Merstham Amateur
Dramatic Society

Our latest production was enjoyed by full houses !

‘It was, without doubt, a successful,

entertaining production of this ‘comedy of ill manners’.

19th, 20th, 21st October – Tickets available – phone 01737 823149

19th, 20th, 21st October

NOW IN REHEARSAL!!

It has just been confirmed that we will not be granted a performance licence for “An Inspector Calls” as a national tour is scheduled from October this year…….so we are reverting to Elizabeth Callow’s second choice, the delightful comedy “Hay Fever” by Noel Coward. We feel this will be a popular choice for our audience and a ‘fun’ play to do.

Characters: 4 young/middle-aged Men; 5 young/middle-aged/elderly Female
The action takes place at the family home at Cookham in the summer of 1925.
The Plot (if you don’t know it already!) The Bliss family – Judith and David and their adult children Sorel and Simon – are ultra-bohemian and one Saturday they each casually announce that they have invited guests for the weekend – to the the fury of the others! The guests are ritually humiliated by the actions of the family during the afternoon and evening, to the extent that they make their escape by the first train the following morning!
David seems blissfully uncaring of what is going on, Judith, a retired actress is sublimely self-centered, while Sorel and Simon bicker and totally ignore the discomfort of the four guests. The household is completed by the elderly Housekeeper, Judith’s former dresser, who knows only too well what the family is like.

Elizabeth Callow will direct “An Inspector Calls”  by J.B. Priestley.

This well-known play is set around 1912 and concerns the Birling family, who are celebrating their daughter’s engagement at dinner when they are visited by a police inspector investigating the suicide of an impoverished young woman.  It turns out that each of the family have, in some way, been responsible for her death.  A twist ending adds a mystical, thought-provoking touch.

A PLAYREADING/AUDITION will be held on

THURSDAY 14^th April, at 7.30 in the Church Room,

Church Hill Merstham.

Characters:-

Arthur Birling: A prosperous manufacturer in his mid 50’s; portentous, provincial in his speech and easy mannered. Is moved to anger, not affected by being confronted by his actions.

Sybil Birling (his wife): 50’s cold, elegant, very much her husband’s social superior; she is untouched by the results of her actions until the end.

Sheila Birling (his daughter): Pretty, early 20s, very pleased with life and excited. Needs to show shock and guilt and grow from naïve innocence to a mature understanding and acceptance of the consequences of her behavior.

Eric Birling (his son):  Early 20s; not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive; needs to show the full realization of his actions in the same way as Sybil.

Gerald Croft (Sybil’s fiancé): 30s, well-bred young-man-about-town; his easy manner is disrupted by events and he needs to show distress at what he has done, although does not accept responsibility.

Inspector Goole: Middle aged plus – is the catalyst for the evening’s events – remains entirely in control and creates an impression of solidity and purpose; speaks carefully and weightily – ‘enigmatic’.

Edna – “The Maid”.