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Carol Collier
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John Doonan
We are back in the
Howden Park Centre in
The Brian Duguid Auditorium
AWARD WINNING PLAYERS!
In this article by Thom Dibdin in Annals of the Edinburgh Stage.
We scooped 2 Awards with Womberang which was one of the plays we presented as part of the ComedyDouble Bill in the Brian Duguid Auditorium at Howden Park Centre at the end of January.
Derek Blackwood, set builder for Leitheatre (Stage Right); Rosalind Becroft, director Leitheatre (Stage Right); adjudicator Alasdair Hawthorn; Ron Cattell, director St Serf's Players; Lynne Hurst, director Livingston Players.
Saint Serf’s Players, Livingston Players and Leitheatre ran out the winners at the Edinburgh and Lothians District heats of the Scottish Community Drama Association’s One Act Festival, held at St Serfs Halls last week.
The Saint Serf’s Players’ production of One Day I Met Myself Coming Home by Rebecca Russell won the Edith Forbes Trophy for first place as well as the Eric Bennett Trophy for Highest Marks for Production.The Mrs Charles Rowland Cup for second place went to the Livingston Players with their production ofWomberang by Sue Townsend, which was also awarded the John McIntyre Trophy for Best Moment of Theatre.
Trifles by Susan Glaspell, presented by the Stage Right team from Leitheatre, received the Ian Wishart Quaich for third place as well as the Bobby Watt Cup for best Stage Presentation.
The three productions will now represent Edinburgh and Lothians in the SCDA Eastern Final at Bowhouse Community Centre, Grangemouth in March. The two top placed productions from Grangemouth will be in the Scottish Final, to be held at Pitlochry Festival Theatre on 22, 23 and 24 April. The winning play at Pitlochry will represent Scotland in the British Final which being held in East Kilbride this year, on 25 and 26 June.
The Livingston Players performance
at Howden Park Centre
Review: The Livingston Players performance at Howden Park Centre
Feb 4 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian CourierIF ever there was a tonic for these dark winter evenings, this duo of one-act plays was it.
Between Thursday, January 28 and Saturday, January 30, The Livingston Players performed ‘Womberang’ by Sue Townsend and ‘Bouncers’ by John Godber, at Howden Park Centre, Livingston, two plays which contrasted strongly, yet complemented each other perfectly.
It could only be someone with Sue Townsend’s inimitable sense of humour who could set a play in a hospital’s gynaecology department. ‘Womberang’ opens in the waiting room where a small group of patients are assembled.
Suddenly, dressed like a seventies hippie reject, in sweeps Rita (brilliantly played by Judith Hutchinson) ringing an old school bell in a bid to get the receptionist’s attention.
Rita’s best friend, Dolly (a great performance by Kate Halliday) is much quieter being a perfect foil for the flamboyant, eccentric Rita and her exceptional powers of persuasion. Rita even manages to persuade Evelyn (a fantastically funny portrayal by Sue Rankin) to take off her corset after they have all passed round the gin bottle a few times.
James has accompanied wife Audrey (very well played by David Mackie and Karen McPherson), and seems to think he can dominate her until Rita decides otherwise and incites Audrey to rebel. James almost blows a gasket but it all works out in the end. The sixth core patient, Mrs Lovett (Heather Haig was cast perfectly) has some very funny and subtle lines. Over and above the entertaining central sextet, four other characters come and go including Lynda who promptly goes into labour and is whisked off to the delivery room by Rita. Lynda consequently gives birth to a little girl whom she names Mary, Rita’s middle name. Another indication of how the slightly crazy and outspoken Rita touches peoples lives.
Ashley Townsend and Annie Townsend both do great jobs as the hospital receptionist and hospital administrator, Mrs Cornwallis, respectively.
Mrs Cornwallis, very strict and pole faced pre-gin, changes considerably after she is persuaded to join the others in a swig or two. Alex Rankine made a brief but convincing appearance as the consultant, Mr Riley, who has been keeping them waiting for so long.
The production excellently directed by Lynne Hurst, backed up by a superb production team, was a feel-good hour of laughter and joy.
