“Season’s Greetings” by Alan Ayckbourn (November 2019)
Half a dozen friends and relatives are celebrating Christmas with Neville and Belinda. Various children are also there and, though unseen, their presence is always felt. Petty squabbles break out and some not so petty. The arrival of Clive, a young writer, leads to what momentarily appears to be a tragedy: Clive is shot by trigger happy Harvey who thinks he is a burglar. Hilarious highlights include a chaotically incompetent puppet show and a midnight love scene that sets off a fearful din among mechanical Christmas toys.
What they said about Season’s Greetings:
“A wonderful show. Can’t remember the last time i laughed so much!!”
“Just wanted to congratulate you all on last nights performance. I was crying with laughter all night. You really are all a class act. The comic timing was outstanding and the set looked amazing. It was a fantastic choice of play and I know you will get outstanding reviews. Wish I could see it again.”
“Superb show last night – the acting, the set, the costumes, the stage crew were all wonderful… we were crying with laughter. All the work that has gone into this production has most definitely paid off. You thoroughly deserve the rave reviews.”
“Came On Friday evening, Brilliant”
Cast
Neville . . . . . . Jason
Belinda, Neville’s wife . . . . . . Sue
Harvey, Neville’s uncle . . . . . . Phillip
Phyllis, Neville’s sister . . . . . . Nicola
Bernard, Phyllis’s husband . . . . . . Luke
Rachel, Belinda’s sister . . . . . . Sharon
Eddie, a friend of Neville . . . . . . Ross
Pattie, Eddie’s wife . . . . . . Julie
Clive, a writer . . . . . . Thomas
Production Team
Director . . . . . . Ron
Stage Manager . . . . . . Denise
Assistant Stage Managers . . . . . . Gordon, Becky
Set Design and Construction . . . . . . Ron, Graham, Steve, Phillip and team
Set Decor . . . . . . Jane
Lighting and Sound Design . . . . . . Jason
Lighting and Sound Operator . . . . . . Daniel
Make-up Adviser . . . . . . Jo
Costumes . . . . . . The Cast
Publicity . . . . . . Thomas
Programme Design . . . . . . Gill
Finance . . . . . . Kevin
Production Assistant / Continuity . . . . . . Ann, Carol
Front of House . . . . . . Helen and team
Acknowledgements
BaCStage would like to thank the following, without whose help this production would not have been possible:
Our sponsors: Bluntisham Service Station ~ Bluntisham Butchers ~ Cole & Day, Somersham ~ Earith Timber Products Ltd ~ Elglaze Ltd, Earith ~ Envar Composting Ltd ~ Lounge Cafe & Bluntisham Fryer ~ Jespal Singh Transport
BAWDS Drama Group and Combined Actors of Cambridge (loan of props) ~ British Heart Foundation, Huntingdon ~ Chris & Martin Avery – RADSOC (loan of puppet theatre and props) ~ Funny Wonders, Buxton (loan of puppets) ~ Jackie Daniels (loan of table) ~ Eleanor Stewart (loan of fire engine) ~ Bluntisham Parish Council ~ Impressions Village Scene ~ The Herald, the newsletter of the Meridian Benefice ~ Colne Parish Council Newsletter
Our thanks also to the groups who have been unable to use their usual accommodation at the Village Hall during production week:
Sue Stopps – Ballroom Dancing ~ Tracey Davidson – Cambsfit – Pilates, Zumba ~ Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday Badminton Clubs ~ Rebecca Khabiri – Yoga ~ Ryan Bowen – Boxing ~ Jeanette Cooney – French ~ Zuzana Belakova – Yoga
