 |
 Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
Comedy by TERENCE RATTIGAN
The sun is hot and the sea inviting as a group of young English
gents attempt to learn French on the Riviera. Unfortunately
the mysteries of syntax and pronunciation are far less interesting
than the mysteries of sex, romance and seduction. Their labours
are distracted by the arrival of two attractive young women.
Jacqueline, the engaging daughter of the French tutor, and the
delicious Diana, sister of one of the students, and a determined
man-snatcher to boot. Diana plays havoc with the hearts of all
the men who rest eyes on her. Until one day she too gets her
come-uppance. The
action passes in the living-room at 'Miramar', a villa in a
small seaside town in the South of France. Time - 1936.
ACT I Scene 1 - A morning in July Scene 2 - Two weeks later. Early afternoon ACT II Scene 1 - Six hours later Scene 2 - A few hours later Scene 3 - Next morning
|
||||||||||
 |
BEN
STOCK (Kenneth Lake) Ben graduated from the Guildford School
of Acting graduating with a First Class Honours Degree. He is
also an A.L.C.M. for the Piano. In the West End, Ben has appeared
as Roger the Cabin Boy in EDNA, THE SPECTACLE (Haymarket), Eugene
in GREASE (Cambridge), and as an Inventor in CHITTY CHITTY BANG
BANG (Palladium). Other London work includes: ANYONE CAN WHISTLE
(Savoy Theatre and Cardiff International Festival), GENTLEMEN
PREFER BLONDES (Lost Musicals), CINDERELLA (Cochran) and FOLLOW
THAT GIRL (Theatre Museum). Regional work includes: The Duck
in ALICE IN WONDERLAND (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Morris in
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME (Oldham), Chantal in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
(Frankfurt), ANNIE (Perth) PUSS IN BOOTS (Oxford), BABES IN
THE WOOD (Watford) and the UK Tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING
TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, as the alternate Joseph. Ben is also
a regular Music Hall performer and has appeared with the Players'
Theatre and Hiss & Boo. Ben's credits as musical director include
HISS & BOO (Tour), ZIPPERTYDOODAH! (Wimbledon Studio), THE GAME
OF LOVE and CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC (QE2), IT'S OUR MUSICAL WORLD
(Concordia), FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE (Roundhouse) and MOTHER GOOSE
(Chorleywood). Most recently Ben played a tap-dancing Al Capone
in Ray Cooney's new musical ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS.
|
||||||||||
|
NICHOLAS
CLAYTON (Brian Curtis) Appletree Theatre Company is where
Nicholas found the acting bug and then most of his experience
pre-drama school. This company, founded and run by his uncle
Ben Martin and featuring in the annual shows, many other family
members - some professional actors, the rest amateurs - has
an ethos much akin to that of a traditional travelling band
of players. The diverse range of productions that Nicholas appeared
in include: THE HYPOCHONDRIAC, NICHOLAS NICKELBY, THE ALCHEMIST,
THE CRITIC, CYRANO DE BERGERAC and PENNY FOR A SONG. Since leaving
RADA last summer, Nicholas has appeared in commercials and will
be appearing in the forthcoming adaptation of JANE EYRE.
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
GREGORY
FINNEGAN (Hon. Alan Howard) Gregory trained at The Webber
Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Theatre includes: ROMEO at
the Cliveden Open Air Theatre, MYTHOMANIA at the White Bear
Theatre and Jack in Tom Murphy's re-imagined TOO LATE FOR LOGIC
for The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh at the EIF. TV and Film include:
SPOOKS, IS HARRY ON THE BOAT (Series l), AGATHA CHRISTIE - A
LIFE IN PICTURES, MILE HIGH, THE COURTROOM, FAMILY AFFAIRS,
THE LAST DETECTIVE and WINTER SOLSTICE.
