PRODUCER'S REPORT

"THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"
'A Trivial Comedy for Serious People' - written by Mr. Oscar Wilde
Performed - 24th to 28th April 2007

Starring: 

The CATS Committee were kind (and brave) enough to accept my offer to produce 'Earnest' as the Spring Play 2007.

Following hard on the heels of the successful comedy romp 'Cat Flap' it gave our audience a more gentile pace and 'refined' atmosphere to appreciate; and vowel sounds with a cultured air to listen to, sandwiched as it was between two plays evoking rustic village life. ("Ooo Ahh, Ooo Ahh").

Oscar Wilde's writing favours wit rather than fun so, in this comedy of manners, our audiences smiled rather than laughed, and chuckled rather than roared.

Although nine stage roles do not necessarily put this play in the 'small' league, for those with the major parts there was considerable dialogue to have to learn; and all of it requiring to be spoken 'as written', with wit being built-up in layers as both male and female characters 'fight' for verbal supremacy.

I was fortunate to be able to cast with players who were very much of an age for each of the roles - so giving considerable credibility to their characterization.

Indeed, so good were their performances that we were even able to overlook both brotherly and sisterly affection !

It was nice to see a full age-range of actors participating on-stage (and it was good for the company, too). My thanks to you all from really making your roles 'come alive'.

I know that this has happened when I start referring to people by the name of their character rather than their own name !

With 'Cat Flap' having had such a substantial 'box' set, I tried to stage a production which was 'light' on scenery and which made a feature of Props and Costume for theatrical setting.

· The first Act, set in the interior of a London Town-house, placed furniture and fireplace against the 'greys' (the light grey curtains at the rear of the stage) which turned them into wall-paper.

· The second Act was set in the garden of a country stately-home, and featured potted trees and shrubs, and roses growing up trellis-work (an attempt to bring the 'garden' indoors)

· The third Act (itself a novel introduction to a CATS' play !) interposed a 'colonnade' to bring the final action within the house, while still being able to look out into the garden.

My thanks must go to all of those who contributed to the furniture, flowers and properties and all those 'back-stage' who managed (and man-handled) the presentation of these Acts.

The elegance and colour of the costumes made a great 'period' impression and gave the actors the necessary 'gravitas' in their performances. My thanks, most obviously, go to Peggy Cox for her contribution in this department.

A new skill which had to be mastered for this play was the ability to eat and drink on-stage - with elegance and sophistication - while timing the next line after the previous swallow.

I don't think we've ever had a play which consumed quite so many sandwiches !

I very much enjoyed being able to make several contributions to the production: namely_

· Programme Design - where I introduced a Victorian font - and used the elaborate vocabulary and persiflage of the period - and I also incorporated a sepia photograph of the final resolution of the play onto the programme cover..

· Musical Interludes - I was able to play the piano backstage for some time before the play's opening line ...."Did you hear what I was playing, Lane ?" - when playing for Lady Bracknell so that an engagement can be effected on-stage - and finally when playing for the exit of the characters..

· Having an 'Open Stage' arrangement with no curtain for the opening of the First Act - and then introducing the staff of the house going about their duties, before the action commences..

· Having the full cast included on-stage at the end of the show, in role - and for them all to exit, still in character, through the hall, to 'finale' music..

I particularly have to thank Nigel Evans for turning Tragedy back into Comedy by virtue of his recovery - all on Opening Night. Thank you, Nigel (!) You almost gave me a heart attack...

And obviously, our particular thanks to David Hislop for coming to the rescue and improvising a marvellous second role at a moment's notice. The very epitome of "The Show Must Go On".

I would also like to thank the visiting NODA rep. who was good enough to pass comments in his 'official' review which showed that _

· He had read the programme .. since he quoted from it ..

· He thought that the cast had extracted maximum comic value from the script ..

· That the staging of the play was true to the period ..

· And that he had enjoyed it ! .. .. ..

So, finally; 'Thank You' to the CATS committee and it's Chairman for being both kind - and brave; and it's Important that they understand I'm quite Earnest about that .. .. ..