In sharp contrast, yet equally entertaining, the Players brought us ‘Bouncers’.
The four Bouncers enter from the side, by the audience, and make their way to a very basic stage set, representing a nightclub.
The four Bouncers, Eric (Jeff Robinson), Les (Alistair Thomas), Ralph (Ross Bain) and Judd (John Ward) gave an incredibly slick and polished performance.
The roles are challenging and constantly changing as the four slip in and out of a variety of personas including, as well as the central Bouncer characters, four girls on a fun night out (hence the handbags) and four men on a stag night.
The dialogue is sometimes in verse and sometimes not and the hour long play, centring around urban nightlife, is a mixture of absolute hilarity and underlying less happy, personal issues in the lives of the Bouncers. In particular Eric, who in the course of the play is left by his wife who takes their children with her.
John Hutchinson had his work cut out directing this one but, as ever, pulled it off superbly.
The Livingston Players can next be seen performing ‘A Chorus of Disapproval’ by Alan Ayckbourn, at Howden Park Centre from Wednesday, May 26 to Saturday, May 29.
Double act of comedies is a good night out
REVIEW: Double act of comedies is a good night out
Published Date: 04 February 2010
By Beryl Beattie, Herald & Post
IT TAKES a courageous amateur company to stage a Sue Townsend and a John Godber duo of plays in one evening, but The Livingston Players rose to the challenge last week.
The theatre group commenced their 2010 season at the Brian Duguid Auditorium with a run of shows fro
m last Thursday to Saturday, staging Townsend's Womberang, directed by Lynne Hurst, for the first part of the evening and then Bouncers, by Godber as a double bill each night.A realistic hospital waiting room with an assortment of outpatients set the scene for Womberang which was promptly invaded by bossy boots Rita and her pal. When the bored receptionist ignores them, Rita produces a large bell which she rings.
From then on it was one laugh after another as the bold Rita decides to change the waiting room into a group therapy session, succeeds in convincing a mild wife she should stand up to her husband, and generally causes mayhem as she takes over and brightens lives.
This includes that of a mature lady with a limited time to live who joins in swigging from a gin bottle and ends up stripping off her restricting corset.
When angry passions flare, the childless couple disappear behind the screen and consummate a marriage which originally had not presented children due to the fact that the husband, a member of a religious sect, thought the tummy button produced the desired pregnancy.
His meek wife had been too timid to ensure accurate placement. Rita soon changes that.
Even when stressed-out assistant Almoner arrives, Rita is in charge and ensures that gin brought in by her pal, is shared amongst the waiting ladies.
Each of the actors, Kate Halliday, Annie Townsend, Heather Haig, Sue Rankine, Rachel Hope, Karen McPherson, Ashley Townsend, David Mackie and Alex Rankine played their part with style, and impeccable Liverpudian accents when required.
In the case of Miss Hutchinson, a Northern Irish accent made the role even more convincing and proved once again she has earned the right to star in leading roles.
Then again, this was a five-star production.
In showbiz there is a saying: "Follow that!"
By choosing John Godber's Bouncers, directed by John Hutchinson, they managed to actually add even more to the enjoyment of the evening.
Four actors in evening suits are required to create different personas simply by a change of voice and attitude.
To begin with we have four bouncers at a disco who in turn become four guys on the pull, out for a night at the pub and the disco and magically morph into four teenage dolly birds.
Utilising only a glitzy silver backdrop, some beer barrels, four gold handbags and disco lighting where necessary, Jeff Robinson, Alastair Thomas, Ross Bain and John Ward succeeded in convincing the audience the stage was filled with various characters.
First-class use was made of the Brian Duguid stage and if the Players ever opt to enter Bouncers for an award, they will win the accolade of no longer calling this an 'amateur' production because this was a smash hit professional success.
A powerful stage play wins praise
Oct 8 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier
THE story of Anne Frank is one of the most poignant, sad and inspirational legacies of all time.
And from September 24 to 26 Anne and her attic companions were brought to life again by the superbly talented Livingston Players.
