Maskerade

AQ wrote: “So how does one go about bringing a ‘Discworld’ to life? Terry Pratchett’s massive selling series of books are so well loved and contain such iconic characters that staging a production of one of his tales is a daunting prospect for any director.

Then one night [after a little too much scumble!], I decided that I couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring characters like Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg to the Barn stage any longer. Thus this production of Maskerade was born.

It would be true to say that bringing any production with 31 scenes, 26 actors and well over 200 technical cues together is fraught with difficulties but, in this instance, we seem to have been plagued by some dreadful bad luck. Thankfully I have had the support of many wonderful people around me and the production tonight is testament to the enormous commitment of the cast and crew who donned their tin hats and fought on to get this play on the stage this evening. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to them all. In the spirit of the Ankh-Morpork Opera Company … ‘The Show Must Go On’

I hope you enjoy your journey to the Discworld and heartily recommend that you pick up the novels if you do – they are so much fun!

Finally I must send out huge thanks to Guy Steddon who has not only put up with me throughout this entire production, both at home and rehearsals, but he has been and endless source of enthusiasm, ideas, and support as well as acting personal assistant and general dogsbody when required. Thank you so much – this show could not have gone on without you!

My thanks to you all for continuing to support the Wick Theatre Company.

Have a wonderful Hogswatch …… Mwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!”

Programme Note #2: Maskerade

About the Cast:

Addie Marten [Agnes Nitt] follows up her successful performances in Happiest Days of Our Lives, The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew and Our Day Out with this, her first lead rôle for the Wick.

Ian Glover [Walter Plinge] is a long time stalwart of the Young Wick. Ian has featured in numerous productions including Our Day Out and The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew. Maskerade marks his debut with the senior company.

Grace Will [Mrs Plinge] is currently studying Drama, this production marks Grace’s debut for Wick.

Guy Steddon [Andre] is a familiar face to Wick audiences. Guy has featured in several productions over the last few years including the title rôles in Richard III and The Graduate. He appeared in Noises Off and Don’t Look Now earlier this year.

Ben Cassan [Dr Underschaft] – heroically stepping into the breach at the last moment – is making his first Wick appearance, though he will be familiar to local theatre goers for his work with the Southwick Players and Adur Theatre Company.

James Doyle [Mr Salzella]. Maskerade heralds a welcome return to the Wick for the vastly experienced James who last featured for the company in Richard III playing the scheming Duke of Buckingham to great critical acclaim.

Allegra Drury [Christine], currently studying Theatre, has followed up her impressive performance for the Young Wick n- the evil Moloch in Baron Bolligrew – by making appearances with the senior company, appearing in Popcorn last year.

Mark Best [Seldom Bucket] is a long time member of the Company. Mark has had a busy year with the Wick delivering lauded performances in Art and Noises Off. He has also directed several shows for the Young Wick and has featured in numerous Wick productions.

Gill Medway [Granny Weatherwax] is best known by Wick audiences for her critically acclaimed, sizzling portrayal of Mrs Robinson in The Graduate. Gill has also appeared for Wick in Harvey and as a spooky sister in Don’t Look Now earlier this year.

Natalie Colgate [Nanny Ogg] started her Wick career many years ago playing Pinocchio in the 1980’s. Natalie returned to the Wick a few years ago and has rarely been offstage since. Her portrayal of Beverley in Abigail’s Party garnered rave reviews.

Diane Robinson [Colette] comes to Maskerade fresh from delivering chills as the weird sister in Don’t Look Now. Diane has long been a member of Wick, featuring in plays as diverse as Murdered to Death and David Copperfield. She also directed the hit Gaslight for the company.

Darcy Ridgway-Brown [Giselle] is an experienced young actress; Maskerade being Darcey’s first performance for Wick.

Izzy Hudson [Tammy Cripps] is making her third appearance for the Wick in the last two years having previously appeared in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew and Harvey.

Bob Ryder [Mr Pounder] is an award winning Director and Actor and will be very familiar to Wick audiences. He has been busy this year, directing Don’t Look Now and bringing three amiable drunkards to life in Harvey, Noises Off and now Maskerade.

John Garland [Enrico Basilica] is another long time Wick Theatre Company member. John has been working for the Wick non-stop this year, performing in Harvey, Noises Off and Don’t Look Now as well as directing the hugely acclaimed Art.

