WICK THEATRE COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Yepikhodov [the Estate Clerk
Alan Upton - Squire Allworthy - Alan has been a member of Wick for over ten years. He is probably one of the best comedy actors to have appeared on the Barn stage, witness his Odd Couple and How the Other Half Loves. Alan is a perfectionist and gives infinite care to all parts great or small. Some of you may remember his Sir Charles Marlowe in She Stoops to Conquer.
Publicity officer Anna Quick said: " A cast of 17 very experienced actors, headed by Hazel Starns as Lyuba, the flighty owner of the estate, bring this off-beat comedy vividly to life. Without exception, the characters are eccentric, unpredictable or off-the-wall. Even when they are driven to wild despair, their words and actions are never far from being comical. Wick Theatre will be drawing on its long history and experience to present a fascinating and atmospheric production of this great classic. "
Job Titles:
- Stage Manager
- Set Construction
Job Titles:
- Honorary Life Member
- Set Construction
David Stenning - Tom Jones - David joined the Players as a young lad in the mid-seventies and was first seen in the production of Little Red Riding Hood. He so impressed the Players' President at the time, the late Phillip King, that he was given the leading rôle in Phillip's production of his own comedy Here We Come Gathering. David has since gone on to appear in many more shows with the Players - most recently as Water Rat in Toad of Toad Hall. Incidentally, David was on the shortlist of two to play the title rôle in the TV series Just William a couple of years or so ago! He studies Drama in Brighton, is a keen amateur footballer and works for a local motor distributor.
Derek Fines - Blifil - A most versatile performer since joining the Payers in 1979 and although most often seen in comedy Derek was voted Best Actor in the 1982 One Act Drama Festival for his portrayal of Geoffrey in The Lion in Winter
"It is with great sadness that we record Frances' death …"
Frank Seamus - Constable - A recent recruit to Wick, Frank has many years experience - especially with the London based Unity Theatre. He recently played Stephen Parker in Goodnight Mrs. Puffin. He is a keen harmonica player and performs with a Lancing based orchestra.
Graham Till was hugely popular with the audience as he shuffled and creaked around the set in the rôle of aging footman Firs. Simply his presence on stage was enough to rouse laughter in the stalls, and he had the audience on tenterhooks as the curtain fell.
Hazel Starns [Ranyevskaya] first strutted her stuff for Wick 20 years ago as a Hot-Box Girl [Guys and Dolls] then became a friend of Dorothy as the Good Witch [The Wizard of Oz]. On her inevitable march to the cherry orchard she has performed in, among other things, four of Wick's Shakespeare productions. Hazel's most recent roles include Sue [Abigail's Party], Laura [Don't Look Now], Annie [Calendar Girls] and Beth [Life & Beth].
Hazel Starns was perfect as the aristocratic Russian landowner. She showed her fall from grace with great dignity combined with little shame and great resolution. Her older brother, Gaev, an interesting eccentric with an obsession with the delights of the billiard room, was delightfully played by David Peaty. His facial expressions in response to the dialogue of others were an object lesson to many an actor. It was said of David Garrick, " …every look speaks".
Hilary Wiltshire - Molly - Makes a welcome return to the Southwick Stage after three infant productions of her own. She has made many memorable appearances with Wick, including Lion in Winter, Othello, Oh, What a Lovely War, Lady Windermere's Fan and Trelawny of the ‘Wells'. Tom Jones is no stranger to Hilary, as she also played Sophia in the Lewes Little Theatre production.
Jean Porter was a charming and sensitive Smilja and Patrick Johnson gave a good, strong performance as Captain Carvallo, Brian Moulton played the Baron with effect: his first scene was the best. Nicholas Sweet had the right manner for Professor Winke, but could have used more force and variety at times. Ralph Dawes had at times exactly the right sanctimonious style for Caspar Dar; if he could have sustained it it would have been a very good performance. Ross Workman was excellent as the typical private soldier and Clodagh O'Farrell though not quite pert enough, was nice little maid.
