The Rotherfield Players Presents an Amateur Performance of

Farndale Avenue Housing Estate

Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society’s Production of

„The Mikado‟

14th - 16th October 2010 Rotherfield Village Hall

Programme £2

An operetta by David Mcgillivray and Walter Zerlin jr Based on "The Mikado" or "The Town of Titipu"

By W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan Music arranged by Sue Van Colle

An amateur production by arrangement with Samuel French Ltd

ANNIE

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Website: www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk

Supported by: Rotherfield Parish Council St Denys‟ Church

From the Director

Alison Organ On first reading the script of The Farndale Avenue Townswomen’s Guild Operatic Society’s production of “The Mikado,” I knew The Rotherfield Players had to do it. With Sue Burnett as Musical Director and Catherine Ireland as Choreographer it became a reality. The cast, including several new members, has been wonderful, working their Japanese socks off. We have had such fun.

My thanks go to the backstage crew, who have excelled themselves, with Ian Hunt stepping into the breach as Stage Manager at a late hour; Mark Tasker making the arch and the large wooden cut outs; Helen Gallifant and Beattie Smitham producing all the costumes that were not hired from Bryan Philip Davies; Barbara Fee gallantly finding props and Nigel Cassford creating the lighting.

The business side of putting on a production must not be forgotten. James Gallifant, in the role of Producer, has dealt with finances, tickets, programmes etc, and Judith Hardy, as Front of House Manager, ensures that you, as members of the audience, are comfortably seated and that refreshments are available.

The Mikado is a comic operetta and the Farndale ladies try very hard to do it justice, but the resulting humour in their production does not arise from the pens of Gilbert and Sullivan but from their own idiosyncratic efforts.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

From the Musical Director

Sue Burnett Having grown up with a father who knew almost every Gilbert & Sullivan operetta inside out and back to front, I developed the typical teenage attitude that G & S was, in today‟s parlance, “not cool”. This attitude became even more ingrained during my 3 years studying at the Royal Academy, where such music was regarded as “pop” and ranked alongside Mick Jagger and “The Who”!

Now, nearly 40 years later, I have finally agreed to take part in a production of “The Mikado”, and I have discovered that both words and music have come flooding back from the dim recesses of the mind where my teenage antipathy banished them, and that there is much to admire and enjoy in the work of W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan.

The whole journey, from casting to Show Week has been terrific fun. Working with Alison is always a great experience, and the cast have been excellent, working hard, but with a tremendous sense of enjoyment. The humour in the script has been further enhanced by this attitude and I can‟t remember a rehearsal when we didn‟t dissolve into fits of laughter.

On a more serious note, the music has been challenging, not to say tough, and the way the soloists and chorus have tackled the difficulties has been inspirational.

It is always a pleasure to work with the band, and this year we welcome back Robin Fox on bassoon, and two completely new members – Jenny Maltby on flute and Zach Coe on trumpet. I should like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their time, hard work and support. They have also tackled their additional roles with enthusiasm, but hasten to point out that these are only an extension of what goes on with the band all the time!

From the choreographer

Catherine Ireland Catherine is an ex-professional dancer and has worked with many great stars and loves helping out with the players. “I get great satisfaction when someone says „I can't dance‟ and then works really hard to learn a routine and enjoy it.”

From the chairman

James Gallifant

With four productions this year it seems that The Players are working non-stop. It is not an illusion. Rehearsals of The Railway Children overlapped both Present Laughter and this Farndale Avenue production. I‟ll call it “Farndale” because the title is so long and I will bore you. We do have a membership of over 100 people but a shortage of people in key areas, mainly those clever people who can make things such as stage properties and costumes. Although we hire a large number of our costumes from the brilliant Bryan Davies, we are lucky to have Helen Gallifant and Beattie Smitham who labour through the night creating costumes for the chorus characters. Observe the detail of the obi‟s and the dragon, for example. We are also

lucky to have Mark Tasker join us recently. He manufactured the signalling equipment in the Railway Children. The great levers were identical to those found in signal boxes in the glorious days of steam (I remember those days well‼). Mark has manufactured an enormous number of stage bits and pieces for this play. When Alison Organ and Sue Burnett suggested this show last year I couldn‟t have been more enthusiastic because I laughed my socks off in the Farndale production of Macbeth back in 2003. However, this is a musical and thus it is four times as difficult to produce as compared to a traditional play. Poor Alison has gritted her teeth with a fixed smile at times but it is a credit to both of them that every rehearsal has been immense fun for the cast. Alas, I will be away in Spain during this production but I‟ll be thinking of the fun that you will have watching The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Operatic Society's Production of 'The Mikado'. It‟s a cracker.

Synopsis of the mikado The show opens in Titipu when a chorus of Gentlemen of Japan is joined by Nanki Poo, who is disguised as an itinerant musician, a second trombone. He is secretly in love with Yum-Yum, but she is betrothed to her guardian, Ko-Ko, a ”cheap tailor”, who had been condemned to death for flirting but was let off so that he could become The Lord High Executioner. Nanki-Poo is told by Pooh-Bah, who holds every office of state, that Ko-Ko and Yum-Yum are to be married that day. After telling Yum-Yum that he is really the son of the Mikado and they realise they can never be together, Nanki-Poo tries to kill himself. Meanwhile, Ko-Ko has received a letter from The Mikado instructing him to carry out an execution within a month or he will abolish the role of Lord High Executioner and reduce Titipu to the status of a village. On seeing Nanki-Poo trying to kill himself, Ko-Ko offers to carry out the deed for him. Nanki-Poo agrees on the condition that he can enjoy one month of married life with Yum-Yum and then Ko-Ko can marry her when she is a widow. As celebrations take place Katisha arrives – she is the woman The Mikado wants Nanki-Poo to marry. She threatens to reveal Nanki-Poo‟s true identity but the chorus try to drown her out. Act 2 opens with Yum-Yum preparing for her wedding, but it soon emerges that under the Mikado‟s law the widow of a beheaded man must be buried alive. If Nanki-Poo marries Yum-Yum she will suffer a dreadful fate after he is executed, and if he doesn‟t marry her she will have to marry Ko-Ko immediately. Nanki-Poo asks Ko-Ko to kill him immediately, but Ko-Ko can‟t bring himself to do this. With the arrival of The Mikado imminent, Ko-Ko tries to draw up an affidavit that Nanki-Poo has been executed, so the Mikado thinks his son has been executed. Katisha, thinking Nanki-Poo is dead, agrees to marry Ko-Ko. Then Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo arrive, having got married. The Mikado finally agrees that “Nothing could be more satisfactory”.

CAST

Flora (playing The Mikado)

Angela (playing Nanki-Poo)

Ronnie (playing Ko-Ko)

Mrs Reece (playing Poo-Bah)

Thelma (playing Yum-Yum)

Rev. Bishop (playing Pitti-Sing)

Dawn (playing Peep-Bo)

Felicity (playing Katisha)

The Producer

Pat, the Stage Manager

Lynn Lunn

Sarah Thorn

Kate Organ

Jacky Jenkins

Grainne Cotter

Adam Hardy

Becky Syms

Jo Evans

Brian Wright

Geraldine Davies

The Chorus

Ann

Beryl

Betty

Doreen

Georgia

Hermione

Janice

Kitty

Liz

Marjorie

Sheila

Shirley

Tricia

Jennie Whelan

Heather Stewart

Louise Coe

Gussie Penny

Mary Howells

Ros Williams

Josephine Day

Jess Lunn

Annie Darling

Alice Burrell

Jess Hardy

Clare Carruthers

Mary-Ann Mellor

THE ORCHESTRA

Musical Director and

piano (Gwendoline)

Flute (Joan - Leader)

Flute

Clarinet (Ross)

Clarinet

Saxophone (Vic)

Bassoon

Trumpet

Drums (Louis)

Sue Burnett

Katherine Crowley

Jenny Maltby

Nigel Burnett

Kate Shaw

Philip Illman

Robin Fox

Zach Coe

Mark Howard

BACKSTAGE

Director

Musical Director

Choreographer

Producer

Stage Manager

Stage Hands

Properties

Lighting

Sound

Costumes

Box Office

Publicity

Programme Design

Front of House

Alison Organ

Sue Burnett

Catherine Ireland

James Gallifant

Ian Hunt

Mark Tasker

Trevor Skinner

Barbara Fee

Nigel Cassford

Steve Allen

Helen Gallifant

Beattie Smitham

Sue Exton

Shelagh Whitehead

James Gallifant

Ros Williams

Gillian Earle

Judith Hardy

Principal Character Costumes

supplied by Bryan Philip Davies and Wigs supplied by Barbara Burrows

Notes from the cast

Alice Burrell Marjorie This is my sixth year with the Rotherfield Players and I‟m still loving it, although I didn‟t think I‟d have a baby bump at the age of 17; that‟s for the role of Marjorie. Clare Carruthers Shirley Playing the part of an ex-dancer who has put on a bit of weight has clearly meant bulking up for this chorus part! Rehearsals have been heavily weighted on fun and have given me hours of laughter, thanks to a fabulous cast and crew. Louise Coe Betty I have been with the Players for 5 years. I‟m thoroughly enjoying the Mikado, although I do get “that vexed” with Flora! Grainne Cotter Thelma / Yum-Yum This is my first role with The Players. My part is Thelma, who plays Yum-Yum. We laugh a lot in rehearsals and hope the audience will find the play as funny as we do. Annie Darling Liz It‟s a wonderful team, and I‟m having a wonderful time in a wonderful show. I‟m so grateful to be included. Geraldine Davies Pat After being away from them for ten years, it is lovely to be part of The Rotherfield Players again. Josephine Day Janice I usually do not go on the stage (if I can avoid it), but this looked like fun and I am really enjoying being part of this production.

Jo Evans Felicity / Katisha Having been in the last Farndale production of Macbeth, I couldn't miss the chance of being in another Townswomen's Guild extravaganza, playing nervous housewife, Felicity, who is playing proud arrogant Katisha!

Hey ho! It's been such fun!

Adam Hardy Rev. Bishop / Pitti-Sing I have really enjoyed my time rehearsing the Farndale Mikado. I started out as the Stage Manager and ended up as the Rev Reg Bishop who has an interesting array of costumes throughout the show! It has been a lot

of fun developing the character and his relationships with the other 19 female members of the cast! I hope you all enjoy watching the show as much as we have all enjoyed rehearsing it.

Jess Hardy Sheila I have been in The Rotherfield Players for ten years now, and this is definitely the strangest yet funniest play I have been in.

Mary Howells Georgia After an absence of some years, it is great to be "treading the boards" again. I have had such fun making the journey from 'front of house' with the Players to becoming a 'gentleman of Japan'!

Jacky Jenkins Mrs Reece / Pooh-Bah My character is Mrs Phoebe Reece who is the Chairperson of the Farndale Housing Association Townswomen's Guild. I'm really looking forward to playing her because she's bossy and 'posh' and wears smart clothes. It will

make a refreshing change from my usual characters with headscarf, pinny and slippers!

Jess Lunn Kitty I have done many productions with the Rotherfield Players in my eight years of being a member, one of which was less than six weeks ago (The Railway Children)! I have really enjoyed rehearsing for this musical, it is a

hilarious script as you are about to find out.

Lynn Lunn Flora / Mikado The character description for the part of Flora, the Mikado, reads „50s, dignified, Scottish scatterbrain‟, so all I had to learn was to speak Scottish. Perfect!! Mary-Anne Mellor Tricia As an alternative therapist I can truly say this is very alternative! Kate Organ Ronnie / Ko-Ko Having had great fun taking part in the previous Farndale Avenue Housing Association‟s production of Macbeth in 2003 I jumped at the chance of auditioning for their latest venture „The Mikado‟, particularly having the chance

to sing and dance as well as act in such a madcap production. I just hope that the audience in Rotherfield doesn‟t think my playing of Ronnie, whose only character description is „dull as ditchwater‟, is too convincing.

Gussie Penny Doreen This is my first production with the Rotherfield Players. I have really enjoyed working on the Farndale Mikado with old friends and have made a number of new friends. I am looking forward to future productions.

Heather Stewart Beryl This is my first performance since my school days X number of years ago. I have spent years watching my own children on stage so it is good to get a chance to reverse the roles! I have really enjoyed the rehearsals and in my

spare time I am a full time French teacher at Skippers Hill Manor!

Becky Syms Dawn / Peep-Bo I have been a member of the Players since their production of “Oliver” in 2001, and have taken on a variety of roles (and costumes!). Having appeared in a previous “Farndale Avenue” comedy of “The Scottish Play”,

I had an idea of what to expect from this production but I have enjoyed many more laughs than expected playing the bespectacled femme fatale, Dawn.

Sarah Thorn Angela / Nanki-Poo This is my third production with The Rotherfield Players, and I am hoping you enjoy the show as much as I‟ve enjoyed the rehearsal period. It's been a real hoot! It's a pity the character I play wouldn't agree with me.

Jennie Whelan Ann This is my first time in the Rotherfield Players. I‟m playing the part of Ann. If the show is half as much fun as the rehearsals it will be a great success. Ros Williams Hermione Having been a member of the Rotherfield Players for the last ten years and played a range of ages, starting with the French Princess Katherine aged 18 in Henry V, Hermione is the most elderly - she is huge fun.

Brian Wright The Producer This is my eighth production with The Players and my role is something of a departure for me (oh! how I wish it were), inasmuch as 75% of my lines are spoken from the wings. Normally I like to command centre stage, no matter

what the scene demands.

Raffle Proceeds The Rotherfield Village Pre-School will be moving into new premises soon, and so they will need to purchase a lot of new equipment for the fantastic new building. Vicky Cheeseman, the Setting Manager, writes:

The village Pre-School has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and as you are all probably aware we will be opening in our new building from January 2011. This is a very exciting time for us as we will be expanding our services to longer opening hours and in the future a Breakfast and After school club. With the continued support of our local community we have created a real legacy for the village which children can enjoy for many years to come. A big heart felt thank you for everyone who continues to support us.

For more information please visit www.rotherfieldpre-school.co.uk

Next production

The Wind in the Willows

3rd

, 4th

and 5th

February 2011

This year‟s winter extravaganza will be the well loved tale of “The Wind in the Willows” adapted for stage by John Morley. He has taken the well loved characters of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger from Kenneth Grahame‟s “The Wind in the Willows and woven their exploits onto an exciting adventure story for all the family. Toad‟s addiction with caravanning and later his obsession with cars: his imprisonment and escape with the aid of Jenny and her washerwomen aunts; and his fight with the Weasels and Stoats to regain Toad Hall are all included. Providing an evening of magic and joy for all.

Directed by Adam Hardy with Sue Burnett as Musical Director and Becky Syms as Choreographer

Familiarisation on Friday 22nd October

Juniors at 7.30pm and Adults at 8.00pm

Auditions on Friday 29th October Juniors at 7.30pm and Adults at 8.30pm

Past Productions

The Happiest Days of Your Life 1976 The Diary of Anne Frank 1976 Lord Arthur Saville‟s Crime 1977 Rother Jubilant 1977 Pool‟s Paradise 1977 The Winslow Boy 1978 Goodnight Mrs Puffin 1978 Night Must Fall 1979 I‟ll Get My Man 1979 Dark of the Moon 1980 The Creature Creeps 1980 Ghost Train 1981 When We Are Married 1981 The Rose and the Ring 1982 Separate Tables 1982 Just the Ticket 1982 Jack and the Beanstalk 1983 A Letter from the General 1983 The Chiltern Hundreds 1983 Aladdin 1984 The Man Born to be King 1984 Doctor in the House 1984 Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs 1985 Berkeley Square 1985 Bedroom Farce 1985 Little Red Riding Hood 1986 The Crucible 1986 A Separate Peace 1986 Season‟s Greetings 1986 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 1987 Mother Figure 1987 Larkrise 1987 Plaza Suite 1987 The Tinder Box 1988 Moonset Over Zeron 1988 Murder in Company 1988 Key for Two 1988 Pinocchio 1989 The Brute 1989 A Festival of Short Plays 1989 Getting On 1989 Cinderella 1990 Something Borrowed 1990 Arms and the Man 1990 Our Town 1990 Mother Goose 1991 A Resounding Tinkle 1991 How the Other Half Loves 1991 A Coat of Varnish 1991 Sinbad the Sailor 1992 Rotherfield Pageant 1992 Ten Times Table 1992 The Sleeping Beauty 1993

Bird Bath 1993 Ghost Writer 1993 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 1993 The Matchmaker 1993 Ali Baba 1994 Sailor Beware 1994 Hedda Gabler 1994 The Magic Fruit 1995 Queen Alice 1995 Absurd Person Singular 1995 The Happiest Days of Your Life 1996 Babes in the Wood 1997 My Fair Lady 1997 An Inspector Calls 1998 Blithe Spirit 1998 Smugglers 1999 Evening of One Act Plays 1999 Aladdin 2000 A Midsummer Night‟s Dream 2000 A Review for the Millennium 2000 Cinderella 2001 Oliver 2001 Importance of Being Earnest 2001 Jack and the Beanstalk 2002 Don‟t Dress for Dinner 2002 50 Years on the Throne 2002 Steel Magnolias 2002 Puss in Boots 2003 Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen‟s Guild Production of MacBeth 2003 Inn Love with Shakespeare 2003 Dick Whittington 2004 „Allo „Allo 2004 A Murder is Announced 2004 The Magic Fruit 2005 Calamity Jane 2005 Garden District 2005 The Wizard of Oz 2006 The Final Curtain 2006 An Ideal Husband 2006 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2007 Godspell 2007 Bard from the King‟s Arms 2007 Caught in the Net 2007 Sleeping Beauty 2008 Kiss Me Kate 2008 Les Liaisons Dangereuses 2008 Cinderella 2009 Busybody 2009 Our Country‟s Good 2009 Babes in the Wood 2010 Present Laughter 2010 The Railway Children (Junior Players) 2010

The Wheatsheaf Public House Mount Pleasant, Crowborough, TN6 2NF Tel: 01892 663756

www.wheatsheafcrowborough.co.uk

Ted and Maggie extend a hearty welcome to you

at Crowborough’s most traditional and friendly pub,

with great beer, fine wine and good company

Delicious home made food is available at lunchtime

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New Members

The Rotherfield Players is a vibrant village dramatic society. We have a healthy membership but we always welcome new faces both on stage and back stage. Many different skills are required to put on a show apart from acting, singing and dancing. There‟s carpentry, painting, sewing and even computer skills. If you are interested in joining our group please contact James Gallifant Tel: 01892 654219, Email: members@rotherfieldplayers.co.uk

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in a peaceful spot on the outskirts of Crowborough.

For details and availability call

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