Isi Fink [The Manager] is in her second performance for the Wick, having impressed audiences with her performance in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.

Judith Berrill [Greebo] is a well known performer to Wick audiences, recent performances have included Noises Off, Harvey and Richard III. This is her second appearance as a feline having made her Wick debut as the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland several years ago!

Dylan Gibbs [Death of Rats] is making his second Wick appearance having previously appeared in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.

Tom Harris [Mr Goatberger] is another member who started up in Young Wick and has now established himself in the senior Wick with great performances in plays such as Noises Off, Murdered to Death, Gaslight and Richard III.

Luke Mepham [Kevin] is making his debut performance for Wick Theatre Company.

Callum Madill [Hron] is currently studying Drama and is making his debut performance for Wick Theatre Company.

Holly Knight [Woman with Chocs] follows her previous Wick appearances in Our Day Out and The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.

Joe Gibbs [Bernard] is making his third appearance for the Wick, having previously featured in A Grimm Night for Hans Christian Andersen and The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew.

Ray Hopper [Sgt. Detritus] is a life long member of the Wick Theatre Company. He has endless and impressive credits as both Actor and Director. More recent appearances have included Don’t Look Now, Murdered to Death, Richard III and Gaslight.

Nathan Attree [Corporal Nobbs], having previously appeared in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew, is making his second Wick appearance.

Programme Note #3: Maskerade

A bit more information…

The Royalties for this production are donated to the Orangutan Foundation. A charity for which Terry Pratchett acts as a public figurehead and Honorary Chairman.

Founded in 1990, Orangutan Foundation is a small organisation operating a diverse range of programmes that reflect the challenges involved with successfully conserving a highly threatened species and ecosystem. Their overall mission is to conserve the orangutan and the biodiversity of their habitat through the protection of the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra. At the heart of their conservation strategy is the involvement of local communities who live close to areas of orangutan habitat. They have come to learn that through education, awareness and inclusion, their projects have greater success and sustainability.

Orangutan Foundation is a registered charity. In the UK they work to bring the issues of orangutan conservation to the attention of the public, the world-wide media, and corporate and government organisations.

Media & Reviews

Publicity #1: Maskerade
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: Unknown
Correspondent: Sheena Campbell
Text Header: Wick on witch watch
Text: Content

MASKED figures and hooded shadows are set to do wicked deeds in Wick Theatre Company’s latest production.

The Opera House, in Ankh-Morpork, a huge rambling building, where some people com to a sticky end and naïve young sopranos are lured to their destiny, is the setting for Terry Pratchett’s magical, fantastical tale – Maskerade.

There is sure to be trouble as Granny Weatherwax [Gill Medway] and Nanny Ogg [Natalie Colgate], Discworld’s two greatest witches, travel to the Ankh-Morpork Opera House. Rehearsals are about to start for Il Truccatore, starring the sensational tenor Senor Enrico Basilica [John Garland], and new chorus girls are needed in the company.

Two young singers, Agnes Nitt, and the beautiful Christine [Addie Marten and Allegra Drury] arrive to join the auditionees, encountering odd job man Walter Pinge [Ian Grover] and his caretaker mother Mrs Plinge [Grace Will] on the way in. The girls are selected by musical director Mr Salzella [James Doyle] and Dr Underschaft the chorus master [Brian Gill] for their varying talents while Mr Seldom Bucket [Mark Best], the brand-new owner of the opera house – with a background in cheese – gives his opinion.

Joining them in this enormous dark and spooky building is a host of other quirky characters, but all of them have only one thing on their minds – who exactly I the masked phantom terrorising, murdering and sucking sweets in box number eight and will he strike again?

Pratchett’s tale has been adapted for the stage by Stephen Briggs from the best-selling Discworld novel of the same name.

The production, suitable for children aged eight years old and over, will run from Wednesday, December 8, to Saturday, December 11, at the Barn Theatre, in Southwick Street, Southwick. Curtain up will be at 7.45pm; with a matinée on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £9.50 for Wednesday and Thursday £10.50 for Friday and Saturday, and £7.50 for the matinee, from the box office on 01273 597094 or online at www.wicktheatre.co.uk

Wick members of all ages will be performing. Anna Quick directs.

