This week is production week at the theatre for me. Although I am not acting in the play this time, I have still been heavily involved in the actual production side of things for several weeks if not months. From constructing the set (along with Keith, my husband and the director for this play) to decorating the set and scenic painting along with acquiring various props ( even making some fake smoked salmon as one of the props!) I am the prompt and occasional stage manager. Sunday night was the dress rehearsal, which had its fair share of mistakes (which we all prefer to happen on dress rather than on the opening night or any other!) but all in all went fairly smoothly – just a few minor adjustments and it was a much more polished rehearsal last night when we had the technical run through.
The play is called “Out Of The Crocodile” and it is written by Giles Cooper. It is set in the middle of the twentieth century when computers were unknown to most of the population and we used to communicate by Royal Mail or land-line telephones only! The Crocodile is a reference to the line of school children sometimes seen walking through the streets on an educational tour. It is mainly about the danger of not looking round from time to time to see where we have been, and where we are going. Helen and Henry Hampster, while never content with each other, are totally content with themselves. It takes them a long time to appreciate the existence of a new situation, and a longer time to adapt themselves to it. Thus, when Peter Pounce suddenly appears in their lives, this comfortable, routine existence is thrown into something resembling chaos. Whilst the audience will find much to laugh at in this play they will also find food for thought and may even discover that they are in danger of becoming as complacent as the Hampsters. Why is it that Helen and Henry never seem to have any money worries? Helen tells her husband not to open bills as they make him bad tempered, so who is paying them? Peter Pounce appears to be outwardly charming yet at the same time quite mysterious – how does he survive when he appears to have no job and nowhere to live?
Tonight is the opening night and one of the two nights that are pretty well booked up so far – Wednesday and Thursday are somewhat less so, but there is still time for people to book or even turn up on the night!
I still get a buzz when I am involved in a play, whether I am acting in it or just being part of the team, and this week will pass very quickly because of that feeling.
This photo was taken at a rehearsal and gives you a sneak preview of the set and some of the cast members:
