Productions 2016

Review by Gordon The Optom
Footloose The MusicalBook by Dean Pitchford
SYNOPSIS:One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score (the soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard charts and has sold over 15 million copies!) and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.
Directed by: Joe IsaiaMusical Director: Suzanne Kosowitz
Matt ManningAlan MarkhamRebecca MattisonLuke MillerTania MorrowSarah PalmerBlake ProsserEden SambridgeDavid SemanSteph ShawClare SmaleJordan TabbJohn TaylorAaliyah ThompsonEmilie TiivelSophie ToddAsha VivianRachel Vonk Suzy June WakelingCaitlin Walker Jacqui WarnerChanning Whitworth
Michelle AcottEthan AcottGemma AddisonDarin AqilaAlistair BallChris BallBelinda BeattyLiam BorbasBilly DarlingtonCharlie DarlingtonOwen DavisSimon DreyerTeah DunningClare FazackerleyLaura GoodletCharlize GosnellLuke HeathNieve HopeCaitlyn HughesBrittany IsaiaKlylie IsaiaBrooklyn KamerGeorgia Kinnane
REview by Gordon The Optom
The Foreignerby Larry Shue
SYNOPSISThe Foreigner is a fun, two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue. The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Tilghman County, Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. The shy Charlie agreed to accompany Froggy on the trip after his sick wife begged him to go. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, however, he remains silent: he is terribly shy, depressed about his wife's illness, and cannot find the words to reply. Froggy claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is a "foreigner" from an exotic country, and does not understand English. Taking the explanation that he's a non-English speaker as fact, the lodge's guests quickly begin revealing their secrets, and Charlie soon discovers scandals amongst some of the residents of the lodge.
Directed by: Rob WarnerCast:Keith Scrivens: Froggy Le SueurJoe Isaia: Charlie BakerJacqui Warner: Betty MeeksRodney van Groningen: David LeeKylie Isaia: Catherine SimmsRichard Hadler: Owen MusserBlake Prosser: Ellard Simms
REview by Gordon The Optom
Wyrd Sistersby Terry PratchettAdapted by Stephen Briggs
“Terry Pratchett takes Shakespeare’s Macbeth and then turns it up ’till the knob comes off. It’s all there – a wicked duke and duchess, the ghost of the murdered king, dim soldiers, strolling players, a land in peril. And who stands between the Kingdom and destruction? Three witches. Granny Weatherwax (intolerant, self-opinionated, powerful), Nanny Ogg (down-to-earth, vulgar) and Magrat Garlick (naïve, fond of occult jewellery and bunnies). Stephen Briggs has been involved in amateur dramatics for over 25 years and he assures us that the play can be staged without needing the budget of Industrial Light and Magic. Not only that, but the cast should still be able to be in the pub by 10 o’clock! Oh, and a world of advice omitted from the play Text: LEARN THE WORDS Havelock, Lord Vetinari”
Directed by: Harrison MacLennanCast:
Fi LivingsChantelle PittAlisha NapierRachel VonkRyan MaranoTaneal ThompsonKathleen NylandBilly DarlingtonLochland Baynham
Suzy WakelingKayleigh LuxMolly O'HehirVerity Lux Sabrina O'BrienVerity BruceGlenda NapierThomas OutredKira Pearce
One-Act Season 2016
A season of of 3 One-Act plays
Instructions for Two or More Playersby Michiko ParnellDirected by Gail Palmer
Gorilla on the Busby Bob CharterisDirected by Bob Charteris
Ghostingby Rebecca Coutts-SmithDirected by Shelly Miller
Scrooge The Pantomimeby Limelight Scripts
REview by Gordon The Optom
Synopsis:Charles Dicken’s Scrooge, is given the panto treatment in this wonderful version. Set in Scrooge’s Sweet Factory, it follows the rotten behaviour of mean old Scrooge, towards his downtrodden staff. After two charity workers appear and cause Scrooge to suffer a near-fatal heart attack by asking for money. Nothing it seems would ever turn Scrooge away from being the meanest man in London. But when factory cook, Jan Butty bumps into the ghost of Scrooge’s late partner Jacob Marley, strange things begin to happen in the sweet factory.
Directed by:Amanda Minutillo & Sallie Ketteringham
Cast:
Adrian AshmanJacquie AshmanJacob ClaytonRay EganSophie DavidMarjorie DeCauxRichard HadlerJana GardnerGuy JacksonAllan LaiKatherine LeeversSuzanna MatlaLilly MillerLuke MillerShelly MillerCaitlyn Moloney
Molly O'HehirNiamh O'HehirTimothy PresantBlake ProsserNatasha SmithLee ThompsonRachel VonkSuzy June WakelingTim WardJacqui WarnerSimone WillisJoshua WhiteSam WhiteSarah ZuiddamTimothy Zuiddam