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 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
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23 APRIL
– 31 MAY 2009
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Camille
Dargus has fought her way up the ladder of success from humble
beginnings. The world is at her feet. She has beauty - stunningly
attractive; talent – as a jeweller to the hoi-polloi of society;
and most important of all – a limitless supply of wealth.
She also has secrets which threaten her charmed life. Cast in order of appearance: Billy
- STEVEN CLARKE
Directed by DAVID TAYLOR
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RULA
LENSKA (Camille) Rula Lenska was born in England of Polish
parents. Her formal title is Countess Roza-Marie Leopoldyna Lubienska.
She is fluent in Polish and English and is also good in French,
Italian and German. She is a keen conservationist and has been
on several working expeditions in India and Nepal. Her first book,
MAMMOTH HUNT, was published in 1997. Rula trained at Webber Douglas
Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her stage debut as Ruth in SUDDENLY
AT HOME at Windsor & then the Fortune Theatre. Since then she
has appeared in many productions, both on tour and in the West
End including THAT’S LOVE (The Mill at Sonning); HOT FLUSH (No
1 Tour); Titania in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Regents Park Open
Air Theatre); Freda Caplan in J.B. Priestley’s DANGEROUS CORNER
(West End & tour); Annie Wilkes in MISERY; Madame Lyuba Ranyevskaya
in THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Redgrave Theatre); Helene Hanff in 84 CHARING
CROSS ROAD; PRIDE & PREJUDICE; A SENSE OF JUSTICE; THE VAGINA
MONOLOGUES; ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR & LOSING LOUIS. Her most recent
theatre appearance was in the Number One Tour of DON’T LOOK NOW.
Recent television credits include GRANDPA IN MY POCKET; M.I. HIGH;
DOCTORS. Other television includes FOOTBALLERS WIVES TV; EASTENDERS;
CASUALTY; DR WHO and CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER. Her first major television
role was as Q in ROCK FOLLIES which has now been released on DVD.
She has also been seen in ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE; THE SAINT; TO
THE MANOR BORN; DOCTOR WHO; BOON and played Morgwyn of Ravenscar
in ROBIN OF SHERWOOD. Rula’s film credits include British film
JACK SAYS, the award winning GYPO with Paul McCann, FAKERS, PARADISE
GROVE, ALFIE DARLING & SOFT BEDS, HARD BATTLES. She is also the
voice of the Russian spy in the animated feature film AGENT CRUSH.
Rula also has many radio credits, most recently in BLAKES 7. She
has also been heard in HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY & HALF
NAME FOR HALF PERSON. She has also recorded numerous audio books
including A HANDFUL OF HONEY; THE MEDICI CURSE; THE ART OF DROWNING;
THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT; LOOKING DOWN; IF MY FATHER LOVED ME, a whole
series for Faye Weldon plus narratives about Joy Adamson and narrated
for the wildlife series, SURVIVAL. |
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TONY
O’CALLAGHAN (Ted)
Tony was trained at the Drama Centre after which he completed
seasons at Cheltenham, Northampton, Keswick and Worthing. Plays
include THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY,
UP AND UNDER,THE LONG AND THE SHORT AND THE TALL, STATEMENTS AFTER
AN ARREST, TIME AND TIME AGAIN,THE DRESSER, ROSE, CAN YOU HEAR
ME AT THE BACK, SIGNPOST TO MURDER, WAITING FOR GILLIAN. He also
appeared on the fringe in THE SYNGE TRILOGY (The Gate Theatre),
THE CRADLE WILL ROCK (Old Red Lion), BERENICE (Lyric Studio) and
SWEET AS A NUT (Charrington Fringe Award, Croydon Warehouse).
He was in a National tour of ABIGAIL’S PARTY in the role of Tony
for Cambridge Theatre Company and the premiere of Nigel Williams’s
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER at the Greenwhich Theatre. Recently Tony was
in the National Tour of DANGEROUS CORNER by J B Priestly, playing
Robert Caplan. His recent TV credits include FAIR CITY, FAMILY
AFFAIRS, DOCTORS and HOLBY CITY but Tony is probably best known
as Sgt Mathew Boyden in THE BILL which he played for 12 years
catching countless criminals in an hour! |
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STEVEN
CLARKE (Billy)
Steven graduated from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
in 2007. He is delighted to be asked to appear at The Mill at
Sonning for his professional stage debut. Recent TV appearance
as Lord Victor Hervey in THE REAL PINK PANTHER. Film – due out
this Halloween, playing the Student in DREAD.