The powerful production, at Howden Park Centre, Livingston, gave an intimate incite into the life experienced by Anne, her sister and parents, and four other Jews in the tiny Amsterdam attic to which they escaped from the cruel persecution of the Nazis, and in which they were incarcerated for two years, from 1942 to 1944.
Anne's precious and famous diary, in which she made daily entries, described the characters and their claustrophobic life.
The opening scene draws us into the most amazing set (created by Scene Engineering Glasgow) which although small, is twice the size of the original attic space.
Haunting music and low lighting surround the sobbing figure of Otto Frank, who has returned to the attic after the war as the only survivor. Six of the other figures enter the stage and we go back in time as the story begins.
The attic is divided into four tiny rooms and a toilet. Anne and her sister, Margot, share one, Mr and Mrs van Daan share another, their son, Peter, has a room the size of a cupboard which he shares with his beloved cat, and for Anne's parents the living room doubles up as a bedroom.
Two loyal and incredibly brave friends, Mr Kraler and Meip Geis, make daily visits, bringing food and whatever other little extras they can manage to provide.
Just as the attic residents are starting to adjust to their cramped life, Meip and Mr Kraler implore them to take in one more.
A dentist, Mr Dussel, like them is in danger and in need of sanctuary. Otto on behalf of the more reluctant others, welcomes him.
Conditions are often unbearable and tempers run high at times. Mrs van Daan is silly and materialistic, Mr van Daan is caught stealing food, after blaming the rats, driven by hunger. Mr Dussel never stops moaning. Margot is obedient, kind and obliging, never complaining. Otto Frank is respected and wise and holds the others together. He is adored by Anne, who does not get on with her mother whom she claims doesn't understand her.
Peter keeps himself to himself until Anne gradually wins him over and they spend many an enjoyable hour talking. Most of the time the group do not all get on, but unanimously decide to pull together for the important Jewish festival of Hanukah, where thoughtful Anne has made everyone presents. Anne herself is feisty and full of life and chatter.
For two years they endure their sardine-like existence until the fateful day when the Nazis discover them and remove them to concentration camps. All but Otto die.
The casting of this production was absolutely spot on, in particular Samantha Orr who played Anne. What a find for the Players was this young actress.
Jamie Melrose as Anne's gentle, older sister was excellent, portraying brilliantly the contrast between the two girls.
Alistair Thomas and Lynne Hurst filled the roles of Anne's parents with polish and great credibility, whilst Roger Munday was very convincing and watchable as the grumpy Mr van Daan.
Of course Judith Hutchinson had her usual infectious stage presence as she tackled the role of the rather silly Mrs van Daan with absolute finesse.
Fraser Jamieson really brought the role of Peter to life and his intimate moments with Anne were beautifully executed. I do wonder whether Ross Bain is actually intolerant and bad-tempered as he was so convincing as the inflexible dentist, Mr Dussel. I'm sure he's not, but it's a testament to his portrayal of the character.
Credit has also to go to the smaller roles of Meip (Georgina Milligan) and Mr Kraler (Bob Whytock).
Unlike the others they were not on stage for the entire play, but were excellent whenever they did make a brief appearance and their characters were an important and integral part of the story.
Director John Hutchinson has one of his greatest successes with this play which was completely spell-binding from beginning to end.
The 'Anne Frank Trust - Scotland' provided an excellent exhibition of photos and historical writing in the foyer which added another dimension to the evening and was well worth a browse.
The Livingston Players will be performing their 'January Playfest' at Howden Park Centre from Thursday, January 28 to Saturday, January 30, 2010.
For tickets call the box office on 01506 777666.
Superb cast do Diary justice
Date: 01 October 2009
By Arts reveiwer Beryl Beattie, West Lothian Hearald and Post.
Who would have thought the words of a little 13-year-old Jewish girl would still be as emotive today as when she wrote them in her diary in Nazi-occupied Holland in 1944?
Also, that her journal would have provided the meat for a highly dramatised version of her short lif e cooped up with her sister, parents and their friends in an attic above a factory.Many professional and amateur groups have staged this play, which requires a strong leading lady for the roll role of Anne Frank herself.
