Ideas?

 

Thanks!

 

This show follow the Stykes Upon Thump, Repatory Theater and thier "15th" fairwell performance of thier signature show, A Christmas Carol.  But I assure you, this ain't your normal Christmas Carol. The "Company" was once a fine repeatory company, whose costumes, now a bit run down, were once the finest. Their  traveling set, once quite versatile and fitting to the peice, now shakes and rattels with every entrance.  Its played by seven actors who do ALL of the characters in the classic tale... Though they still give it there best, you can tell they are a little tired of it all.  The company Diva decides she dosn't want to go on that night and is sure the company will cancel when she calls in sick.  Ever the troupers, the understudy is given the smallest role and everyone else moves up on place in the show. Problems begin when the understudy only knows one line and must hide her script everywhere from in her muff to the christmas pudding bowl.  Then the diva decides to come back and claim her place on the stage with the show already in progress. But the gal who moved up dosesnt want to give it up, so you wind up with battleing mrs Cratchets, cat fights over costumes, battered christmas pasts and all sorts of mayhem.. as the pace of the show increases and along with both ladies trying to take out the other, people start showing up with less and less of the correct costumes during the changes... (which happen fast!)   in one scene, Bob Cratchet says "Excuse me" as i leaving for the bathroom, goes out one door and comes in another as one of the gentleman soliciting scrooge for the poor... I have done this show twice, and hope to do it again soon.. it is a huge hoot to do and great audince pleaser.

Anyways, it is called "Greetings!" by Tom Dudzick.  It's a great read and should be read more than once to find the true meaning of the show.  It does deal with religious text, but is not the over all theme of the show.

http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/611 - http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/611

This show has been a hit the many places I have seen it or produced it. 

Of course if your not from the south it may not fly. ;)

Check out Inspecting Carol.  We produced it two months ago and it was a great hit.  It's relatively new (early '90's) written by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan and Seattle Rep. Theatre.  It's a cast of 12.  It's like the movie "Waiting for Guffman" combined with Noises Off and A Christmas Carol.

 

A theatre group is in jeopardy of losing their grant from the NEA, so the NEA is sending an inspector to view their next play.  The theatre group is a small equity company and pay their actors.  They are so low on funds, they can only afford to pay for four days of rehearsal.  But, not a problem because they are producing the same play they always do - A Christmas Carol, with most of the same cast they've used the past twelve years, including the same big kid that plays Tiny Tim.  The actors that plays Cratchit is seeing a chiroprator because he has to carry Tiny on his shoulders.  A guy shows up at the theatre and the company thinks it's the NEA inspector.  The company finds out this guy always wanted to be an actor, so they put him in the play.  It turns out this guy is the world's worst actor ever and you come to find out later in the play - he's not the guy from the NEA.  The real lady from the NEA shows up in act II.

 

I'ts just a hoot.  Give it a serious look.

Later,

John

Linda

2 m, 2 f, 6 kids roles with flexible casting

 

Several orphans and some homeless kids they picked up along the way are hiding out from the unscrupulous matron of a childrens home.  A burglar dressed as Santa Claus dupes a couple of them into helping him break into the houses, causing the police to begin looking for the children as well.  Who could possibly save the runaways and set things straight?  Ahh, you know who.

 

http://christmascaper.homestead.com - http://christmascaper.homestead.com

 

 

Happy Holidays!

    While I am sure French can get you a copy, the actual publishing house for the show is BAKER PLAYS.

    The play is a blast.  I love slapstick comedy and farce and this play is both.  And as to the issue of the shortness of the play, the script is quite flexible and all sorts of caroling and business can easily make it as long as you want

                                        JAT

Get into & intoduceryour punters to the wonderful world of "He's behind you!".

Great fun to do & the punters will ask for 'more'.

I only wish here in OZ our mob would get into it!

 

 

Where do I find this play? I would really love to read it.  I googled it and all that came up was this discussion board.   Which theater house has the script?

 

Thanks,

Kendra

 *gets a sticky note with "Total Dork" written on it and sticks on forehead*.

Sure there are a few theatre groups here who have done a Panto over the years. Even though those theatre groups are mainly made up with pohmy members, they have been rather pathetic attempts.

I thgought I might have convinced my theatre to have a go last year. But they begged off & avioded the propsal. Even though I managed to get a CD of a local UK panto for them to view?

[The CD was sent to me by 'Flange' from the amdram. co.uk discussion forum, of one of his groups panto productions = which was great!]

However I have not given up yet & will be pushing to do one this year, at our newly refurbished venue.

Although as we don't have a lot of pohms in the group, it is difficult for them to understand the panto concept. Where by the 'Principal Boy' is female & the 'Dame' is a bloke?

But we might get it together for an 'Xmas in July' show?

On another tangent Stuart, I have them perusing Nigel Holloways Radio Play 'Big Idea' for possibly a near future season.

http://www.off-the-wall-plays.co.uk/7.html - http://www.off-the-wall-plays.co.uk/7.html

As soon as I can fleece the our local Council for a grant!

 

 

A Savoy Christmas Carol - an adaptation of Dickens' original story set to the music of G&S

 

It's not a panto version (I think someone else has done that!), but it's true to the original 'feel' of Dickens' ghostly tale - perfect for an interesting Christmas Show with a difference.

 

For more details, see the website:

 

http://www.xmas-carol.co.uk - www.xmas-carol.co.uk

 

And you can get it from Stuart at Lazy Bee Scripts...

I think i have swayed my mob on doing your 'Big Idea', but I will have to wait untill I can push it thru the sausage machine at our next meeting? which has been penciled in for the 9th of April. But since we have been using other venues, wating for ours to be refurbished, they have fallen into a trough some what!

Also they seem to get lost if the group loose it's figure head [chairman]. The last one got a position in a US university & evaporated.

they are rather like a mob of wooly jumpers at time.

So i have been running about like a 'blue heeler' & yapping at thier heels, to work as a group & not wait for one of thier number to say follow me.

They are a great mob - but still like Browns cows!

Our new theatre is finished & we have a lot to remodifing it suit a performance cpace, so a lot to do for this old fart!

I will keep yours & Stuarts suggestions in mind as an alternative to doing a panto. Then ease them in to 'He's behind you?' latter - if I live that long?

Hopefully you & Stuart will be hearing from me soon.

 

But back to Panto...

 

One of the other Off-The-Wall Plays has the group turning up to perform the Mikado, only to find an audience from the local prison expecting a Pantomime...so, rather than argue about it (quick-thinking bunch as they are), they rewrite the Mikado as a Pantomime (complete with Daisy the Cow - both halves of her).  The principle boy (that's always a beautiful girl for those of you not immersed in the tradition) does a sing-a-long version of Ko-Ko's Little List song - but in her case, listing all the sexual perversions she's tried.

 

The play's called 'Murdering the Mikado' and you can find details on:

 

http://www.off-the-wall-plays.co.uk - www.off-the-wall-plays.co.uk

 

cheers

 

I produced a lovely Christmas show in December 07 called FIVE CANDLES.

Five children plus one woman and one man--and an ensemble of any age.

 

Very sweet--lovely music.

 

 

John O'Hara

 

 

 

 

 

In the same vein as "The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (abridged)" - three men creating a Reader's Digest of holiday/Christmas stories.

 

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1241 - http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1241