THE OLDLAND PLAYERS
Founded in 1967 the Oldland Players are a group in the Bristol area, who've been creating quality community theatre for over 50 years.
1989
Chamber Music - The Importance of Being Earnest - The Hollow
'Chamber music'
by Arthur Kopit
February 1989
Synopsis
This strange meeting features The Woman in the Safari Outfit, the Woman in Armour (she has barracks language down pat, wears rusty armour, is called Joan of Arc and carries a big crucifix), the Woman with the Gavel, and others. The business at hand is how to attack the men's ward before they attack the women and devour them like cannibals? A ruse is needed so they kill the Aviatrix named Amelia Earhart. This exercise causes them to lose the strand of their thought and forget why they did it.
Cast
Woman Who Plays Records (Lesley Wyrill); Woman In Safari Outfit (Jo Portingail); Woman With Notebook (Jill Lawford); Girl In Gossamer Dress (Jill Bishop); Woman In Aviator's Outfit (Kit Johnson); Woman In Queenly Spanish Garb (Joy Davis); Woman In Armour (Annette Lewis); Woman With Gavel (Kay Trenchard); Woman In White (Teresa Coady); Her Assistant (June Berrie)
Director: Dave Walford
This play was entered into several of the local festivals and came away with prizes including 2nd place at Kingswood, the Adjudicator's Special award at Avon, a Certificate of Merit at Malmesbury and the David Vann Trophy for Technical Achievement in Performance at Redditch.
The adjudication for this show, as well as those for many others, is available in the members’ section of the site
'The Importance of Being Earnest'
by Oscar Wilde
April 1989
Synopsis
The story of two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre, characters to be found on the modern stage.
Cast
John Worthing, JP (James McLaughlin); Algernon Moncrieff (Peter Cook); Rev. Canon Chasuble, DD (David Walford); Merriman (Joy Davis); Lane (Mark Gregory); Lady Bracknell (Kay Trenchard); Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax (Jill Lawford); Cecily Cardew (Jill Bishop); Miss Prism (Mary Mason)
Director: Kit Johnson
'The Hollow'
by Agatha Christie
November 1989
Synopsis
An unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader explodes into murder one weekend at The Hollow, home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell. Dr. Cristow is at the center of the trouble when his mistress Henrietta, ex-mistress Veronica, and wife Gerda, simultaneously arrive at The Hollow. Also visiting are Edward (who is in love with Henrietta) and Midge (who loves Edward). Veronica ardently desires to marry Cristow and succeeds in reopening their affair but is unable to get him to divorce his wife. Veronica unwisely states that if she cannot have him, no one shall. Within five minutes Cristow is dead. Nearly everyone has a motive and most had the opportunity. Enter Inspector Colquhoun and Sergeant Penny to solve the crime.
Cast
Henrietta Angkatell (Kit Johnson); Sir Henry Angkatell KCB (John Mills); Lady Angkatell (Mary Mason); Midge Harvey (Jill Lawford); Gudgeon (Mark Gregory); Edward Angkatell (David Walford); Doris (Jill Bishop); Gerda Cristow (Sheila Wills); John Cristow MD FRCP (Peter Cook); Veronica Craye (Lesley Wyrill); Inspector Colquhoun CID (Jim McLaughlin); Detective Sergeant Penny (Mark Jenkins)
Producer: Paulette Viney