October 2001 - How the Other Half Loves

There are three couples in this play, the men all working for the same firm. One of the younger men is having an affair with the wife of the oldest, and when each returns home suspiciously late one night or early one morning they invent a story about having to spend some time smoothing domestic matters in the home of the third couple. Both living rooms are shown in the single set, and both share a common dining room which takes on a character of its own as it serves two dinners simultaneously on two different nights. Of course, the third couple have to show up to put the fat in the fire, but that complication only adds to the fun of this famous farce. 

"How the Other Half Loves" by Alan Ayckbourn

Directors: Peter Howard / Phil Gascoyne

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: October 2001

Tickets: £3.50 / £4.50

Frank Foster - Tony Webb

Fiona Foster - Andrea Howard

Bob Phillips - Ian Flanagan

Teresa Phillips - Edwina Gascoyne

William Featherstone - Ric Waterhouse

Mary Featherstone - Laura Turner

Directors - Peter Howard / Phil Gascoyne

Sound - Bryan Ashcroft

Properties - Carolyn Heslop

Continuity - Judith Wade

An unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader explodes into murder one weekend at The Hollow, home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell, arguably Christie’s finest comic grande dame. Dr. Cristow, the Harley Street lothario, is at the center of the trouble when, assembled in one place, we find his dull but devoted wife, Gerda, his mistress and prominent sculptor, Henrietta, and his former lover and Hollywood film star, Veronica. Also visiting are Edward and Midge, whose romantic assertions are likewise thrown into the mix. As the list of romantic associations grows so does the list of potential suspects when Cristow is shot dead. Nearly everyone has a motive, but only one of them did the deed.

The Hollow premiered at the Fortune Theatre, London, on 7 June 1951. Presented by Peter Saunders and directed by Hubert Gregg, the production ran for 376 performances. 

"The Hollow" by Agatha Christie

Director: Tony Webb

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: 8th - 12th May 2001

Tickets: £3.50 / £4.00

Henrietta Angkatell - Judith Wade

Sir Henry Angkatell - David Bramah

Lady Angkatell - Carolyn Heslop

Midge Harvey - Lian Nicholson

Gudgeon - Peter Howard

Edward Angkatell - Richard Waterhouse

Doris - Laura Turner 

Gerda Cristow - Edwina Gascoyne

John Cristow - Mark Sanderson

Veronica Craye - Andrea Howard

Inspector Colquhoun - Mike Smith

D.S. Penny - Ian Flanagan

Director - Tony Webb

Stage Manager - Ian Sutton

Sound - Bryan Ashcroft

Lighting - Kevin Chambers

Properties - Carolyn Heslop / Lisa Baxter

Continuity - Brian Parker / Tony Webb

Based on the hugely successful British television series, which ran for seven seasons, this uproarious comedy relates the adventures of Rene, a hapless café owner in occupied France. You can see all of your favourite TV characters in the flesh, including Rene’s tone-deaf wife Edith, Major-General von Klinkerhoffen and the Gestapo officer Herr Flick!

Rene 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 Führer is scheduled to visit the town inspires tricksters disguised as Hitler to frequent the cafe. Meanwhile, Rene summons all the wit he can muster to save his café and his life.

"'Allo 'Allo" by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd

Director: Peter Howard

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: 6th - 10th February 2001

Tickets: £3.50 / £4.00

René - Ian Flannagan

Edith - Andrea Howard

Yvette - Lian Nicholson

Michelle - Judith Wade

Mimi - Helen Widdowson

Col. von Strohm -  John Atkinson

Helga - Anna Hall

Capt. Bertorelli - Ross Bannister

Herr Flick - Phil Gascoyne

Crabtree - Ian Sutton

Leclerc - Kevin Daley

Lt. Gruber - Tony Webb

Gen. von Schmelling - David Bramah

Piano accordionist - Paul Silcocks

British Airmen - Ric Waterhouse / Martin Delaney

Peasants - Mark Gordon and various cast members

German soldiers - Ric Waterhouse / Ged Binney

Director - Peter Howard

Set Design and Construction - Peter Howard, Nick Martin, Bryan Ashcroft, Nick Martin, Brian Parker

