Humble Boy Review
‘HUMBLE BOY’
The Players recently presented the play ‘Humble Boy’ by Charlotte Jones at the Dolphin Hotel, Bovey Tracey.
Felix Humble (Will Meadows), a theoretical physicist, comes home to his family home in the Cotswolds to attend his father’s funeral. The story does not get off to good start as he fails to turn up at the funeral to give an eulogy for his father, which does not impress his rather domineering mother Flora (Jenny Connelly). She has been having an affair for years with George (Mark Godwin), the owner of a local coach company, who is also the father of Rosie (Katy Bringloe) with whom Felix had an affair seven years ago and produced a child. This awkward situation is overseen by Flora’s rather put upon friend Mercy (Rachel Albon) and surprisingly Jim the gardener (Nigel Gillingham), who is an enthusiastic beekeeper.
The play is described as a gentle comedy about broken vows, failed hopes and the joys of beekeeping.
This was the first time the Players had benefited from the skills and knowledge of a professional director. Louisa Wilde is a local theatre director and singing teacher and was able to bring these skills to both the Players and the production – for which The Players are extremely grateful.
Louisa was a great support to Will Meadows in his first major role with the Players, especially as he had such an enormous part to learn! Will was supported by a strong cast with fine performances all round, all of whom benefited from Louisa’s guidance and experience. Fortunately, there was very little for prompt Margaret Wilson to do and professional levels of lighting were provided by Alan Pewsey and Sam Bovey, with Kenneth Swan providing his usual high standards in sound. Costumes were provided and overseen by Chris Towle.
There many twists and turns to the story: comedy, pathos and even a few tears. If you want to know the outcome, you will have to read the script but it will be worth the effort!
Young and Interested in Drama?
Awards All Round
At our AGM on Wednesday 28th March, the Players were pleased to award a cheque to our chosen charity of the year – The Devon Freewheelers. This was presented by our chair, Jenny Connelly and received by one of their local riders, Mr Robert Meadows.
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And then the cast of ‘A Candle for Elvis’ were presented with their Adjudicator’s Award from the Dawlish one-act festival for their dramatic entrance at the end of the play! The award was presented by Freda Welton (left). Cast from L-R – Terry Nickels, Margaret White, William Meadows, Sam Bovey – sadly Lisa Huet and Mark Dunn, who directed the play were unable to be at the presentation.
Skittles Night
A great evening was had by all and it was certainly eventful. There was an enquiry as to whether Nigel was cheating, Terry showed his SAS training was still useful when he rolled on the floor after throwing a ball and Paul mastered the spin technique although the spectators gave him a wide berth when he took aim.
Francis demonstrated poise in her skittling performance and was the overall winner of the Killer round, although fiercely contested by David.
Our chairman / chairwoman / chairperson Jenny proudly presented Francis the cash prize of £2.50, a bag of chocolate buttons and a serving tray. The serving tray was not to be kept as there were glasses to be cleared away.
2017 Curtain Up
Treasure Hunt in Kenn – Sunday 10th Sept 2pm
Treasure hunt this Sunday at Kenn meeting at St Andrews church by The Ley Arms.
Come along and enjoy the fun and hopefully good weather.
Please let us know if you are attending on the day and whether you will be coming along to the meal afterwards at The Dophin Hotel, Bovey Tracey at 7pm.
‘Waving Goodbye’ Tuesday 5th September
PRESS RELEASE
Waving Goodbye
A play by Andrew Shakeshaft
Presented by Tree Shadow Theatre Productions
Dolphin Hotel, Bovey Tracey 5th September 2017 7:30pm
Waving Goodbye; Burkha or jeggings? Twisting fast-paced black comedy.
**** Remote Goat “a production which has much to offer” “Deeply moving”
Views from the Gods “Funny and Moving”
Pick of the Fringe Award Bedfringe 2017
Waving Goodbye is an emotionally charged black comedy which asks fundamental
questions about existence and our relationships with each other.
“All those people who died young; you’ve got their life, you’ve got the chances they
never had and what are you doing with it?”
Tree Shadow Theatre put out a call for new, contemporary scripts that didn’t fight shy of exploring big issues and what it is to be a young woman in today’s world. This two-
hander comedy was the outright winner.
After debuting at the Camden Fringe, Waving Goodbye has been performed in Exeter,
Monmouth, Seaton, Bristol, London and the Bedfringe. Our performances in Exeter this year for the From Devon with Love Festival played to a sold-out audience and Waving Goodbye was awarded Pick of The Fringe by Bedfringe. Tree Shadow Theatre look forward to bringing Waving Goodbye back to home turf in Devon for a special one-off performance in Bovey Tracey.