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DAVID
TAYLOR (Director)
Award-winning American director David Taylor works on both sides
of the Atlantic and has a string of international credits. Recently
he directed Linda Gray in the world premiere of TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
in the UK and co-wrote and directed a unique Vegas-style show
ICONS featuring one of America’s top impressionists for its opening
US date in Reno. He has also directed the UK tours of THE SAFARI
PARTY by Tim Firth, MARRYING THE MISTRESS, which he adapted for
the stage with Joanna Trollope’s blessing from her best selling
novel, as well as the stage version of Rosamunde Pilcher’s THE
SHELL SEEKERS starring Susannah York. THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE
starring Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason at the Haymarket Theatre
London endorsed David’s affinity with the work of Neil Simon –
he previously directed LOST IN YONKERS with Maureen Lipman and
Rosemary Harris at the Strand Theatre, Anna Massey in the critically
acclaimed British premiere of BROADWAY BOUND at Greenwich, and
productions of THE ODD COUPLE, THE GINGERBREAD LADY, CHAPTER TWO
and THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS. It was with Simon’s hit musical
THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG starring Tom Conti and Gemma Craven that
David made his London West End directorial debut following extensive
work in the United States. David first came to London to supervise
the transfer from Broadway of A CHORUS LINE to drury lane. Later,
following the success of they’re playing our song, he directed
Don Black’s DEAR ANYONE with Jane Lapotaire, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES
and CAN-CAN – all in the West End – returning to the States to
direct a new version of CHESS in New York, the musical play QUEEN
OF THE STARDUST BALLROOM in Chicago, and to Canada for a spectacular
production of THE WIZARD OF OZ which re-opened the Elgin Theatre
in Toronto. David also worked on Robert Redford’s musical theatre
projects and Playwrights’ Laboratory at Sundance, Utah. In addition
to his London West End credits, his other U.K. productions include
THE ADJUSTMENT starring Stefanie Powers, Alan Ayckbourn’s INTIMATE
EXCHANGES at Sonning, ABOUT ALICE with Gwen Taylor and Francis
Matthews, A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS with Gwen Taylor and Michael Jayston,
THE LION IN WINTER with David McCallum and Sian Phillips, THE
CEMETERY CLUB with Millicent Martin, Anne Charleston, Judy Cornwell
and Carmen Silvera; LUNCH GIRLS with Sylvia Syms, Gemma Craven
and Jan Harvey, the thriller RICOCHET with Nigel Havers and Keith
Barron and PLAINTIFF IN A PRETTY HAT with Ian Lavender. He directed
Arthur Miller’s THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT MORGAN in a version revised
by the author at Derby, the British premiere of Bernard Slade’s
play YOU SAY TOMATOES, the national tour of SOUTH PACIFIC with
Jessica Martin and Mark Wynter, David Mamet’s SPEED THE PLOW starring
David Soul and Michael Brandon and the British premiere of Wendy
Wasserstein’s THE HEIDI CHRONICLES with Susannah Harker and Peter
Polycarpou at Greenwich. David is the recipient a ‘DORA’ – Canada’s
top theatre award – for Best Director of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
CATS in Toronto. He also directed the German version of CATS in
Hamburg, and his production there bore the distinction of being
Germany’s first open-ended commercial production and played for
almost fifteen years to capacity audiences. |
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TERRY
PARSONS (Set designer)
Terry is currently working on a major new production of TREASURE
ISLAND for the Folketeatret in Copenhagen – he has many other
recent credits in Denmark including his stunning designs for DISNEY’S
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST which attracted huge critical acclaim, THE
KING AND I, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, SHOWBOAT, BE BOP A LULA and a
highly successful concert version of GREASE. Last year he designed
his first ballet, JANE EYRE, in London. Terry has designed 37
productions in London’s West End, among them the mega-hit GREASE
– which began life at the Dominion Theatre in London starring
Craig McLachlan and Debbie Gibson and returned to the West End
at the Piccadilly theatre in 2007 where it continues to play to
packed houses – WHERE’S CHARLEY? and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE at
the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, SILLY COW with Dawn French,
GASPING with Hugh Laurie and TWO INTO ONE with Donald Sinden and
Michael Williams and the major musical productions SOUTH PACIFIC,
SWEET CHARITY, SOME LIKE IT HOT, CHARLIE GIRL and SINGIN’ IN THE
RAIN. His other credits range from Shakespeare, Sheridan and Congreve