The plot is well known. A Jewish family are forced to go into hiding to avoid capture and being sent to the concentration camps, so the action takes place in a three-room setting which has to be translated on stage into reality.
Full marks to The Livingston Players, whose highly professional set utilised split-level staging to great effect, and to director John Hutchinson for creating an atmosphere sometimes joyful but always with dark undertones of fear.
Samantha Orr as Anne Frank superbly created the roll of the gauche and talkative teen who blossoms into a young woman and finds love with the son of the van Daans – the archetypal Jewish momma and her husband who are forced to share the small space along with another male friend.
Each character in this play has an important part so all credit to Judith Hutchinson (Mrs van Daan), Roger Munday (Mr van Daan) for managing to cope with the stairs leading to their above attic room, and to Fraser Jamieson (Peter, their son).
One of the many highlights is when Mr van Daan takes his wife's highly prized fur coat from her in order that it can be sold for food, and she has a screaming fit as a result. Another high point was when both families sat round the table to celebrate the Jewish festival Hanukkah, which is like our Christmas.
Except these families had nothing. It takes the resourceful Anne to produce little gifts for everyone which she has managed to make from scraps of whatever she could find, much to their delight.
But always, there lurked the fear of discovery when even the slightest noise downstairs could have meant the hiding place was discovered. A very real worry.
Supporting this highly talented cast were Lynne Hurst (Mrs Frank), Jamie Melrose (Margot Frank), Ross Bain (Mr Dussel), Bob Whytock (Mr Kraler) and Georgina Milligan (Miep Gies).
The clever use of a projected image of the real Anne Frank on the theatre wall and the recorded voice of Orr to link the narrative to the scene changes, worked beautifully as indeed did every member of this cast.
Another triumph for the Livingston Players? Most definitely.
In featuring photographic displays in the foyer of what it was actually like in Anne Frank's time and inviting the audiences to contribute a donation on departure to the Anne Frank Trust, they honoured the memory of a little Jewish girl who believed that people are truly good at heart. As indeed did Samantha Orr who brought her to life so vividly.
Musical gives glowing tribute
in memory of Rush composer
Published Date: 28 May 2009
By Beryl Beattie, West Lothian Herald and Post
Arts reviewer
To stage a full scale musical, utilising a new concept of an old idea, a backdrop illustrating scenes, and blend this with live action, takes courage.
Thanks to director Colin Peter and graphic artists Neil Rowland and Stewart Brown, this worked for the Livingston Players' Scottish premiere of Rush.The play tells the story of Scottish and Irish immigrants to New Zealand, desperate to make their fortunes prospecting for gold to improve life for their families.
From the moment The Prospector or storyteller begins to sing, the rich baritone voice of John Doonan and some excellent choral harmonies from the well-drilled chorus introduce us to the plot which features theft, rape, greed and murder and an unexpected twist – the hero wrongly accused of murder and hanged, returning as a slightly healthy looking ghost to bring retribution to the villains.
At times light-hearted and then dark, Rush features outstanding performances with hero John Ward, a jeweller forced to dig for gold, and Lesley Ward as his poverty struck wife Sarah, tackling the emotive score beautifully.
Alex Kemp's portrayal of O'Fea, the roguish yet lethal archetypal Irishman is brilliant, and in the scene with Claire Doonan as Millie Hall, the young mother who becomes a widow, the plot takes a sinister unexpected twist when he forces his unwelcome attention on her. Scary stuff!
As the brothers Lomax, David Hastie and David Bridges provide some brief lighter moments in a musical based on true life, it was never going to be a barrel of laughs. Yet this production does strike gold.
The main characters are ably supported by Calum Haig as Nathan Hall, Scott McGillivray and Dan Nolan as prospectors with Andy Smith and Jeff Robinson as the judge, together with Nicola Payne as the sassy hotel owner, who might well have been an ideal contender for "Nancy" in the recent TV contest.
Out of sight, but playing an integral part in this show, versatile Musical director Margaret McAdie on keyboard, Alastair Gammie on flute/clarinet, Billy Young on guitar and Colin MacRae on drums provide the atmospheric music and the impressive finale.
