Topic ID 1496
Is anyone able to expand on the detail of the plays listed, or is there a leaflet I can pick up somewhere? Maybe I will try the tourist info on Saturday. Thanks [:D]
Reply ID 18459
There is ususlly a folded leaflet available which lists all the plays and gives a brief synopsis. Try the Castle Hall foyer.
Reply ID 18474
Thanks Admin I had seen this, but it only tells you the titles. I wanted to know what the plays were about so I could choose which ones I wanted to see (if any). I will try the Castle Hall and see if they have any leaflets.
Reply ID 18512
I see what you mean - a quick tour of both the Hertford Dramatic and also the East Herts Castle hall website only seem to reveal titles. This can't aid ticket sales? Also might be just me, but on the East Herts website, clicking on "book tickets online" next to the TW entry (URL below) takes you to another page where the event is not listed? http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/CastleHall/Events/Genre/LiveTheatre/index.htm
Reply ID 18514
quote:Yet another example of how poorly Castle Hall is managed.
Originally posted by eelynda
I see what you mean - a quick tour of both the Hertford Dramatic and also the East Herts Castle hall website only seem to reveal titles. This can't aid ticket sales? Also might be just me, but on the East Herts website, clicking on "book tickets online" next to the TW entry (URL below) takes you to another page where the event is not listed? http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/CastleHall/Events/Genre/LiveTheatre/index.htm
Reply ID 18520
Hi Theatre Lovers, as so many people have read this topic my lovely wife has typed the following from the leaflet in Castle Hall. Apologies for any typos! [:)] As a regular attender at Theatre Week I would recommed people to come along and see the real variety of drama that is on offer. Monday 24th April Comic Potential by Alan Ayckbourn Set mainly in a TV studio where a daytime "soap" is being directed by a once big-time film producer. It is a comedy set in the forseeable future when everything has changed except human nature. Actors are replaced by androids.One of these "actoids" is wrongly programmed and falls in love with a young writer. They run away together and have some hilarious but thought provoking adventures. "As with all Ayckbourn's best plays you ar watching a comedy-farce and suddenly find that tragedy comes out of the woodwork and grins at you. The master of Scarborough is still on top form." SUNDAY TIMES Tuesday 25th April Ladies in Retirement by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham Leonara Fiske, an ex-actress in 1885 lives with her companion and servant, Ellen Creed in a remote country cottage. Out of the goodness of her heart she allows Ellen's two eccentric sisters to come to visit. Leonora soon loses patience with the sisters' eccentricities and tells Ellen they will have to leave. This sets the sequence of events in motion that leads to tradgedy and murder. This victorian drama is tense and exciting as Ellen's nephew Albert starts to unravel what has happened. Wednesday 26th April Closer by Patrick Marber "Closer" is a contemporary story of four strangers in London, their chance meetings, instant attractions and casual betrayals. Darkly funny and powerfully moving Closer debuted at the National Theatre in 1997 before enjoying a long West End run. The play was popularised for a new audience in the 2004 film starring Clive Owen, Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman. "The writing semms to have been ripped straight from the gut". DAILY TELEGRAPH OVO brings it's critically acclaimed and award winning style to one of the great plays of the last decade. Director Adam Nichols mixes film, music and a feisty acting company to create an innovative, imaginative and inspiring act of theatre. Festival Organisers Note- This production contains strong and sexually explicit language. Thursday 27th April The Woman in White by Constance Cox (from the novel by Wilkie Collins) Wilkie Collins is rightly considered a pioneer writer of detective fiction. "The Woman in White", first published nearly a century and a half ago in 1860, contains all the tricks and red herrings we expect from the genre today. Skilfully adapted by Constance Cox this stage version contains all the mystery and suspense of the novel. Sir Percival Glyde is determioned to marry the heiress, Laura Fairlie, in order to get his hands on her large fortune. Glyde, a gambler, is in considerable debt, especially to his friend, the sinister Count Fosco. As the story unfolds, Glyde's efforts to secure the money become more desperate and cruel.At the same time he plots to get rid of the threat posed to him by Ann Catherick who is physically identical to Laura. The threads of intrigue and skulduggery are interwoven with romance supplied by Laura's drawing master, and comedy in the shape of her hypochondriac uncle. The result of all this scheming and plotting culminates with yet another twist in this devious and entertaining play. Friday 28th April Chapter Two by Neil Simon "Chapter Two" is an enchanting romantic comedy. It is, for George and Jennie, a "second chance" romance. Both have been married before, but are unwillingly thrown into a new relationship, by his well-meaning but misguided brother and her best friend who, by the way, are themselves rekindling an old romance. the sparkling dialogue and unexpectedly comic situations by the brilliant playwright Neil Simon are irresistible! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it. Saturday 29th April Hannah and Hanna by John Retallack "Hannah and Hanna" is the tale of two teenage girls seeking asylum, one from Kosovo, one from Margate. Pop mad Hannah likes to sing Karaoke. What she doesn't like is that Kosovitch Hanna's stealing her thunder on her favourite song. Hannah doesn't know that she and Hanna will become friends against all odds. They bond over a mutual love of pop music and develop a friendship that transcends the bigotry surrounding them. The play has been described as "bold, politically committed, and brilliantly aware". This production received an Amnesty International freedom of expression Theatre Award at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Reply ID 18527
Thank You Dillon. Looks like I am going to be free either Wed or Thu and possibly Fri. So far the Wednesday or Thursday ones are attracting me the most, is there any experts reading this that can give me some tips??
