2004

Three More Sleepless Nights - 'Allo 'Allo - Out of Sight, Out of Murder

'Three More Sleepless Nights

by Caryl Churchill

February 2004

Synopsis

This was the first time the author employed her now famous device of overlapping dialogue. All three scenes take place in bed. In the first, a husband and wife have a virulent argument over who's cheating on whom. In the second, a husband drones on about the plot of Alien as his wife slits her wrists. The wife from scene one is in bed with the husband from scene two in the final vignette. Is there a happy ending in their future?

Cast

Margaret (Kit Johnson); Frank (David Fardon); Pete (Kevin Kirwan); Dawn (Lisa Gaylard)

Director: Gill Lewisohn

This was entered in several of the local One Act drama festivals and came away with a number of awards and nominations including the runner-up for the winning play, Best Actress for Lisa Gaylard and Adjudicator's Award for Kit Johnson at Cheltenham.

'Allo, 'Allo

'Allo,'Allo

by Jeremy Lloyd & David Croft

April 2004

Synopsis

René and his wife have stashed a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis in a sausage in their cellar, where two British airmen are also hiding until the Resistance can repatriate them. Communications with London using the wireless that is disguised as a cockatoo add to the many embarrassments this intrepid proprietor endures in the company of his patrons. News that the Fuhrer is scheduled to visit the town inspires tricksters disguised as Hitler to frequent the cafe. Meanwhile René summons all the wit he can muster to save his cafe and his life.

The adjudication for this show, as well as those for many others, is available in the members’ section of the site

Cast

René Artois (John Mills); Edith Artois (Christine Cooke); Michelle Dubois (Sarah Edwards); Mimi Labonq (Alice Cleaveland); Yvette Carte-Blanche (Kit Johnson); Captain Alberto Bertorelli (Dave Fardon); Lieutenant Hubert Gruber (Huw Williams); Colonel Kurt von Strohm (Gordon James); Leclerc (Gill Lewisohn); Officer Crabtree (Kevin Kirwan); Herr Otto Flick (Eric Mutch); Private Helga Geerhart (Jill Lawford); General Von Schmelling (Neville Lewisohn); Airmen & Peasants (Hannah Johnson, Thomas Mansfield, Ralph Tilton, Emma James, Rachel Belton, Sheena Stagg); Parrot Voice/Narrator (Helen Whitson)

Director: Kit Johnson

Out_of_Sight

'Out of Sight, Out of Murder'

by Fred Carmichael

November 2004

Synopsis

Peter Knight is grinding out a murder story in an old mansion where another author was murdered years before. A weird electrical storm effects a cosmic snafu and his characters come to life. There's the lovely ingenue, the trusty butler, a feisty character woman, a dauntless hero, a fascinating "other woman," the always pregnant serving girl, and the wily lawyer waiting for midnight to read the will. Peter looses control of his characters and there is a murder; the intended victim is Peter. Other murders follow and the culprit is among characters who, having also worked for other authors, know a great deal about the subject. Can Peter find the killer before the killer gets his author? Is romance with the ingenue leading anywhere? Where is the fortune mentioned in the will? All is solved ingeniously with romance, suspense and cosmic wit.

Cast

Peter Knight (Huw Williams); Minna (Christine Cooke); Lydia Dillingham (Kit Johnson); Cogburn (Gordon James); Kay Kelsey (Helen Whitson); Fiona Babcock (Gill Lewisohn); Addie (Lisa Stapleton); Dick Stanton (David Fardon); Jordan Dillingham (John Mills)

Director: Kevin Kirwan