|
||||||||||
|
PHILIP MCGOUGH (Monsieur Mangot) Until the age of 26, Philip was a Catholic monk. Then he fell in with a travelling theatre company in the South of France. Now an actor, he came back to join the explosion of fringe theatre in 70’s London. He was a founder member of the Half Moon Theatre and then Joint Stock, working with the likes of David Hare, Bill Gaskill and Max Stafford Clark. He was Schweyk in “Schweyk in the Second World War”, (Jamestown, USA) and Peer in “Peer Gynt”, (Orange Tree, Richmond). Then came The RSC and The National where he worked with, among others, Trevor Nunn, Peter Brook, Clifford Williams, John Barton and Howard Davies. He has appeared in over 200 television productions, such as: Dr Who, Brookside, The Bill, Minder, Morse, Van der Valk, Jonathan Creek, Only Fools & Horses, McCready & Daughter, Between the Lines, Midsomer Murders, Sharp, Monocled Mutineer, The Magician, Wilderness, A Sense of Guilt… He has made a number of feature films, working with directors such as David Cronenberg, Bille August and Charles Sturridge. He was in Mehdi Norowzian’s short film, “Killing Joe”, that was nominated for an Oscar. Most recently, Philip has created the thoughtful chairman of magistrates, Peter Mansell, in BBC Wales “The Bench” and the vile prison doctor, Malcolm Nicholson, in “Bad Girls. He now plans to make radio documentaries and return, after a long absence, to the stage. |
 |
||||||||||
 |
GRAHAM
SEED (Lieut.Commander Rogers) Graham trained at RADA. He
last appeared here at The Mill in DON'T ROCK THE BOAT. Theatre
credits include: PRESENT LAUGHTER (Theatre Clwyd), NELSON (Nuffield
Theatre, Southampton), SWEET REVENGE (Windsor), JOKING APART
(Windsor and Eastbourne), SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME (English
Theatre, Frankfurt), A CHASTE MAID IN CHEAPSIDE (Almeida on
tour), MACBETH (Arundel Festival), CONFUSIONS (number one tour),
TRANSLATIONS (Watford Palace), Noel Coward's THE YOUNG IDEA
(Chester Gateway), TWELFTH NIGHT (BAC), THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST (national tour), DESIGN FOR LIVING ( English Touring
Theatre), SLEEPING IT OFF (national tour), RELATIVELY SPEAKING
(national tour), AN INSPECTOR CALLS (Newbury), TONS OF MONEY
(Liverpool), ME AND MY GIRL (West End), THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE
(Chichester), MAJOR BARBARA (Birmingham), HAMLET (Greenwich).
Television includes: THE CHATTERLY AFFAIR, STATION JIM, BAND
OF BROTHERS, NATURE BOY, DINNERLADIES, BROOKSIDE, MADSON, PRIME
SUSPECT IV, RESNICK, THE UPPER HAND, AFTER THE DANCE, THE BILL,
FREDDIE AND MAX, DEATH OR GLORY BOY, EDWARD VII, OLD FLAMES,
ASHENDEN, JEEVES AND WOOSTER, VICTORIA WOOD SKETCHES, Mike Leigh's
WHO'S WHO, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED, I CLAUDIUS and CROSSROADS.
Film credits include: THESE FOOLISH THINGS, AKA, HONEST, GHANDI,
LITTLE DORRIT, GOOD AND BAD AT GAMES and THE FOOL. Radio credits
include: Nigel Pargetter in BBC Radio's THE ARCHERS, a part
he has played for nearly 30 years.
|
||||||||||
|
SUSIE
BENTON (Diana Lake) After graduating from performing arts
high school, Susie went on to study at The Sydney Actors Centre,
Acting Foundations and NIDA, and continues to take classes at
The London Actors Centre. While studying Susie appeared in her
first feature film, THE VENUS FACTORY. British/Australian, Susie
has worked on television projects for the BBC, Channel 4 and
The Discovery Channel, together with several commercials for
UK and abroad. Short and feature length film credits include
CHEESE, GIRL AND A GUN, EAT MY LOVE and SHOOTERS. Her most notable
role was as Rachel, the female lead in the British romantic
comedy MAKING WAVES. This is Susie's first Theatre role in the
UK. Later this year she is performing in and co-producing a
piece of new theatre with Brickwall Productions.
