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Authoritative
director Grace is trying to pull the play into shape despite the goings
on around her, which include collapsing scenery, forgotten lines, a
televised football match, the playwright's amorous intentions on one of
the leading ladies and frequent interruptions from just about anyone.
Originally conceived as an episode of a television sitcom, staging is
kept simple. The play avoids amdram "in jokes" in favour of
genuinely funny characters and situations which some of the audience and
all of the actors are likely to recognise.
Author's Notes I
originally intended this for a BBC competition for a television sitcom,
as ever, they didn't bite. The review said that it was funny, but (and I
remember these words exactly) "none of the lines gave (me) a
belly-laugh". I defy even the best comedies to give anyone a belly
laugh based on a black and white script devoid (at the BBC's behest) of
any directions. It's about an amateur dramatic society, but it's not
full of in-jokes and, I believe, is genuinely funny. The BBC wanted 6
episodes for their competition, with one episode fleshed out to be a
full half hour. This play is that episode, suitably changed to avoid
changes of set. In order to get the timing correct, I asked a local
drama group, of which I was a member at the time, to walk through it for
me. They didn't know that among their number exist all the stereotypes
of an ADS, and I was worried they'd recognise themselves and take
offence. They didn't prompting me to wonder if I could move up a
dimension and do something about people playing themselves without ever
realising it. Past Productions I have recently started adding production photos, posters, etc. If your group has done this play and have any I can use, please contact me.
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