Synopsis
Flora Draycott, an exuberant and impulsive widow, lives with her sister, Joyce, writing books and raising funds for charities. But to make real money she secretly writes, under a male nom de plume, a highly scandalous novel based on her late husband’s drunken experiences. When a possible publisher arrives unexpectedly, she doesn’t admit authorship, so blurts out that the author ‘is ill upstairs’. This leads to a mass of complications as the sisters get involved in the highly coloured life they invent for him. The audience is kept very amused and intrigued as they watch Flora and Joyce endeavouring to extricate themselves from the many complicated situations which arise.
Director/Producer
- Dorothy Morris
Cast (in order of appearance)
- ‘Joyce Culford’ ~ Doreen Davies
- ‘Flora Draycott’ ~ Alison Shepherd
- ‘Arthur Ashmore’ ~ David Spear
- ‘Norman Straker’ ~ Barry Cooper
- ‘Mr Barclay’ ~ Tony Currell
- ‘Maureen’ ~ Denise Currell
- Van man ~ Ian Evans
- ‘Mr Welbeck’ ~ Ian Evans (16th & 17th); Stewart Hiorns (22nd – 24th)
- ‘Mrs Perivale’ ~ Judi Porter
- ‘Oonagh’ ~ Heather Cooper
- ‘Miss Timwell’ ~ Julie Greenwood
- Woman ~ Lyn Brundle
Backstage
- Stage Manager ~ Alan Bailey
- Assistants ~ Lyn Brundle, Simon Ellett, Denise Currell, Dorothy Morris
- Prompts ~ Heather Cooper, Judi Porter
- Props ~ Denise Currell, Dorothy Morris
- Scenery ~ Denise Currell
- Hair & Make-up ~ The cast
- Front-of-house, Refreshments ~ Geoff Davies & others
Producer’s Note
Having had to cancel our last two plays we were seriously thinking that we might have to disband but, thank goodness, we decided to carry on and hope to do so for a long time!
This being my last production as Director, I felt I would like to say a very big ‘thank you’ to you, the audience, for your wonderful support and encouragement over the last seventeen years, not just to me but to the Society as a whole. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such loyal supporters. Alison is taking over as Director for our next production.
Many thanks must go to all the members of the Society who have worked so hard to make our productions successful. They have put up with my somewhat erratic methods of directing with great patience and good humour (even when moves have been changed at dress rehearsal) and have been a terrific group to work with. Alan has built some wonderful sets for me, in spite of my tendency to draw sketches of ‘Palladium’ style proportions, rather than the 17ft by 12ft dimensions of the Church Hall stage.
My last thank-you must go to my long-suffering husband Phil. He has chauffered me to and from the hall at all hours and taken me here and there looking for suitable furniture and props, and never complained about having to fend for himself when I have been out selling tickets or rehearsing.
If Alison or anyone else who directs in the future enjoy themselves as much as I have, they will be happy people, and I wish them every success.
Photos
The cast (not very focused!)
Background, left to right: Alison Shepherd (“Flora”), Doreen Davies (“Joyce”), Heather Cooper (“Oonagh”), David Spear (“Arthur”), Julie Greenwood (“Miss Timwell”), Lyn Brundle (“woman”), Tony Currell (“Barclay”), Barry Cooper (“Norman”), Denise Currell (“Maureen”).
Foreground: Dorothy Morris (director/producer)
The set.
Presentation
Director/Producer Dorothy Morris with gift for last production (of record 31) as director.