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
CHRISTOPHER
NAYLOR (Kit Neilan) Christopher trained at LAMDA. His theatre
work includes: DANGEROUS CORNER and HARD TIMES (Watermill),
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Northcott Theatre, Exeter), LADY
WINDERMERE'S FAN (English Theatre, Frankfurt), SONG OF THE WESTERN
MEN (Minerva, Chichester), NOT ABOUT HEROES (UK Tour), PROVING
MR JENNINGS (Courtyard Theatre), and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
EARNEST (Theatre Royal, York). Most recently, he appeared as
Tom in TABLE MANNERS for Ian Dickens at Eastbourne. Television
work includes: PLASTIC MAN (ITV), BUGS, WARRIORS, SWEET REVENGE,
THE FOUR MINUTE MILE and HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT (all BBC). His
work on radio includes: SILAS MARNER, LES MISERABLES and THE
LUKE REPORTS (US Radio), LENNOX AND BEN and BATS (BBC Radio
3) and GOOD OLD UNCLE JOE (ABC Australia).
|
||||||||||
|
MAXINE GREGORY (Jacqueline Maingot) Maxine Gregory studied
Ancient History at Swansea University and took the post-graduate
acting course at LAMDA. Here at Sonning earlier this year she
played Suzie in STRICTLY MURDER At Chichester Festival Theatre
she played The Poacher's Wife in THE RECRUITING OFFICER and
at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, she played Davis in THE
SEA, Helen in HELEN OF TROY, Mlle Y in STRETCHING STRINDBERG,
Nadia in UNMAN, WITTERING AND ZIGO, Neaera in THE DARK TOWER
and Eileen in A NIGHT OUT. At Oxford Playhouse Jill in JACK
AND THE BEANSTALK and at Cambridge Arts Theatre Princess Apricot
in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK and Fairy Godmother in DICK WHITTINGTON.
In London Maxine played Dora in DAISY PULLS IT OFF (West End),
Ellen in YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW (Greenwich Playhouse), Sally
in EVERYTHING'S GREAT (Wimbledon Studio) and Judith in THE DISPUTATION
(New End Theatre, Hampstead). Maxine was in HOLBY CITY (BBC)
as Sophie Baker and she has done extensive radio and conference
work. When time permits she plays cello and piano.
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
MICHAEL
HOLT (Set designer) Michael Holt's design career has taken
him to theatres throughout the United Kingdom and the World
for productions of opera, ballet and drama. He has been associated
with playwright Alan Ayckbourn at his theatre in Scarborough
for over 20 years. His numerous designs for this author/director
includeTAKING STEPS, WOLF AT THE DOOR, MAN OF THE MOMENT, TIME
AND THE CONWAYS, A DOLLS'S HOUSE, and the much praised OTHELLO
with Michael Gambon. He also designed the American premiere
of Alan Ayckbourn's SEASON'S GREETING at the Joyce Theatre,
New York. Other international credits include opera productions
for: the Royal Opera House, Copenhagen; the Avignon Festival;
ballet designs for the Hong Kong Ballet Company; and many plays
for Den Nationale Scene, Bergen, Norway and the Alley Theatre,
Houston, Texas, and The English Theatre, Vienna Most acclaimed
among his ballet designs are THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, MADAM BUTTERFLY
and ROMEO AND JULIET for Northern Ballet. Michael's notable
designs for opera include of LA BOHEME (Sadler's Wells Theatre),
Benjamin Britten's BILLY BUDD (Brisbane) and Vaughn Williams'
PILGRIMS PROGRESS (the Royal Opera House). His West End credits
include ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR (Whitehall Theatre), THE GLORY
OF THE GARDEN (Duke of York's Theatre), ROUGH JUSTICE (Apollo
Theatre), and JUNE MOON (Vaudeville Theatre). He designed JULIUS
CAESAR at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and the highly
successful centennial touring production of CHARLEY'S AUNT.