Review #1: Maskerade
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: Unknown
Reviewer: Sheena Campbell
Text Header: Witches star in spellbinding Maskerade
Text: Content

AT a time of the year when some theatre can become lazy, Wick Theatre Company continued to push boundaries with its latest production – Terry Pratchett’s Maskerade. Director Anna Quick chose an ambitious production with 31 scenes, 26 actors and more than 200 technical cues but a mixture of experienced and new company members pulled it together admirably.

Set in the Opera House, in Ankh-Morpork, Maskerade tells the tale of an operatic company haunted by a masked ghost who is terrorising and murdering the cast. James Doyle was excellent as musical director and dry wit Salzella. His scenes with the always reliable Mark Best playing Seldom Bucket, who made his fortune in cheese, provided comic moments and gave intriguing insights into the mind of the ghost.

For me, however, two of the best performances I have ever seen in a local production came from Natalie Colgate as Nanny Ogg and Gill Medway as Granny Weatherwax. The pair of them stayed in character throughout the production, lit up every scene they appeared in and were entirely believable as the best witches in Discworld. Gill was wonderful as the imperious Granny Weatherwax and Natalie showed off her perfect comic timing as Nanny Ogg.

Anyone who has ever been involved in musical theatre or opera would have found plenty of jokes to enjoy in this production with Pratchett’s weird and wonderful world twisting and embracing behind-the-scenes relationships.

Other highlights included Guy Steddon as Andre, Ian Glover as Walter Plinge and Addie Marten as Agnes Nitt.
For the younger cast, many of whom were new to Wick, it was difficult to stand out against the experienced members but every scene was delivered with confidence and wit. I am sure if they continue to be involved with this exciting company, it will not be long before they can hold their own against the best.

All involved in the set design should also be commended for their excellent designs, especially the menacing chandelier hanging over the audience.

Review #2: Maskerade
Publication: Brighton Argus
Publication Data: Unknown
Reviewer: Barrie Jerram
Text Header: Pratchett proved impractical
Text: Content

PUTTING one of Terry Pratchett’s novels on stage was a very ambitious project for the Wick Theatre Company, requiring a large cast and numerous scene changes.

Pratchett took the story of The Phantom of the Opera and re-set it in Discworld, his fantasy creation. As well as sending up the original, the play lambasts the world and conventions of opera.

The production contained many good performances – often cameo roles – but the evening belonged to Gill Medway and Natalie Colgate as the two witches. As Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg they made a wonderful double act. Mark Best impressed as the harassed theatre owner, while Addie Marten and Ian Glover successfully made the transition from Young Wick to the senior company.

Adapting a complex novel presents problems – here the script was too long with scenes often fizzling out. Also the scene changes could have been made without resorting to blackouts interrupting the play’s pace and mood.

The production suffered from a lack of response from a sparse audience. Good theatre, especially comedy, relies on audience reaction lifting the production and this did not happen – which was a pity as the subject matter made a refreshing change from the usual Christmas fare.

Review #3: Maskerade
Publication: N.O.D.A – National Operatic and Dramatic Association
Reviewer: Phillip Hall – Regional representative for South East Region District 1 – Mid Sussex
Text: Content

What a most entertaining evening this was! Terry Pratchett is, after all, a most entertaining fellow and the members of this cast extracted every ounce from this example of his work. This was a most enjoyable visit to the ‘Discworld’ transported, as we were, across space to a special variety of fairy/panto land. Anna Quick succeeded in taking us there with good sets, lighting, effects and a very slick production.

To list the merits of the entire cast would be bordering on the impossible but a few random comments in admiration must be made: Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg were delightfully not frightening. Agnes and Christine were exactly right. Mrs. Plinge was splendid as was her son, Walter, who maintained his difficult posture admirably. Andre, Salzella, Dr. Underschaft and all the supporting rôles joined in keeping us all bewitched exactly as the author would have wished.

My principal concern was with the audience. It was a good house but why were they so reluctant to laugh out loud? It was certainly not the fault of the cast or the direction. The piece is packed with comedy characters, neat one-liners and ridiculous situations – enough, one would have thought, to arouse the most staid. The whole company deserved a much more positive response.

My congratulations and thanks to every one concerned. One word would summarise my reactions to the evening: Fun, fun, fun!

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Maskerade

Maskerade

Barn Theatre Southwick Street Southwick BN42 4TE