Innovative lighting design is produced by the lighting team. John Hutchinson, Danielle Steen and Bob Wells showed how the stage of the Brian Duguid auditorium could be transformed into gold prospecting New Zealand country.
With the assistance of minimal set design by Michael Dunn, delightful children and a mine of talent featuring some pretty impressive solos by John Doonan, John and Lesley Ward, Claire Doonan, Jeff Robinson and a trio of ladies from the chorus.
In staging the Scottish premiere of Rush, so professionally, the Livingston Players have not only honoured the new Brian Duguid auditorium, but the memory of Rush composer Kevin Lynch, who died in 2008. and his artistic partner and friend David John who wrote the words and lives in Australia.
Last Updated: 27 May 2009 12:56 PM
Source: West Lothian Herald and Post
Location: West Lothian
Livingston Players latest show is a Rush!
Apr 30 2009 by Debbie Spalding, West Lothian Courier
THE Livingston Players are delighted to be back in the newly re-opened Howden Park Centre for their next production, Rush!
The powerful new musical, receiving its Scottish premier in Howden, tells the moving story of immigrant gold miners and their quest for instant fortune in the savage and unforgiving environment of the New Zealand gold fields in the 1860s.
Rush! has been described as a breathless adventure story with undercurrents of love, lust and greed.
The gold rush in New Zealand may not be quite as well known as the Californian gold rush, but exactly the same dreams, desperation and desires happened there as in California.
With a cast of 40, including two teams of five children performing on alternate nights, the show runs from Tuesday, May 19 to Saturday, May 23 at 7.30pm in the Brian Duguid Auditorium.
Tickets costing £10 are now available from the Box Office on 01506 777666.
Liam Rudden: There's gold in them thar theatres
Published Date: 23 January 2009 News Scotsman
By Liam Rudden
ALL across the Capital, unpaid actors are locked away in their rehearsal rooms as the first shows of the amateur theatre season approach. And not just in the city.Out west, The Livingston Players are gearing up for their next production, the Scottish premiere of a new musical called Rush! And you could be in it.
Powerful and moving, the musical tells the story of immigrant gold miners and their quest for inADVERTISEMENTstant fortune in the gold fields of New Zealand in the mid-19th century.
Just as Duncan and Sarah McKenzie arrive in the 'new country', Jackie O'Fea brings news of the first gold strikes.
So, leaving his family for the diggings with a promise to return, Duncan seizes his chance for freedom from the near-slavery of 19th century working class life.
On his quest he is joined by his friends Nathan and Millie Hall who, along with O'Fea and his nephews, the Lomax brothers, seek their fortune.
However, at the diggings, tragedy strikes. Nathan is drowned in a flood on the Arrow River leaving Millie a widow. She is cared for by the other miners in the camp and particularly by Joe Lawson who cuts her wood for the coming winter.
But Millie's winter comes early when she is assaulted by O'Fea, with only the Lomax brothers as witnesses. Then, when Duncan strikes gold, his euphoria is short lived as a young miner, Dan Nolan, is murdered by the Lomax brothers. Duncan is accused of the crime and after an absurd trial, he is sentenced to hang. Can Sarah save him? And can anyone bring O'Fea and the Lomaxes to justice?
With such a strong storyline and a modern score, Rush! demands the resources of a large company to succeed.
In particular it requires a number of young men in the 18-30 age group to portray the hard-living miners of the age. And this is where you come in.
Rush! is set to be one of the first major performances in the new Brian Duguid Auditorium of the Howden Park Centre in Livingston and Alex Kemp, president of The Livingston Players is appealing for new members to come forward to join the company to perform in this exciting new show which will run from Tuesday, May 19 to May 23.
Previous stage experience is not necessary but a commitment to attend all rehearsals every Monday and Thursday, from 7.30-9.30pm, in Camondean Church Hall, Fells Rigg, Deans, is essential.
If you're interested e-mail Alex at alex.kemp@blueyonder.co.uk
There are still principal parts to be cast. Time to get panning.
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