He has received much acclaim for the design of the long-running
West End success THE WOMAN IN BLACK. Michael Holt has been a
senior lecturer in the Department of Drama At Manchester University
for 25 years . He has written a number of books on stage and
costume design and has published a book on the plays of Alan
Ayckbourn. Michael is currently working on a series of books
on design for the plays of William Shakespeare. |
||||||||||
|
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
a variety of making both period and modern costumes of which
she has made many whilst at The Mill. Some of Jane's recent
costume designs include, STEPPING OUT, THERE GOES THE BRIDE,
I REMEMBER YOU, MURDER BY MISADVENTURE, OUT OF ORDER, ABSENT
FRIENDS, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE, A TOUCH OF SPRING, SHADY BUSINESS,
CAUGHT IN THE NET, TWO AND TWO MAKE SEX, SEPARATE TABLES, INTIMATE
EXCHANGES, NOT NOW DARLING, THE MAINTENANCE MAN, STRICTLY MURDER,
ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN, STARRY, STARRY NIGHT, TIME OF MY LIFE
and PERFECT WEDDING
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
JANET A CANTRILL (Lighting Designer) Since graduating
from Rose Bruford, Janet has worked with a variety of touring
companies, such as Shared Experience, Monstrous Regiment and
Gay Sweatshop as Stage Manager. She has worked most recently
at East 15 Acting School as Lighting Technician/Tutor and at
Webber Douglas Academy as Production Manager. As a technician
Janet worked at the Bloomsbury Theatre and the Tom Allen Centre,
Stratford and The Drill Hall where she was Sound Engineer on
the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain Concert Season. As a
Lighting Designer Janet has lit shows for Webber Douglas, East
15, Bedfordshire Youth Opera and South West Youth Theatre and
has also worked rigging Christmas decorations for James Glancy
Design.
|
||||||||||
|
SALLY HUGHES (Director/Artistic Director) Sally spent
her early years in Venezuela and Argentina and after finishing
her education in England, she then trained for the stage as
an actress 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), and most recently
she appeared as Barbara Smith in CAUGHT IN THE NET and Ginger
Mercer in the musical TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS. The most recent
plays Sally has directed at The Mill are A FOOT IN THE DOOR,
POOLS PARADISE, THE FACE OF FEAR, STEPPING OUT, A TOUCH OF SPRING,
STRICTLY MURDER and most recently ALONE TOGETHER AGAIN. 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. 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. Sally also appeared in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at
the King's Head, London.
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
TERENCE RATTIGAN (Playwright) Born in London on the 10th
June 1911, Rattigan was educated at Harrow and Oxford. He served
as a flight Lieutenant in the RAF from 1940 to 1945. His many
successful plays include FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS, AFTER THE DANCE,
FLARE PATH, LOVE IN IDLENESS, WHILE THE SUN SHINES, THE WINSLOW
BOY, THE BROWNING VERSION, HARLEQUINADE, ADVENTURE STORY, WHO
IS SYLVIA?, THE DEEP BLUE SEA, THE SLEEPING PRINCE, SEPARATE
TABLES, VARIATION ON A THEME, ROSS, MAN AND BOY, A BEQUEST TO
THE NATION, IN PRAISE OF LOVE, CAUSE CELEBRE. At one point,
Terence Rattigan was the only playwright who had two plays each
running to over one thousand performances - namely, FRENCH WITHOUT
TEARS and WHILE THE SUN SHINES. He wrote the screenplays for
almost all his plays, plus, THE WAY TO THE STARS, THE PRINCE
AND THE SHOWGIRL, THE SOUND BARRIER, THE MAN WHO LOVED REDHEADS,
THE VIPs, THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE, GOODBYE MR CHIPS, CONDUCT
UNBECOMING, A BEQUEST TO THE NATION. In 1958 Rattigan was awarded
a CBE, and in 1971 he became Knight Bachelor. Sir Terence Rattigan
died in 1977.
|
 |
 |
| Production: | |
| Production Manager | Joan Farnese |
| Stage Manager | James Neal |
| Chief Electrician | Janet A Cantrill |
| Master Carpenter | Ian Stroud |
| Wardrobe Mistress | Jane Kidd |
| Deputy Stage Managers | Jo Vimpany, Neil Webb |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Karen Brown |
| Technician | Ed Marshall |
| Scenic Artist | Tony Eden |
| Assistant Carpenter | Luke McAra |
| Wardrobe Assistant | Evelyn Fidler |
| Dressers | Ann
Baker, Lynn Hinton, Catherine Bristow, Terry Bartholomew |
| Theatre Production Photography | Norman Weston |
| Website Production | Chris Berry |