Reply ID 18528
If I could only choose one play to see this week it would be Closer. The writing for me captures the power and irrationality that sex can bring to bear on relationships. I have never seen any productions by this company though and look forward to checking them out on wednesday.
Reply ID 18658
As I expected, there were people who did not return after the interval last night of this challenging modern play. I have no arguement with them as the language was indeed 'strong' and 'explicit' as advertised. Several people however waited until mid-way through the second half before leaving and as there is no way of leaving the auditorium quietly due to the hard surface of the floor, these people caused me offence by breaking the intensity of the atmosphere. The Actors on stage kept their concentration very well but could have done without the distraction.[V]
Reply ID 18662
Ah, thats different. I was sitting up front and it sounded like a number of people leaving.
Reply ID 18663
I totally agree ! those persons who left in the middle were very rude, surely they knew what to expect after sitting through the first half of the performance. If they were not happy they should not have come back in after the interval. I must admitt that I was actually rather shocked at the language and also some of the graphic sexual nature of the play. Having said this I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
Reply ID 18664
okay if she was feeling unwell that is different
Reply ID 18680
Thank You for the tip Jimbo, I enjoyed every minute of the play! Although there was colourful language and shocking sexual content, It did not detract from the story line or the message the play was putting across. I was absolutely captivated. Very well done! When do we get to see these people from St Albans in Hertford again?
Reply ID 18681
The lady who left (twice I think...) was accompanied by the first aiders and I am quite sure was unwell.... Hard for the actors to keep going tho' but they did [:)] I love the play. Did you stay for the adjudication Nicky? I thought the production didn't realise it's full potential and agreed with every word said.
quote:
Originally posted by tulip
I totally agree ! those persons who left in the middle were very rude, surely they knew what to expect after sitting through the first half of the performance. If they were not happy they should not have come back in after the interval. I must admitt that I was actually rather shocked at the language and also some of the graphic sexual nature of the play. Having said this I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
Reply ID 18682
quote:I agree it is a shame. That said, there were just as many (I personally know 6) who did not return after the interval for Tuesday's production of "Ladies in Retirement", so it is not necesssarily just to do with modernity. I love Marber having been in Dealer's Choice some years back, but I really didn't rate last night's performance, and I suspect many who were new to Marber thought "what is all the fuss is about"?
Jimbo wrote: "As I expected, there were people who did not return after the interval last night of this challenging modern play."
Reply ID 18683
No I did not stay for the adjudication bit. It was not possible for me to watch the full week of performances so I was therefore not involved in the voting process.
Reply ID 18729
As for disruption caused by lady leaving (ill or not) this was nothing compared to the noise of the good people of Hertford screaming and shouting outside Castle Hall around 10.20 on Friday night. Unfortunately, there is a set of glass fire escape doors from the auditorium which come out on the side by the toilets/Working Men’s Club, and it was very off-putting for cast and audience alike. Not much they can do about it I suppose.
Reply ID 18737
The results of Hertford Theatre Week are as follows: Winners: In Your Space, Preston: Hannah and Hanna Runners-Up: Hoddesdon Players: Chapter Two Audience Award: Hoddesdon Players: Chapter Two Stage Presentation Award: Hoddesdon Players: Chapter Two Adjudicator's Award: Hoddesdon Players: The Telephone sequence in Chapter Two Well done to both teams!
Reply ID 18745
I agree with you eelynda that the 'noises off' on Friday night was dissappointing and thanks for posting up the results so promptly. As the doors concerned are a fire escape I guess it would be difficult to insulate them in any way to avoid this problem in the future. I suspect things will only get worse when the disused workingmens club is converted into a pub.
Reply ID 18805
Did not think that the St Albans people would win anything somehow, but what a shame. I did not see the other plays to be able to comment but I hope they continue to be contraversial and different, I will most certainly be looking out for them again.
Reply ID 18822
Nicky. IMHO it wasn't the subject matter that meant Closer didn't win, it was their performance. Hannah and Hanna was equally "challenging" but the quality of the performances shone through. I agreed with all the awards, except I personally would have had the winner and the runner-up the other way round. So would many others, given that Hoddesdon won the audience award; although admittedly this is an award for the play you enjoyed most, as opposed to the one you thought was the best. And I suppose the audience may have been a bit partisan....?