Rehearsals are well underway for this funny, touching play. Director Lesley Cowland explains:
The play revolves around Lydia Martin, the leading lady currently starring in Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard. This is the night of her very last theatre performance; she is retiring from the stage and moving to Switzerland with her elderly, rich fiancé.
Most of the play takes place in Lydia’s dressing room, where she is preparing for her final performance on stage. She is ably assisted in these preparations by her long-suffering dresser, Kathryn. There is rarely a quiet moment in the dressing room as visitors pop in and out all the time when Lydia is not on stage.
There’s Lydia’s daughter Nicole, Charles her elderly fiancé, Paul her ex-husband, Harriet her Agent and Margaret the Company Manager. These interactions are funny, a little sad and even downright brutal, while at the same time being very enjoyable for both the actors and the audience!
There are two small scenes from the Cherry Orchard, which the audience sees from the back of the stage. Lydia plays Lubov, Paul plays Gaev and Charles plays Lopakhin. The subject of these small scenes do reflect somewhat on Lydia’s life.
The Actress is a comedy about how fame and fortune can create a monster, but is Lydia that bad?
The play highlights the theatre as a world full of ups and downs and shows how everyone connected to a production is affected. Those who have been involved in ‘Theatre’ will recognise the characteristics of the Actors and for the innocent, it gives a humorous peek at what goes on backstage!
CAST
Kathryn – Clare Waller
Nicole – Ruth Ling
Margaret – Louise Warner
Lydia – Elaine Hartless
Charles – David Martin
Paul – Malcolm Coakley
Harriet – Shelley Healy
Directed by – Lesley Cowland
This amateur production of “The Actress by Peter Quilter” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
