JP Newsletter Mar 2018 Landscape

Volume 23 Issue 1 March 2018
BEHIND THE SCENES
The Newsletter of The Jávea Players
Your Committee
Mike Harvey
Hugh Epsom
Caroline Drewett-Mansell
Peter Griffiths
Rosemary Brown,
Roger Brown,
Peter Messinger
Play Planning
Chairman
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Roger Brown (Chair), Cherry Cabban, Pat
Doidge, Norman Dunnington, Phil Mansell,
Caroline Drewett-Mansell
Non-Committee
Pat Kitching
Peter Messinger
Gillian Ashworth
Tony Cabban
Lesley Davies
Paul and Helen Nicholls
Cherry Cabban
Candy Wright
Roger Brown
Studio Manager
Shed Manager
Press Officer
Publicity & Web
Social Secretary
Bar
Membership
Almoner
Newsletter
Chairman’s musings
Well, here we are in 2018, and already the first month of the year has flown past! They
say time speeds up with increasing age and I’m sure all of us in Javea Players must feel
that way sometimes. I think it’s probably because we pack so much into our schedules
and all of the evidence points to this year being another busy and exciting one for JP.
We have already had our first show of the year and wasn’t it an absolute gem? It was a
delight to welcome Alison Skilbeck to Javea and have the opportunity of watching a
consummate professional at work. Her one-woman show was simply brilliant and
thoroughly enjoyed by the full houses who attended every night. It was also great that
her husband, Tim Hardy, was able to join her for part of the week and so we were able
to renew our acquaintance with him as well. Alison also gave a very well-attended and
much enjoyed workshop during the week and it was also a delight that so many
Members and Friends came to Saturday’s show and stayed for the after-show party. So,
thank you, Alison, and all our Members who worked so hard to make this week such a
success!
Looking ahead to the future, we have much to look forward to. Elsewhere in this
Newsletter are the latest details on our three remaining shows and the all-important
dates for Read-throughs and Auditions. Do please make a note of these dates and
support this year’s Directors by coming along. You will also see that we are now
planning a major initiative for 2019 by selecting the musical, My Fair Lady as our spring
production at Gata. Because of the extended rehearsal time this will involve, we will be
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Dates for your Diary
AGM
14th March 7.30pm in the Studio Theatre
Silver Lining
Sandi Toksvig, directed by Penny Grant
16th to 20th April , Union Musical, Gata
Murder Mystery Dinner
25th May
Summer Dinner Show - Poor Yorick
Written and Directed by Phil Mansell
Read-through March 7th 7.30pm
Auditions Sunday 11th March
Performances 2nd to 7th July
Casa de Cultura and Bar Imperial
Rough Justice
Terence Frisby, dir. by Lindsay Johnson
Read-through; March 18th
Auditions April 22nd
26th November to 1st December
Studio Theatre
My Fair Lady
By Alan J Lerner and Frederick Loewe
directed by Cherry Cabban
Read-through May 6th
Auditions May 11th and 12th
Performances 25th to 30th March 2019
Unión Musical, Gata
looking to cast this before the summer.
There are also other activities to look forward to. Jackie’s Sing-alongs, Mike Martin’s
acting workshops and a busy Social programme being planned by our Social Secretary,
Lesley. Thank you, all of you!
Finally, please don’t forget our AGM, scheduled for March 14th. This is where you, our
Members do get the chance to get involved in the running of our Society and have your
say! The more that Members get involved, the better our Society becomes, so I look
forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to that meeting.
Are There More of You?
Alison Skilbeck’s one-woman show played to packed
houses at the Studio Theatre from January 22nd to 27th.
Alison is such a consummate actress, she inhabits the four
characters she created, with a wonderfully expressive face
and such changes in tone, inflection and accent, as we
meet the women at a turning point in their lives or the lives
of those with whom they are in contact with.
On a bare stage of black drapes, there is just a chair and a
coat/hat stand, with the minimum of props or costumes
needed to ring in the subtle changes of desperation,
borderline depression and a wonderful resilience that is in
no way unrealistic. There was flesh and blood, anger,
resignation and retaliation.
First up, we met Claire, a posh Ambassador's wife who has been cut adrift with a
civilised dismissal as her husband is moving in with a documentary maker, described as
dressed in pockets and hiking boots. Claire seeks a new life hidden away almost in an
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Volume 23 Issue 1 March 2018
attic, but pursuing a life-changing interest as an artist in paint oils
and blood.