Directed by Anita Parry (What Would Helen Mirren Do?)
Cast: Lucy Theobald and Louisa Wilde
Playwright: Andrew Shakeshaft
Tickets £6
Running Time 50mins
Email: info@treeshadow.co.uk
“A true masterpiece of theatre” Last Embrace, Broadway Baby *****
“A fascinating examination of the tension between appearance and reality” – How Well You Know Me, Somerset Gazette
“I’m no theatre critic, but what struck me was how the entire audience was completely absorbed by the drama” Audience review
“An inspiring play that deserves a wider audience” Audience review, Hard Like Stone
While you’re here….
At the moment we’ve just finished our production of ‘Curtain Up!’ by Peter Quilter. We performed the play at ‘The Dolphin’ however here’s some interesting news about another proposed venue in
2017 Lone Star
LONE STAR by James Maclure Is a gritty comedy – set in the back of “Angels Bar”, Texas, late 70s – with a cast of three very colourful characters!
Here is how the author describes them……
Roy (James Harper)
Roy is lean, tough with beginnings of a beer gut. Uneducated, belligerent, his army service has nearly given him a sense of irony. He voted Nixon, likes John Wayne movies and thinks Raquel Welch is a great actress. Love of his life – his 1959 pink Thunderbird convertible.)
Ray (Mark Godwin)
Ray is his younger brother. Slope-shouldered, sloth-like, slowwww. He has no idea what irony is. Wears a John Deere hat. Probably sleeps in it.
Cletis (Mark Albon)
Cletis is a friend of Ray’s. A wide-eyed asshole. His life should have been terminated in high school. He married the first girl he dated that didn’t spit on him. She married him because of his fathers appliance store. He works there. Get’s lost in the stock room. Has a plastic pocket pencil holder. Sleeps with it.
2016 Allo Allo
It has been a sad week with the announcement of the of death of Gorden Kaye – the original Rene Artois. We still all sit about and have a giggle whenever we discuss last years Player’s production of Allo Allo. They must have had a ball filming the originals and Gorden will be remembered with a smile.
So here are some pictures from our Allo Allo, thanks Bim. Coming soon will be news of our next production, which will be coming up in March and is currently in rehearsal.
Photos courtesy of Bim Photography
Pantomimes
2013 Aladdin
Photos courtesy of Bim Photography
2006 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Ali Baba, a Pantomime by Alexa Romanes. All the usual Panto stuff, villains, hero’s, scantily...
2005 The Ozzard of Wiz
The Ozzard of Wiz was written by Bim Bollard and James Harper and directed by...
2000 From the King of Prussia with Love
James Blonde, a classic Pantomime character played with a suitable sneer by Dave Scott, led...
1994 Babes in the Wood
Babes in the Wood was another Pantomime written by Alexa Romanes, unfortunately I only have...
1996 Robinson Crusoe
This was billed as a traditional family Pantomime, written by Bill Smale and directed by...
1998 Dracular and the Magic Lamp
Surely the best Panto and Panto villain ever, well I would say that wouldn’t I....
1990 Fatman and Blobbin
Fatman and Blobbin (And the Exploding Custard Pie machine).Ticket holders were turned away at the...
1992 Cinderella II
Cinderella II, (The Undoing of Buttons). I could tell you what I thought but the...
1980 Robin Hood
The Players first ever Pantomime written by Patsy Powlesland. This was great fun to be...
Plays
2017 Curtain Up
2017 Lone Star
LONE STAR by James Maclure Is a gritty comedy – set in the back of...
2016 Allo Allo
It has been a sad week with the announcement of the of death of Gorden...
2015 Teechers
Its Back to School! – Teechers at The Dolphin 15th – 17th October 2015
2015 Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Gnomes
A spectacular play written by a local ‘young’ lad called Bim. This original bit of...
2014 Dad’s Army
Dad’s Army will be on from 15th to 19th October 2014. Don’t miss this classic...
2013 It Runs in the Family
Photos courtesy of Bim Photography Set in the doctor’s common room of a London Hospital,...
2013 Little Voice
“John and I have just come back from The Bovey Players production of Little Voice. ...
2012 The Long and the Short and the Tall
‘The Long and the Short and The Tall’ by Willis Hall was presented at Bovey...
2011 Fahrenheit & Celsius
The recent play performed by the Bovey Tracey Players,”Fahrenheit and Celsius” by James Gillingham, is...