now working on another murder mystery. She hopes to bring it to the Morpeth audience next year and, possibly, if requested, further afield.

A big thank you to Eileen who has just completed the latest Newsletter and to view this simply clink on the link.

April 2018 Newsletter

A couple of press clippings in case you missed them!

The St Georges Community Players in Morpeth should at the very least take an extra bow. Whatever setback this amateur drama group experience ahead of a production – and it appears to be a regular rather than a rare occurrence – they have the happy knack of overcoming it to deliver a first class performance. In the past they have been hit by a series of mishaps in the weeks before curtain up including an occasion where one actor broke a leg whilst others have been forced to withdraw because of illness. Last week the players yet again came to the fore after negotiating pre play events to give a magnificent portrayal of ‘In the Frame’ – a two act comedy by local playwright Eileen Clark. Beforehand, John Barker – cast as the Vicar – had to stand down due to illness; Carmel Adamson, the nosy neighbour Edna, who usually entered the house of married couple Joe and May via the window, twisted her knee three days before dress rehearsal then Sue Elliott as May lost her voice a little more than 24 hours before the opening night but thankfully regained it. However, Jared Johnson, in his 41^st year with the group and chairman for over 15 years, could not speak highly enough of the actors: “Generally, we are beset with problems – but the players always come good and in our case, the old adage that the ‘show must go on’ could not be more appropriate,” he said, “In the past, we have even had situations where due to illness, we have had understudies reading the parts to cope with adversity. The performances last week were difficult – but there is a good spirit amongst us. We welcomed four newcomers – who have said that the group are nice and friendly – and one of them – Scott Peel – who is a professional actor, actually volunteered to join us because he wanted to gain experience of being in a comedy play.” Eileen Clark sat proudly at the back of the auditorium and watched the players execute her script to perfection. As the play developed so the laughter intensified but the real fun and hilarity centred around Harry Adamson and Anne Marie Cairns as Mr Whimple the Vicar and Miss Plim the Librarian respectively who devoured more than a sample glass of a unique recipe for the fruit punch which left them both inebriated. And what a night it was for the four debutants who showed no nerves at all and who all played their parts to the full – Grace Winpenny as Rosy, the daughter of Joe and May; Scott Peel as Stan, Edna’s son; Nicola Bache as TV personality Sonja Saint and Dave Wood as Perelli, Sonja’s ex husband. The set design and build was by Robin Herron with Pete Ozers in charge of lighting and sound; Joann Evans was prompt and Joyce Carey the front of house organiser. Props were the responsibility of Pamela Cassells and Margaret Johnson – the latter who hand made three matching ties for the hilarious scene when May [Sue Elliott] used a pair of scissors to cut a tie in half which Joe [Jared Johnson] had chosen to wear. *Following the final curtain call on Saturday, there was no time for the group to bask in what was another success as it was all hands to the deck: “It takes about four hours to dismantle the stage,” added Mr Johnson. *Meanwhile the players will tread the boards in March next year when they perform Ray Lawrence’s two act farce “It’s on, It’s off.”

Review by David Keily: