SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL

Diary Dates for you to note:

Annual General Meeting Wednesday, 27th Janu-ary 2016, 8pm at the Hut.

Management Committee Meetings and the Cast-ing Committee Meetings are monthly.

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Christms Party/AGM

1

From our President Liz Morris

2

2016 Productions AGM details.

2

November Monthly Entertainment

3

Prices/Subs/Vale/ 3

2016 Program What’s on in Theatre

4

Office Bearers 2015

4

Inside this issue:

December 2015

Volume Issue

PROSCENIUM Villanova Players

NEWSLETTER

The

The 2015 season certainly ended with a bang! Play No.4, the classic, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, the last play in the ’Doll’ trilogy, by Ray Lawler, recently closed to great audience responses. Although, on the whole, numbers were down, the play was enjoyed by all who saw it. Director Leo Wockner should be very proud of his cast and crew and how this great Australian classic shows that it still has a lot to say to many contemporary Australians. The play was beautifully staged and very well acted. The fight scene and Olive’s explosive last scene were riveting and most memorable. Thanks also must go to the great backstage and technical crews who expertly did their bit to bring this play vividly to life. The set was also just right. One could imagine being there in 1950s Melbourne. Ray Lawler would have been pleased with this production of his play, the last of his ’Doll’ trilogy.

Saturday 9th January 6pm at The Hut

BYO food and drink We’ll have champagne to toast the New Year! Subscribers, Members and friends welcome!

RSVP – 2/1/2016 to Margaret 07 3899 9962

WEDNESDAY 27th JANUARY

8pm AT THE HUT

ELECTION DETAILS NEXT MONTH

[above] Roo & Olive [below] the fabulous set

Hello Everyone, Christmas season is here and it would have to be one of my favourite times of the year, we have the chance to relax, reflect and re-energize. It’s been a very challenging year for us all with having to move out of our Theatre at Seven Hills and seek other venues. Many thanks to my committee: - Tre-vor, Maria, Andrew, Mickey, Valerie, Bruce, Leo, Desley and Jackie for their support, guidance and hard work. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll was a very suitable end to our 2015 season and completed the Doll trilogy. This was the first time VPs performed the trilogy…..an immense achievement and one we should be very proud of. Thanks so much to Leo Wockner for his fine direction and to my fellow cast members, Maria, Dom, Meagan, Gary, Ben and Gabby for all their heard work, dedication and for being all–round great guys! Not to mention our backstage angels..Gregg, Karen, Steven; Patrick, Lucy, Michelle, Mickey and the “Anthonys” and all those folks who helped out on Box Office

or FOH. Also we must acknowledge Tracey and the staff at Yeronga State High School for being so helpful and accommodating to us. Though we are in conversations with Council and Heran Developments, at this stage we have not been given a date of when we might be able to resume use of the Theatre at Sev-en Hills. However, we are meeting with Council again early next year and we have secured Yeronga State High School for Play 1 and Play 2. We have a very exciting but challenging year ahead of us. Our Christmas/New Year party will be on Saturday 9th Janu-ary, 6.00pm at The Hut – see more details inside. And we will be holding our 2016 Season Launch on Saturday 13th Febru-ary, 2pm at the FT Barrell Auditorium, Yeronga State High School. Wishing you all a safe, blessed and holy Christmas. Hope to see you all at our New Year party on the 9th January. Liz

2016 FORTHCOMING

MAJOR PRODUCTIONS

FROM OUR PRESIDENT—LIZ MORRIS

Page 2 PROSCENIUM

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

AT THE HUT

WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2016 8:00pm

ELECTIONS

FULL DETAILS OF ELECTIONS

IN THE JANUARY PROSCENIUM

If anyone is interested in presenting an item at our Monthly Meetings, contact a Member of the Casting Committee - phone

numbers are on the back page of The Proscenium]

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS

ALAN BALL directed by Liz Morris & Jacqueline Kerr

Five Bridesmaids find they have more in common with each other than they have with the bride.

4 MARCH to 20 MARCH

SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS ANNE SCOTT-PENDLEBURY

directed by Leo Bradley Adapted from the classic Australian children’s novel, the play relates the adventures of the

Woolcot children in Parramatta in 1894. 27 MAY to 18 JUNE

LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON

directed by Bruce Parr Rivals in love who use seduction as a weapon of humiliation and degradation in 1700s France. If

seduction is your game, beware. 28 AUGUST to 10 SEPTEMBER

ROUGH CROSSING TOM STOPPARD

directed by Fiona Kennedy A comic farce set onboard the SS Italian Castle in the 1920s. Two playwrights are still writing

and rehearsing their new musical

Page 3

NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING

Thanks to Leo Bradley for his short but sweet excerpt of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys. The play tells the story of an unorthodox teach-er and his colleagues at a British grammar school trying to prepare gifted young charges for the upcoming Oxford and Cambridge en-trance exams. The students absorb the facts and figures thrown at them by academia, and in the process, they also learn a little about life. Cast included Brian Cannon; Lucy Moxon and Blaise Ahern as the teachers and Lisa Gorse; Cecelia Girard; Steven Eggington and David Meechan as “the boys”. Brilliantly written and performed. …and quite bizarre at times, it was a very enjoyable piece of theatre. I wanted more!

Adult door price - $25 On-line bookings - $22.50

Group booking [10 or more] - $15 each ticket Children (Primary and Secondary School) - $12

Concessions (Pensioners, Seniors, Tertiary students) $17

Subscriptions - $60

By subscribing, you help us present quality theatre at

affordable prices. Join the growing number of

Villanova Players subscribers. For more information see Maria, our Secretary

Phone: 07 3395 5168 or

email: villanovaplayers@gmail.com Gift Subscription for 2016 - Easy Christmas shopping

http://www.villanovaplayers.com/subscribe.html

Our thoughts and prayers are with all members of the Gaffney family and friends

on the recent passing of Tim Gaffney Husband of Ann

Father of Cameron, Delena, Matt and Gus

http://tributes.couriermail.com.au/no-

tice/229502049#sthash.wgP3EL5R.WvKZoWt5.gbpl&st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/

SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2016 AT

FT BARRELL AUDITORIUM YERONA SHS

DETAILS NEXT PROSCENIUM

VILLANOVA PLAYERS Newsletter

Villanova Players INCORPORATED

Established 1948 Balmoral Park, Jean Howie Drive off Bennetts Road MORNINGSIDE

PO Box 465 Morningside Qld 4170 Email:villanovaplayers@gmail.com

www.villanovaplayers.com facebook.com/Villanova Players

Theatre Company The Hut: Phone: - 3395 5168 Bookings: Phone: - 3899 9962

2015 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE President: Liz Morris 0439 670 283 Vice President: Trevor Bond 0408 007 213 Treasurer: Jacqueline Kerr 0433 110 766 Secretary: Maria Plumb 3391 7180 Casting Liaison: Leo Bradley 3891 5769 Members: Mickey O’Donnell 3899 9962 Desley Nichols 3891 2282 Valerie Gorse 0402 357 321 Bruce Stanley 0415 504 033

2015 CASTING COMMITTEE Trevor Bond 0408 007 213 Leo Bradley 3891 5769 Fiona Kennedy 3352 7717 Gregg Goriss 0415 912 000 Jane Sizer 3349 1328

WHAT’S ON IN THEATRE 2016

ST LUKE’S THEATRE SOCIETY - presents - A MONTH OF SUNDAYS directed by Cameron Gaffney - 11th to 20th March - Bookings - 3255 6675 ARTS THEATRE - presents - BABY WITH THE BATH-WATER by Christopher Durang - 16 January to 20th February- Bookings - 3369 2344 CENTENARY THEATRE GROUP - presents A DAVID WILLIAMSON PLAY directed by Gary O’Neil - 27th February to 19th March Bookings - 3379 3937 or 0435 591 720 SUNNYBANK THEATRE GROUP - presents KEY FOR TWO directed by Chris Guyler- 19th February to 5th March - Bookings - 3345 3964 NASH THEATRE - presents REBECCA directed by Dan Lane - late February to early March - Bookings - 3379 4775

ACT 1 THEATRE - presents TWELVE ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose - opens 26th February - Bookings - 0403 735 383 TOOWOOMBA REPERTORY THEATRE - presents THE THE GIFT directed by Lyn Hodgson - 10th to 27th Feb-ruary - Bookings - 4632 8058

LONG GONE LONESOME COWGIRLS

by Phillip Dean 15 - 23 April 2016

THE KURSK by Sasha Janowicz

directed by AmandaWebb 15 - 23 July 2016

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

directed by Jacqueline Kerr 14 - 22 October 2015

PLAY No.1

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS by Alan Ball directors

Jacqueline Kerr And

Liz Morris

The play is a comedy set at the home of the bride in Knoxville, Tennessee during the newly married couple's overdone wedding reception. The five bridesmaids have found refuge in the room of Meredith, the sister of the bride. The women come to realize, among other things, that, despite their differences, they have more in common with each other than any of them do with the bride

The production incudes discussion of adult topics and Occasional Coarse Language.

Cast The women who presented the first Act reading of the play last year have all been offered their roles in the full production. Which leaves only one Male role still to be cast Tripp Davenport: An usher who falls for Trisha. The only male in the show only in Act 2.

Proposed Season: Friday, 4 March 2016 to Sunday, 20 March 2016

Play No.2

SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS by Anne Scott-Pendlebury director

Leo Bradley

“None of the seven is really good, because Australian children never are. There is a lurking sparkle of joyousness, rebellion and mischief in all children here.” Seven Little Australians (1894) adapted from the classic Australian children's novel by Ethel Turner. Set mainly in Parramatta in the 1880s, it relates the adventures of the seven mischievous Woolcot children, their stern army father Captain Woolcot, and flighty stepmother Esther. The cast includes the maid, Bridget, and retainer, Mr Gillet, who can be any age, and Aldith McCarthy (Meg’s snobby friend) and Alan Courtney (Meg’s future fiancé) The roles of the children will be double cast and the season will be for four weeks. The ages given are just an indication; some selection may be on height rather than age. So it’s important that Bunty is shorter than Pip and Baby is shorter than Nell.

Season (4 weeks) Friday, 27 May 2016 to Saturday, 18 June 2016

Male roles Female roles Ages

Esther Woolcott- narrator 20s-30s

Bridget- the Housemaid open

Aldith McCarthy 17-20s

Meg Woolcott 17-20s

Judy Woolcott 15-18

Nell Woolcott Secondary School

Baby Woolcott Upper primary school

Captain Woolcott 35-45

Mr Gillet - the retainer open

Alan Courtney 18-Early 20s

Pip Woolcott Secondary School

Bunty Woolcott Upper primary school

Play No.3 LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES by Christopher Hampton

Director Bruce Parr

'I shan't have a moment's peace until it's over, you know. I love her, I hate her. I'm furious with her, my life's a misery' If seduction is your game, beware the one with the power to melt your heart. A play by Christopher Hampton adapted from the 1782 novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. The plot focuses on the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, r ivals who use seduction as a weapon of humiliation and degradation, all the while enjoying their cruel games. Their targets are the virtuous (and married) Madame de Tourvel and Cécile de Volanges, a young girl who has fallen in love with her music tutor, Danceny. In order to gain their trust, Merteuil and Valmont pretend to help the secret lovers so they can use them later in their own treacherous schemes. The major roles are Vicomte de Valmont (lots of lines and a sword fight at the end) and the Marquise de Merteuil. Dancey is also in the sword-fight. Quite a few roles for people of any age and smaller character roles, and there’s a need for various non-speaking footmen and servants for scene changes.

Proposed Season

Friday, 26 August 2016 to Saturday, 10 September 2016

Female roles Ages

Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil 30 - 60 attractive

Mme de Volanges 50+

Cecile de Volanges, her daughter 16 (20s)

Mme de Rosemonde 50+

Madame de Tourvel 20s

Amelie 20 - 40+

Adele/Julie Open

Le Vicomte de Valmont 25-55

Azolan – his valet 40+

Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny 20s

Major-domo Open

Various Courtiers & Servants Open

SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2016 AT

FT BARRELL AUDITORIUM YERONA SHS

DETAILS NEXT PROSCENIUM

Play No.4 ROUGH CROSSING by Tom Stoppard

Director Fiona Kennedy

“Perhaps a Cognac, I recommend it sir. It calms the waters something wonderful” A comic farce by British playwright Tom Stoppard, set on board the SS Italian Castle, in the 1920s, it follows world-renowned playwrights Sandor Turai and Alex Gal , who are still writing and rehearsing their new musical that must open in New York when they arrive. They must also preserve, with the help of their unorthodox cabin steward, Dvornichek, the relationship of their com-poser, Adam Adam, and his love, the leading lady Natasha Navratilova, despite the interference of the lothario actor, Ivor Fish. The play includes three songs, and two dance numbers. There is a chorus of female dancers who have no lines but dance and sing. It is a hilarious farce, and as the title implies, the rehearsals on board the Ship get progressively worse as they enter rough weather. All are part of the chorus in the finale of Act 1 and Act 2, so would be good to have singers, but Natasha, Adam and Ivor must sing solo lines and duets and would be useful if Adam can play the piano

Male roles Female roles Ages

Sandor Turai – writer open

Alex Gal – writer open

Dvornichek – steward open

Adam Adam – composer 20s to 40s

Ivor Fish – the leading man 30s open

Natasha Navratilova – lead lady 20s to 40s

Dancing/chorus girls open

Proposed Season

Friday, 18 November 2016 to Saturday, 3 December 2016

Short and Sharp A season of three studio plays in between the major plays they are smaller casts, require fewer sets and costumes, though still room for people to explore lighting design and sound design. Shorter season, only at most two week-ends.

No.1 LONG GONE LONESOME COWGIRLS by Philip Dean

Director Anthea Patrick

Set in far outback Queensland in the '60s, an unlikely friendship forms between two women of wildly different tempera-ments. Vicki is a submissive housewife and conforming Catholic, forever awaiting the arrival of her itinerant bulldozer-driving husband. Into her small-town existence comes Rae, a brash and hard-living barmaid, abandoned on the roadside by her rodeo-riding husband of five weeks. Together they grope their way through the confusions of the not-so-swinging sixties towards independence, on dreams and the songs of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline.

Female roles Ages

Rae 20s-40s

Vicki 20s-40s

Proposed season: Friday, 15 April 2016 to Saturday, 23 April 201

LONG GONE LONESOME COWGIRLS

by Phillip Dean 15 - 23 April 2016

No.2 THE KURSK by Sasha Janowicz

Director Amanda Webb

The K-141 Kursk was an Oscar-II class nuclear powered cruise missile submarine of the Russian Navy, lost when it sank in the Barents Seas on 12 August 2000. The play explores the events and stories of those on the land and those left behind. The play is usually done with doubling of smaller roles.

Proposed season Friday, 13 May 2016 to Saturday, 21 May 2016

Male roles Female roles Ages

Olga 20s

The Mother 30s-50s

The Woman in Black open

Admiral Popov 45 to 55

Dmitry Kolesnikov | AS-34 Commander | Officer1 | Envoy from Moscow | XO 20s

Rashyd Aryapov |AS-32 Commander | Officer 2 | Sonar Operator | Navigator 30s

Bosun | The Kursk Commander | Officer 3 | Father Open

Potential swing role Open

No.3 GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Reza

Director Jacqueline Kerr

It is about two sets of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park. They meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos.

Proposed season: Friday, 14 October 2016 to Saturday, 22 October 2016

Male roles Female roles Ages

Alain Reille 30s-40s

Annette Reille 30s-40s

Veronique Houllie 30s-40s

Michel Houllie 30s-40s

THE KURSK by Sasha Janowicz

directed by AmandaWebb 15 - 23 July 2016

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

directed by Jacqueline Kerr 14 - 22 October 2015