Then by donning a white apron, she becomes Sophia, a talkative
Italian cafe owner, who has moved upmarket to a trattoria setting,
same food, same stale deserts and she feels guilty for wishing her
mother dead. This Mammy Mia is unseen, but many in the audience
knew her.
Sara a more fey creature, a spirit weaver who can unravel a
psychological problem like a reiki healer with a motion of her hands.
Alison Skilbeck fascinated me or rather her hands did as she wove,
broke and reconnected a psyche. From a warm feeling of love and
tenderness, like she was making love, she changed on a beat with a
chilling rejoinder and a sharp steely snap of revenge.
In a clever final story we meet a brash woman in a man's world, who
makes human mistakes and compensates with a business-like brisk efficiency. Sam (note the ambiguous name) is at a crossroads too,
and she meets a character from a previous vignette.
I was caught up in the 'weave' of these stories and the wonderful way Skilbeck knotted and unravelled people's lives. This was
spellbinding theatre, and theatre at its very best. Such nights at the theatre are rare but all the more welcome.
Studio Keys
If you have any JP keys that you do not need any longer please contact our Studio Manager, Pat Kitching, on
patriciakitching137@hotmail.com. We have a number of new committee members and new hirers of the Studio and are having to
get new keys cut unnecessarily. Your help would be appreciated.
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Silver Lining
16th to 20th April 2018
On one dark and stormy night in the upper day room of the Silver
Retirement Home, five elderly ladies are trading stories of their remarkable
lives. With the storm floods rising and no rescue team in sight, the ladies are
faced with the sudden realisation that in order to survive they are going to
have to do what they have done for their entire lives – do it themselves!
Penny Grant’s production of Sandi Tokvig’s comedy plays at the Unión
Musical in Gata from April 16th to 20th. Tickets are €12.50 from the website
at www.javeaplayers.com
A very strong cast has started rehearsals for this hilarious production;
Gloria Paulene Beach Maureen Leigh Patterson
May Rosemary Brown June Pauline McGough
Hope Cath Reid-Martin St Michael Pat Kitching
José
José Alberto Tur Ribes
As you can see we have some new members in our cast. Another new
member, Alan Brozel, is Stage Managing and will be assisted by David
Noble. Peter Messinger and his gang of workers have been beavering away
in the shed, constructing and planning the set. Josephine is working
wonders finding props. Cherry Cabban will be lighting the show and Peter
Sparks will be in charge of sound. Many other members are contributing to
the production, but if you would like to help in any way, please do contact
me.
Penny Grant, Director 966471455
grantpenelope@gmail.com
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Poor Yorick
2nd to 7th July 2018
Poor Yorick was a winning entry in a competition run as part of the Royal Shakespeare
Company’s Open Stages project and was performed at both the 400-seat Dolman Theatre
and Blackwood Little Theatre in Wales. The play has a cast of five – Yorick the jester, his
tavern wench girlfriend Bess, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, his mother, Gertrude, and the
ghost of his late father.
Based on characters created by William Shakespeare for his play Hamlet, this is the version
of events the Bard would have written if he’d been in a more upbeat mood. In
Shakespeare’s play, Yorick the court jester is dead. But here, he’s out on the road - dying a
death - as he pioneers a new kind of comedy called stand-up. He’s fed up of the old
knockabout routines and wants to do observational comedy in which he tackles subjects
like the Black Death, dung heaps and leeches. Sadly, the world is not ready for this kind of
humour and a dejected Yorick is persuaded by good-time girl Bess – a tart with a heart of
gold - to return to the king’s castle at Elsinore and get his old job back (it’s either that or
she goes back to her job at the brothel).
But when Yorick arrives he finds there have been many changes. Hamlet – always a crazy
mixed-up prince - is moping around like a love-struck teenager, constantly being nagged
at by his overbearing Jewish mother Gertrude who wants him to get himself a nice
girlfriend. Hamlet offers to give Yorick his old job back – but only if he helps him in his
plans to avenge the death of his father (whose ghostly figure pops in from time to time to
show off his new skills as an apparition). As Yorick says, “What could possibly go wrong?”
We are holding a read-through on Wednesday March 7th in the Studio at 7.30pm. This
is a fun play that will hopefully be a lot of fun to stage and perform. We hope to see Jávea
Players’ finest at the auditions on Sunday March 11th at 11am.
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Rough Justice
26th November to 1st December 2018
James Highwood, a television commentator who hosts a widely-watched programme
called British Justice? is on trial for the murder of his severely disabled child. Despite
pleas from his solicitor, Jeremy Ackroyd, he insists on conducting his own defence,
admitting responsibility but pleading manslaughter. His arguments fuel conflict with the
prosecutor, Margaret Casely QC, a well-known Catholic and pro-lifer, and his claims that
the jury alone is responsible for the verdict create further conflict with the Judge.