to Orton, Ionesco and Durrenmatt, notably a critically acclaimed
production of J. B. Priestley’s WHEN WE ARE MARRIED with Timothy
West, Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge, Arthur Miller’s
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE with Topol, and Priestley’s TIME AND THE
CONWAYS at The Old Vic with Joan Plowright. Terry also recreated
designs for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End presentation of the
play DAISY PULLS IT OFF. Well-known for his pantomime designs,
among them lavish versions of CINDERELLA for Stanley Baxter and
MOTHER GOOSE for Danny La Rue, Terry has recently been responsible
over a 5-year period for designing a portfolio of major new star-studded
productions for the Ambassador Theatre Group’s theatres – amongst
them PETER PAN at Wimbledon starring Henry Winkler, CINDERELLA
starring Mickey Rooney, SNOW WHITE starring Ross Kemp – and this
Christmas at Richmond, PETER PAN with Bonnie Langford. Terry has
been Head of Design at three major theatres: the Theatre Royal
Plymouth, the Haymarket Leicester and the Belgrade Coventry and
his extensive regional credits include, at Chichester, MIRANDA
with Penelope Keith and UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES which transferred
to the West End; at Liverpool NO TRAMS TO LIME STREET; at Southampton
THE SURPRISE PARTY with Peter Duncan, Matthew Kelly and Ruth Madoc;
and Kay Mellor’s A PASSIONATE WOMAN, SHADY BUSINESS and the world
premiere of Richard Harris’s A FOOT IN THE DOOR at Sonning. Terry’s
string of international credits include the European Premieres
of Edward Albee’s THE GOAT and the award winning PROOF, on Broadway
he created Sian Phillips’ stunning concert costumes for her appearance
as Dietrich in MARLENE; designed FAME in Scandinavia, GREASE in
Paris; CHICAGO in Athens, as well as ROMEO AND JULIET, BLITHE
SPIRIT, MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM and SAILOR BEWARE in Denmark; and
LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, VISITING MR GREENE and ROMANTIC COMEDY
in Vienna. He has worked in Canada, Australia and Japan, Hong
Kong, the Middle and Far East, as well as productions for several
major cruise lines including the QE2. Possibly the most unusual
of his overseas assignments was his creation in Dubai of a magical
fairy-tale Arabian Nights setting in the desert for three thousand
guests – the ‘ultimate’ birthday party for one of the world’s
wealthiest sheikhs! |
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| JANE
KIDD (Costume Designer)
Jane who is our Resident Costume Designer, trained in Fashion
Design at Berkshire College of Art. She freelanced in knitwear
and dress design for five years before joining The Mill as Wardrobe
Mistress, and enjoys making a variety of both period and modern
costumes of which she has made many whilst at The Mill. |
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MATTHEW
BISS (Lighting Designer)
Matthew is currently working as Technical Manager at Norden Farm
Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead and is delighted to be invited
back to The Mill to light DEADLY MURDER. A few of his numerous
previous designs at The Mill include SEPARATE TABLES, TWO AND
TWO MAKE SEX, CAUGHT IN THE NET, SHADY BUSINESS, A TOUCH OF SPRING,
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE, ABSENT FRIENDS, OUT OF ORDER, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE,
THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, NOEL & GERTIE, ALPHABETICAL ORDER, A NIGHT
IN PROVENCE, THE HEIRESS, MURDER HUNT, SOUND OF MURDER and A SENTIMENTAL
JOURNEY. |
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| GLYN
KERSLAKE (Composer)
Glyn Kerslake recently appeared at The Mill as Frank Sinatra and
George Weidler in A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: THE STORY OF DORIS DAY
and Dick in BIRTHDAY SUITE. He has worked as an actor/musician
for over 20 years and is currently working a lot on writing songs
and original compositions. He is delighted to have been asked
by Sally Hughes to write original music for DEADLY MURDER. |
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SALLY
HUGHES (Artistic Director)
Sally spent her early years in Venezuela and Argentina and after
finishing her education in England, she then trained at The Webber
Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. On graduating she was given her
first engagement by John Fernald who directed her in COMING OF
AGE. Then followed ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN at The Bush
and CATCHPENNY TWIST at The King’s Head Theatre. In 1984 Sally
took over the post of Artistic Director of The Mill At Sonning
from Peter Egan and has directed and appeared in many of its productions,
including DAMES AT SEA (an excerpt of which was included in The
Royal Gala Performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales).
