We like to support, amateur dramatics within our community. Many of the productions are incredibly professional and ticket prices are kinder on the pocket. In the last few months, I have been fortunate to enjoy three plays, performed by three different companies.
Come From Away
There are some events during your lifetime, where you will always remember where you were and what you were doing. One such event was the attacks on 11th September 2001, when as we drove home from a family visit, we heard on the radio that planes had flown into the twin towers in New York. The entire World was in total shock as they watched the tragedy unfold.
The play, Come from Away, plots the story of that dreadful day. It starts with the residents of Gander, Newfoundland, recounting what they were doing when the news came through and 38 diverted planes started queuing up to land in their small town.
Performed at our local Stables Theatre, by the Sedlescombe Players, the cast consists of just twelve, each playing more than one role. The plot shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who unexpectedly arrived in this small Newfoundland community where these ‘come from aways’ were welcomed into the lives of the towns folk with open hearts.
The set was no more than a backdrop of bare planks of wood. The chairs and tables were moved around by the actors on set, often while singing and dancing, transforming the stage from a restaurant, to a local pub, to the aisle of an airplane, to a school packed full of ‘guests’ with remarkable smoothness. The cast switched seamlessly between their characters, often just by the switch a hat and a change of accent. We met Ali, a Muslim, who faces discrimination based on his ethnicity and religion, with many of the other passengers and airport security alike, suspicious of him. He was joined by the first female American Airlines captain and the mother of a New York firefighter, desperately trying to find news of her son. The gay couple Kevin and Kevin, and black passenger Bob, fear for their safety in this remote town, and Jewish and Muslim passengers struggle to find suitable food.
These are just a few of the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity and unity.
The quick thinking town mayor, rallied the townspeople, to find food and accommodation for the stranded passengers. The eager, newly appointed, local news reporter kept us informed of the intricacies of the real life situation.
It is fast-paced and told almost entirely through song and whilst it is ultimately a story of the love, care and compassion of the people of Gander, of love found for some yet lost for others, it carefully tells real life stories. It makes us think of the stranded passengers who left an impression on the small community, who formed lasting bonds and who still keep in touch with the residents of Gander today.
Top Girls
I had not, previously, heard about this play, but it seemed, from the blurb, to be a tale of women’s struggle to achieve equality. With Margaret Thatcher adorning the poster, it shouted ‘girl power’. Understandably this was to be a girly outing and as three of us took our seats, the curtain was almost ready to rise.
The opening scene was a dinner party, held in a restaurant, and being hosted by Marlene to celebrate her promotion to Managing Director of a recruitment company. Set in the ‘80’s we could relate to her ‘big’ hair and wide shoulder pads, as we’d all been a part of that era!!
As the guests arrived they included a 19th century explorer Isabella Bird, a 13th century Japanese concubine Lady Nijo, Bruegel’s Dull Gret as depicted in 1561 and Patient Griselda from Boccaccio’s Decameron. I was somewhat confused, but when ninth century Pope Joan arrived late and started relaying her story about always making herself look like a boy, managing to remain undetected to become Pope, then becoming pregnant and giving birth during a Papal procession, resulting in being stoned to death, the penny dropped 🤦♀️
We were watching very different women, who had lived across several different centuries, having intense, yet comfortable conversations about the repression they had felt from men during their lives. Hiding their true identities, succumbing to their husbands every whim, being treated as an object rather than a person and being discarded when no longer useful.
As we arrived at the interval, the conversations around us were very different. Some were lauding the storyline, others were a bit bemused and a few didn’t return for the second half.
On our return, we have moved to the garden of Marlene’s sister, who is attempting to raise her daughter, Angie, single handed. Her daughter is strong willed and the mother/daughter relationship is very difficult. Auntie Marlene is not a frequent visitor, but her lifestyle appeals to Angie. We see her plotting to run away to London to stay with her Aunt.
A few slick movements of scenery and the stage transformed to Auntie Marlene’s Recruitment offices. The Company employs women to recruit women, although the current MD is a man, we are back to the moment, Marlene is about to succeed his position. Women being interviewed are still mostly of the opinion they need to be subservient to men, and this is accentuated when the exiting MD’s wife pleads with Marlene not to take his job. In true Margaret Thatcher style the wife is dismissed.
Enter Angie, begging to stay with her Auntie and work alongside her. Marlene is obviously taken aback by her request and a chink in her armour appears. It becomes apparent why, when the final scene takes us back to her sisters front room and we discover Angie is in fact Marlene’s daughter, whom she abandoned to her sister as she climbed the ladder of success.
Her sister’s life has been more traditional and humble, looking after their Mum and Angie. Although they clash over their different outlooks on life, they ultimately rekindle their friendship. For me, the play ended abruptly, without reaching any conclusion, but it was written in the ‘80’s and women’s equality, even now is still a work in progress.
♥♥♥♥♥
We will Rock You
To complete this trio of Am Dram, we found ourselves at the White Rock Theatre celebrating The Hastleons 100th Anniversary production.
We saw We Will Rock you when it first hit the West End Stage. We thought, like many such plays, that it had an incredibly corny story line, written to work around the songs of the mighty Queen. For this local production, we joined a friend, whose daughter in law was performing.
We were transported into the future, to a World where music and instruments are completely banned, the internet and phones are prohibited and society is controlled by a powerful corporation, headed by the Top Girl, known as Killer Queen. She along with her side kick stringently enforces the regime.
Two rebellious graduates, Galileo and Scaramouche, who dare to question the regime, are arrested and a microchip transplanted in their heads to track them and ensure their conformity. Having escaped the hospital they discover an underground group of like minded rebels, called Bohemians, who want to restore the World’s freedom of expression and fill it once again with music.
The story of their fight, is witty and feisty, funny and they are always on the edge of danger. The theatre was filled with iconic Queen songs. Although small, the cast were fabulous, from the dancers to the Bohemians, Killer Queen to the love struck Galileo and Scaramouche. What impressed us the most were the stunning singing voices. All worthy of a West End stage.
Essentially it is a love story of two young people trying to save the World and ensure Rock Music is once again available to all. By the end we were all standing, singing along to the well known songs.
The amazing cast received a well earned standing ovation. One of the best Am Dram productions we have seen.
♥♥♥♥♥
A range of very different amateur takes on well known plays. All performed with passion and enthusiasm. Sometimes smaller and local can be equally as enjoyable as a trip to the City. The casts all do it for the love, not the money, but with productions costing such huge amounts of cash, it’s important that we continue to support these groups to enable them to survive.
We are loyal supporters and our next one is already booked for the Summer 🥰