Stage Manager - Mark Gordon

Lighting - Kevin Chambers

Sound - Bryan Ashcroft

Properties - Carolyn Heslop / Andrea Howard

Continuity - Phil Howden

Choreography - Edwina Gascoyne

Front of House - Carolyn Heslop

Tickets - Arthur Jakins / Joan Jakins

Al and Willie as "Lewis and Clark" were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years.  During the later years of their 43-year run, animosity between the partners grew to the point where they ceased to speak with each other. Eleven years prior to the events of the play, Al retired from show business, leaving Willie struggling to keep his career afloat. 

When CBS requests them for a "History of Comedy" retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs.

This original two-act play premiered on Broadway on 20th December 1972, starring Jack Albertson as Willie Clark and Sam Levene as Al Lewis and was later adapted for film and television. 

"The Sunshine Boys" by Neil Simon

Director: Edwina Gascoyne

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: 17th - 21st October 2000

Tickets: £3.50 / £4

Patient - David Bramah

Willie Clark - Brian Parker

Al Lewis - Mike Smith

Ben Silverman - Mark Sanderson

Registered Nurse - Judith Wade

Burlesque Nurse - Louise Platts

TV Assistant Eddie - Richard Waterhouse

Voice (Director) - Mark Gordon

Voice (Announcer) - Tony Webb

Director - Edwina Gascoyne

Set Design and Construction - Peter Howard, Bryan Ashcroft, Terry Bell, Nick Martin, Matthew Wilkinson

Stage Manager - Peter Howard

Lighting - Lian Nicholson / Mark Gordon

Sound - Bryan Ashcroft

Properties - Carolyn Heslop

Continuity - Andrea Howard

Front of House - Anne Sherratt / Phil Howden

Publicity - Andrea Howard

Tickets - Arthur Jakins / Joan Jakins

Arnold Ridley's classic drama was first produced in 1925 and filmed no less than three times. A very silly young man accidentally strands six passengers at a small Cornish wayside station. Despite the pyschic stationmaster's weird stories of a ghost train, they decide to stay the night in the waiting room. Soon they regret this decision as ghostly and not so ghostly apparitions materialize, before the young man reveals the true reason behind the night's events. 

"The Ghost Train" by Arnold Ridley

Director: 

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: 2nd - 6th May 2000

Tickets: £3.50 / £4.00

Saul Hodgkin - 

Richard Winthrop - 

Elsie - 

Charles Murdoch - 

Peggy Murdoch - 

Miss Bourne - 

Teddy Deakin - 

Julia Price - 

Herbert Price - 

John Stirling - 

Jackson - 

Smith - 

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 Never has this master of farce been frenetically funnier! Henry A. Perkins, a mild mannered C.P. A, accidentally picks up the wrong briefcase one full of money. Henry assumes it is illicit cash and he decides to keep it. Knowing that the former owner must have his briefcase, he rushes home to book one way fares to Barcelona. He tells his confused wife to leave everything behind; if she doesn't like Barcelona, they can go to Bali. In fact, they can buy Bali! The doorbell rings as they wait for their taxi. The police detective at the door thinks Henry was soliciting in the men's room of the local pub actually, he was sitting in the loo counting the cash. The bell rings again. Another detective arrives thinking Henry is dead; a man with bullet holes in his head and Henry's briefcase were found in the Thames. Henry's inept attempts to extricate himself from this impossible situation lead to increasingly hysterical situations. 

"Funny Money" by Ray Cooney

Director: 

Location: Sheffield Library Theatre

Dates: February 2000

Tickets: £3.50 / £4.00

Jean Perkins - 

Henry Perkins - Phil Gascoyne

Davenport - 

Bill - 

Betty Johnson - Andrea Howard

Vic Johnson - 

Slater - 

A Passer-By - 

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