There are 8 speaking parts, 5 male and 3 female, or 4 male and 4 female, which
comprise the defendant, his wife, his solicitor, the Judge, the prosecutor, and 3 smaller
parts for witnesses. There is also a non-speaking part of court usher. Parts offer a huge
opportunity for emotional range and control as some scenes are highly emotionally
charged.
The action in this gripping court room drama moves between the courtroom and prison
cell. Philip McCloy has already been working hard on the set design, together with
Hugh Epsom. Creating a courtroom that seamlessly transforms into a cell and back
again, is a key challenge that they have both got their teeth into.
In a break with the tradition of recent years, the 2018 autumn production will be in the
Jávea Players Studio. It will be staged with the audience seated on 3 sides, including the
stage, and the acting area in the middle of the floor, similar to our hugely successful 2017 Spring production of Sandcastles.
A read through of the play is on Sunday 18th March 2018 followed by lunch. Auditions will be in the week beginning 22 April.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible then.
Lindsay Johnson
lindsay49johnson@yahoo.co.uk
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My Fair Lady
March 25th to 30th 2019
I am sure many of our our long-standing members will remember the fun we had in the
1990s producing musicals in the capable hands of Kay Birch. Since she died we have not
had enough members interested in producing a musical. But, in the last couple of years, all
that has changed and we have many members who are not only interested but have
considerable experience.
In the last six months there have been long discussions about which musical? Where shall
we perform, the costs involved and do we really have enough people?
I am delighted to tell you that Tams Witmark in the USA have granted us the performing
rights for My Fair Lady. The Committee has given it its blessing, I will be directing it and
Aileen Lightfoot will be our Musical Director, with Heather Butcher, who used to play for
Kay’s productions, as one of our rehearsal pianists. Tanya Bultje will be the other.
Everyone knows My Fair Lady so I won’t tell you about the plot, but we will need a big
production team, so if you think you would like to be involved please contact me.
As the rehearsal period will be longer than normal, we will split it so that music rehearsals
will be held on Friday evenings starting in September 2018 and the drama rehearsals will
start in January 2019 with both music and drama coming together in mid-January.
The read-through will be on Sunday May 6th, followed by lunch.
Auditions for Principal singers and major acting parts will be on Friday May 11th.
Auditions for Chorus and other acting parts will be on Saturday May 12th in the afternoon. Whoever is cast as Higgins and Eliza will
need to be at this audition as well.
Please contact me on cherrycabban@gmail.com if you would like further information, If you would like to chat about the production
call me on 636 798 109 or even more important if you are volunteering to help, please email me.
Cherry.
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STOP PRESS: A PERFORMANCE IS BEING ARRANGED AT THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE IN ROJALES; STOP PRESS
Murder at the Manor House
You are invited to come to a murder mystery dinner. This will take place at Jávea Golf Club, on Friday 25 th of May 2018. The cost of
the three course meal, including a welcome drink and ½ a bottle of wine, bread and alioli is €25.
The scenario is, Lord Heathcliff is throwing a party in honour of his new bride- until one of his guests hits him over the head with a
candlestick! But who dunnit? You will be required to help Detective Bassett to solve the crime, by paying close attention to the
outpourings of the suspects.
If you would like to join the fun, email Lesleydavies@hotmail.com,
menu choices will be sent to you
in reply.
Help your Society
Have you taken the time recently to view our website at
www.javeaplayers.com? Just by clicking on the link
your browser will take you there instantly where you
will find a host of interesting information about our
activities past and present. Did you know, for example
that we have staged 147 productions since our
formation in 1976? Take a stroll down memory lane or
view the photo slideshows of our most recent
productions. Bookmark the page so that you can
check-in easily every few weeks.
You will see a couple of advertisements in the
newsletter from businesses which have made a
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substantial donation to advertise in our show programmes and newsletters for the whole of 2018. This income helps to offset our
printing costs and enables us to produce much better-quality programmes which, in turn, attract more advertisers. If you would like
to advertise with us, or know a business which might want to support us in this way, or even by sponsoring a production, please let
us know by emailing me on newsletter@javeaplayers.com. or talking to any committee member. If you support these businesses
please tell them you saw their advertisement in our publications.
Mike’s Acting Workshops
Following the interest shown at last year’s OPEN DAY, in my four acting workshops, the afternoon of Monday the 5th February saw
the first of the series.