Ken Mandel - Squire Western - Most recently seen as Mr. Badger in Toad of Toad Hall, Ken is one of the Players newer members. He has, nevertheless, appeared on the Barn Stage on several occasions, notably in Ten Times Table and Time To Kill. Ken owns a DIY shop in Hove.
Ken Mandel finds himself in the strange situation which can only come about in plays of being the father to his wife. Ken takes the part of Squire Western and his wife Lucy that of Sophie Western.
Lucy Mandel - Sophia Western - Ken's wife becomes his daughter in Tom Jones! Lucy has been with the Players for a number of years and her credits include A Shot in the Dark, The Seashell, the title rôle in Cinderella and recently Children in Uniform.
Miranda Bowen - Mrs. Fitzpatrick - Like Alan Upton, Miranda is a master of comedy. She is an ex-Bluebell dancer who now dances and choreographs for Wick. Her best remembered comedy roles have been in Secretary Bird, How the Other Half Loves, and Plaza Suite. Nor can we forget her Maisy in The Boy Friend.
Mo Joyce - Susan - Mo has been a member of Wick for two years and first appeared in The Mad Woman of Chaillot. Mo is a Management Training Consultant and recently joined the ranks of the local theatrical family Joyce when she married Peter, Wick's Secretary.
Neil Shephard - Capt. Fitzpatrick - Neil was a memorable Iago in Othello - a really towering performance. He has come a long way since his first appearance for Wick in Boeing Boeing in 1969. His range has expanded over the years in many Wick plays - recently, Absent Friends, Maxim in Rebecca, A Man About the House, [a play he appeared in for Brighton Little Theatre at very short notice, after Wicks' production] and Bill Sykes in Oliver. Neil was awarded Best Actor in the 1983 One Act Drama Festival for his part in Research. Neil is a school teacher in Brighton.
Paul Checkley [Station-master] has previously appeared for Wick as the Judge [Harvey] and the Colonel [Murdered to Death] while juggling stints in the set building department.
Sally Bacon - Honour - Sally has been a member of Wick for 15 years and had her first part in Miller's The Crucible. Since then she has played many excellent character parts, her latest being the ‘odd' maid in Goodnight Mrs. Puffin. But Sally has a lovely voice and probably likes to be remembered as the Nurse in Oh What A Lovely War! and for her part in The Boy Friend.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Southwick Operatic Society
Sheila Wright - Woman with a basket - Sheila has been a member of the Southwick Operatic Society since its foundation in the early 1960's and among many parts has played Iolanthe. Her most recent appearance for Wick was as one of the ‘old ladies' in Arsenic and Old Lace. She is also a member of a Shoreham Church choir.
Tom Jones runs at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, from June 3 to 11.
accompanying picture. At rehearsal for Tom Jones - from left : Lucy Mander as Sophia, David Stenning as Tom, Miranda Bowen [Mrs Fitzpatrick], Neil Shephard [Capt. Fitzpatrick] and Vicki Wood [Jenny Waters]
Vic Gough was also cast well in the rôle of Mr Rochester - a part which he obviously had the experience to play. Together the two leading lights were an interesting combination and complemented each other. Director Margaret Ockenden not only has a talent for directing but also for casting. Audrey Laye was impressive as the long-suffering Mrs Fairfax, and Daphne Thornton delightful as Hannah. Ralph Dawes and Joan Bearman a Lord and Lady Ingram and Carla Hendry as their daughter Blanche, all worked well to portray the snobbery of the lower social classes which was so apparent in the Victorian period.
Vikki Wood - Jenny Jones/Waters - Vikki joined the Players in 1975 and has taken leading rôles with the company - ranging from Principal Boy in Pantomime to more serious drama. She was recently voted Best Actress in the 1983 One Act Drama Festival for her performance in Muck from Three Angles.