Most recent appearances include A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY – THE STORY
OF DORIS DAY, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, both directed by Alvin
Rakoff, ALPHABETICAL ORDER & THE HEIRESS both directed by Anthony
Valentine. A few of the plays Sally has directed at The Mill are
A FOOT IN THE DOOR, STEPPING OUT, A TOUCH OF SPRING, FRENCH WITHOUT
TEARS and very recently the world premiere of MURDER HUNT by Brian
Clemens and LOVE’S A LUXURY. Sally enjoys a career outside of
The Mill and has played leading parts in the BBC series LATE EXPECTATIONS
and LAURA AND DISORDER in which she played Wendy Craig’s daughter-in-law.
Other TV appearances include: DON’T WAIT UP, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES,
BRUSHSTROKES, MULBERRY and KIDNAPPED ABROAD. Sally directed the
National Tour of PASTIMES, starring Rosemary Leach and William
Gaunt and also directed BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon at
the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End. |
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| DAVID
FOLEY (Playwright) David
Foley’s plays have found homes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nominated for a 2008 Edgar Award, DEADLY MURDER was produced simultaneously
last summer at Vienna’s English Theatre and on a UK tour. Recent
productions include AMERICAN WITCH at the Proscenium Theatre in
Liége; SWITCH with Blue Coyote Group in New York; CRESSIDA AMONG
THE GREEKS and A HOLE IN THE FENCE at the White Bear Theatre in
London; IF/THEN (DEADLY MURDER) at the International Mystery Writers’
Festival in Oensboro, Kentucky; Earning a Sharp Rebuke from Emily
Post at Blue Coyote. Other productions: PARADISE with Blue Coyote;
SAD HOTEL at Minds Eye Theatre in Kansas City; AMERICAN WITCH
at Théâtre de Poche in Brussels; THE LAST DAYS OF MADALYN MURRAY
O’HAIR, IN EXILE and CRESSIDA AMONG THE GREEKS, both at New York’s
Ohio Theatre; SAD HOTEL at the White Barn Theatre in Westport,
Connecticut; and THE MURDERS AT ARGOS at Fringe NYC. He has received
the Dramarama Award and the Southwest Theatre Association Award,
and SAD HOTEL was nominated for the 2001 American Theatre Critics
Association New Play Award. His plays are published by Oberon
Books. He lives in New York. |
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| DEADLY
MURDER: AUTHOR’S NOTE
We love blood. We love murder. We love danger and double-crosses
and the moment when the safe, predictable world gives way. Or
we love them in a thriller. When I began to write DEADLY MURDER,
my play CRESSIDA AMONG THE GREEKS, a retelling of the doomed Trojan
War romance, had just completed its New York run. It, too, had
its share of blood and betrayal and worlds collapsing, but it
was a tragedy, and in tragedies things cost. Tragedies, at the
end of the night, present you with a bill for the blood and betrayal
and it’s a steep one. Thrillers allow us to slip the cost. They
allow us to laugh as we gasp, to feel horror with pleasure, to
ride death and danger like a rollercoaster. Maybe that’s why a
thriller seemed like such a good idea after CRESSIDA. Maybe I
needed some murder without the cost. I’ve always loved thrillers
and mysteries. When I was a kid, we came home from school and
watched Perry Mason on TV. I whiled away summer afternoons with
Agatha Christie. I loved Ira Levin’s fiendish entertainments and
the elegant gamesmanship of Anthony Shaffer’s SLEUTH. Writing
DEADLY MURDER, I rediscovered the luxurious addictive pleasures
of these stories: mysterious strangers, priceless jewels, unsavoury
secrets and death not from natural causes. We get a lot of tragedy
in the world. We get a lot of blood and betrayal. But tonight
we just have fun. |
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| Production: | |
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Production Manager -
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Joan Farnese |
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Stage
Manager -
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James Neal |
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Chief
Electrician -
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Janet A Cantrill |
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Wardrobe
Mistress -
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Jane Kidd |
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Deputy
Stage Managers -
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Jo Vimpany, Neil Webb |
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Assistant
Stage Manager -
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Annette Waldie |
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Technician
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Mary Stone |
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Scenic
Artist -
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Tony Eden |
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Technical
Assistant -
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Simon Graves |
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Wardrobe
Assistant -
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Evelyn Fidler |
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Dressers
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Ann
Baker, Lynn Hinton, Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew, Xye Appleton |
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Theatre
Production Photography -
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Norman Weston |
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Website
Production -
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Chris Berry |