Fourteen members, and non-members, gathered in the Studio
for the first session which focused on general acting exercises
to build confidence for auditions and performance. For
practitioners, as Alison Skilbeck found in her workshop, it is so
helpful to have participants who will "give it a go", and so it was
here. The session began, as all acting sessions should, by giving
the voice a good warm up, followed by some gentle physical,
concentration exercises. The first half ended with the question,
"What is drama?"
After a warming cup of coffee the group was asked to divide
into pairs and threes. A quick answer session on the leading
question and the, now smaller, groups were challenged to
provide an improvised interpretation of the word "Dilemma".
The responses were as diverse as they were entertaining,
providing a whole gamut of awkward, but enjoyably funny,
situations. The two-hour session sped past, and I am grateful
that the response was very positive.
I have now three further, targeted, workshops: Mondays: 5th
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March - IMPROVISATION, April 9th - SPEECHES, and finally MAY 7th -EXPLORING THE S WORD! These are €8.50 each and early
booking is recommended. I must stress that, whilst, previous experience is not necessary, a sense of adventure is!
Also, several attendees asked if there would be the possibility of a weekly class to keep "theatrically" in trim. I am happy to consider
it. It would be a casual, fun, drop-in session for €6 for a 90 minute class. If this is something you would be interested in let me know,
and also which evening would be best for you. They would begin in March.
Break a leg,
Mike Martin stagedoor-spain@hotmail.com 68 0673 871
Artist in Residence
About six months ago Jacques and I made the move from France to Jávea. Thanks to the
friendly welcome from Gillian and Hugh, the first people we met, I soon found myself invited
to get involved with the Jávea Players, using my artists skills to paint some scenery for On
Golden Pond, under the excellent guidance of Josephine. I have always been an artist, a
painter, but not quite on that scale! However, ready to do anything rather than act, I joined
this merry team - and I am hooked! Being part of Javea Players has opened new doors and
found us new friends... it is a jewel in the crown of Javea, without doubt.
Mary-Louise Boardman 0034635297802 www.galerie-languedoc.com
Ed: You can see more of Mary-Louise’s work on her webpage
Jackie’s Sing-Along
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to a very happy and sociable evening at the
Studio on Friday February the 9th. Some members who said they couldn’t sing even found
they could once they were in the company of others who could! ‘When is the next one?’, was
the question, so we will be looking at the diary and working hard to pick some songs.
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If you would like to join in or have a favourite song please let Jackie know.
A huge thank you and many congratulations to Tanya Bultje who played piano for the evening. Tanya and Peter English, two of our
newer members, announced their engagement. They will be married in Javea in October.
Jackie Jefferies
oaksidejefferies@gmail.com
Your membership is due
Just to remind those who have not paid their subs that they need to so before the end of March. Here is how to do it:
You can pay €10 per person in cash into The Javea Players’ bank account with BBVA by going into any branch of the BBVA and
paying the cash into their ATM machine, giving the details below;
Bank name: BBVA
Account:
El Teatro Ingles de Javea
A/C No: ES48 0182 4423 92 0201504270
Or you can pay your subscription by bank transfer on the web, giving the details above.
When paying by transfer, please remember to put your name in the ‘concepto’ box. This is very important because if you don’t put
your name in the box we have no idea who the payment has come from.
Cherry Cabban, Membership Secretary
Your Society needs you!
You will by now have received the formal notice for our next Annual General Meeting to be held on 14th March, 2018. Amongst
other things that will be decided at that meeting will be membership of our key committees, including the Play Planning Committee,
(the PPC). This Committee plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of Jávea Players as it is where our future programme of
productions is initially reviewed, debated and finally recommended to the Management Committee for adoption by the Society.
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This is a challenging task as our programme needs to balanced in terms of its content and sufficiently varied to be of interest both to
our Membership and our audience, and must consist of productions that we can cast and have the technical ability to stage to the
high standards for which we are renowned. As a group, it functions best if its membership represents all sectors of Jávea Players.
If you have an interest in being part of this challenging team, please consider putting your name forward. If you need more
information, please contact Roger Brown, PPC Chair, or any other PPC member.
Box Office and Front of House
Help is needed to run the box office for all our productions but particularly for Silver Linings. The job is much less onerous than it
used to be since most of it is handled by the online booking system. If you think you might be able to help please contact Tony
Cabban who will be able to talk you through what is entailed.
We are also putting together a Front of House team for Silver Linings. Two programme sellers are needed each night before the
show so it is perfectly possible to do the job before watching the play. If you are prepared to help please contact Roger Brown on
aahbees@gmail.com
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