November 2 2002 Newsletter

Current Production: The wait is nearly over, first night is Tuesday! For those who havent been following rehearsals, its Trivial Pursuits by Frank Vickery. A summer evenings barbeque is the setting for a meeting of the Trealaw and District Operatic Society to announce their next production. However, Nick, the Societys business manager has promised a different show and the plum roles to different people. As the evening progresses each characters foibles and talents are revealed: Joyce, once talented and well-meaning is a lush; Teddy is alternatively sweet and strident; Derek is pathetic but lovable. The complex relationships between players emerges as moments of pure slapstick and farce alternating with ones full of real drama and pathos! This surely unmissable production begins this Tuesday night at 8pm in the Studio Theatre and continues for five nights until Saturday November 9. There is even a matinee on Saturday at 3pm. Tickets from the Studio Theatre on 020 8540 0362. Jeff and the cast have worked very hard for many weeks and deserve the full support of us all. Raw! Theatre: This one is not here yet, but auditions are on Monday 11 November and Thursday 14 November with the big night being Friday 31 January 2003. For those not familiar with Raw! Theatre its an opportunity for participants to hone their acting skills and an evening of entertainment for those whod rather just kick back and watch! Big in Australia, Aubs is bringing it to the Carlton as part of his world tour! Drawing on the inspirational work of Keith Johnstone, Raw! Theatre uses improvisation as a technique to explore imaginative characterisations, free flowing narratives and dynamic interaction. Essentially its a Whos Line Is It Anyway for the stage! Structured as a series of improvisational games, Raw! Theatre is spiced with a sense of friendly rivalry and competitive fun as two teams perform not only for the adulation of the crowd, but for

points awarded by a jury of their peers. The team that accumulates the most points at the end of the evening will be deemed Raw! Theatre champions! In the weeks leading up to a Raw! Theatre performance, the teams - and anyone else whod care to join us - are introduced to the various games (referred to as challenges), which are designed to let their imaginations propel the performance. In Raw! Theatre improvisation is about going with the theatrical flow and giving way to the spontaneous dialogue and actions that a performer might have been inspired to use if they hadnt been acting at the time Auditions start at 8pm and will be an energetic affair so please remember to wear comfortable clothing. If you have any questions or would like further information, you can email rawtheatre@yahoo.co.uk or phone Aubs on 07966 556 272. Workshops: Just a little reminder that anyone who would like to be involved in the workshops we will be starting rehearsals, castings, etc. the week beginning Monday 18 November. Please could anyone who has a play in mind (either a director needing a cast or vice versa!) let the committee know as soon as possible as we would like to get a rehearsal schedule together in time for the 18th If anyone needs information on what the workshops are all about please give a member of the committee a shout. The performances will be Friday 28th Feb and Saturday 1st March with a dress rehearsal on Thursday 27th February. Christmas Party: The big date is Saturday 7 December at 7pm at the Wimbledon Community Centre. Val is also organising a Carlton Arts Exhibition and Fair. Scheduled for next Spring. Details to follow! May Production: Has been chosen and its Dr and Mrs Faustus directed by Mehmet Izbudak. A snippet In a London suburb, there lives a Dr Adam Faustus, an unpublished lecturer in Marketing and Media Studies at the University of North Cheam. He has tried several times to become head of department but with no success. His other half, Mrs Eva Faustus, is a former TV soap star who hasnt been offered a part for 13 years in spite of having one of the countrys top agents representing her. Their lot is not a happy one: no children, inertia, an indestructible mortgage and a car that needs constant repair. Moreover, middle age and middle age spread have installed themselves permanently into their lives and bodies. The mind boggles! Thats it from me. Im off to Australia on Friday November 8. Thank you to all for your friendship, your encouragement and your guidance. I leave with many great memories. Many months ago I asked Denis Steer, a member since 1946, to draft a few words as to the history of the Carlton, what follows are his thoughts and reminiscences. Andrew Smith

Denis writes: In response to a request from Andrew I have been constrained to write a potted history of the Carlton during the time that I have had the honour to be a member. Someone once said that times change and that we too change with them. The Carlton is no exception to that rule and many and varied have been the changes over the years. My love affair with the theatre began as a small child, but probably blossomed toward the end of the Second World War, when I found myself in the improbable role of Entertainments Officer to the RAF in the South East Asia Air Command New Delhi. I have always believed that listening to other peoples theatrical reminiscences is probably the ultimate in boredom. I shall, therefore, not dwell on that aspect of my career, but rather on the fact that it led me, on repatriation and demob to my native Wimbledon, where I looked for some way of continuing my theatrical activities. Thus, I was directed in 1946 to the Carlton Dramatic Society. Formed by a group of enthusiasts from Wimbledon Park and Southfields in 1927, the Society was emerging from its war time recession and was looking for young actors to swell its membership. In those days, one had to undergo a stringent audition before admission. Presumably I must have met the required standard as I found myself playing a small part in the Societys first production after the war Agatha Christies Ten Little Niggers. Not the acme of political correctness by todays standards! That play was performed at St Marks Hall, Compton Road, which became the Marlborough Hall and in turn the library annexe. For the next twenty years or so the Carlton transferred its productions to the Civic Hall, a prestigious theatre adjoining the Town Hall. Centre Court shopping center now stands on the site. With seating for over 1,200 and a gallery extending farther back than the upper circle of Drury Lane, it is amazing to think that the Carlton often played to capacity at that venue in the early years. The resident director, at that time was one Vivienne Hall, a formidable lady standing five feet nothing in her size two shoes. She taught me the arts of projection, timing, pointing, pausing, listening etc. Another feature of the Carlton season, apart from the three major annual productions, was entry into the various drama festivals. Following a the 1963 production of the morality play Everyman at various churches around the South East of England including St Pauls Covent Garden and St Matthews Slough came an invitation to perform the play in St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle! I well remember the dress rehearsal, one cold March Sunday and how eerie it was to be acting in medieval costume among the ghosts of so many of Englands monarchs. The one performance was on Maundy Thursday 1963 and the entire Royal Family, who were spending Easter at Windsor, were present. The cast was presented afterwards and the Queen told me afterwards that she had been very moved. Whether there was any ambiguity in this comment I have never pondered! From that highpoint, it is sadly true that audiences became more difficult to attract. Houses were measured in tens rather than hundreds. Productions have been presented in almost bewildering succession at least to me. From my records, I am astonished to see that my own tally of plays for the Carlton alone numbers over 160! I am sad of course, that my participation in the Societys activities has been very curtailed in recent years. My fault not the Carltons, but I am delighted that the Society flourishes with its current membership. They carry a very illustrious and proud tradition.