The Game's Afoot – November 2017

15-18 November 2017

Ken Ludwig’s

THE

GAME’S AFOOT or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

“A comedy Whodunnit… snappy, clever and inspired.”

Wednesday 15th – Saturday 18th November 2017 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm) Cheriton Village Hall SO24 0PZ www.thecheritonplayers.org.uk TGA_Prog.indd 1

05/11/2017 07:02

TGA_Prog.indd 2

05/11/2017 07:02

present

Ken Ludwig’s

THE GAME’S AFOOT or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A comedy whodunnit in two acts

15th – 18th November 2017

From the Director When Ken Ludwig sat down to write The Game’s Afoot, he set for himself the mantra ‘Relentlessly Entertaining’, even putting a note to that effect on his desk, and he didn’t put pen to paper – or, more likely these days, finger to keyboard – until he had meticulously researched the structure and features of the best mysteries and mystery plays that he could find. So prepare yourselves for an evening which we hope will be more entertaining than relentless and more mysterious than mystifying.

actually was a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Gillette did get Conan Doyle’s permission to write a play about the famous detective, and he did star in it for a total of 1,300 performances over the course of 30 years, playing to enthusiastic audiences in London and New York.

He also really did build a fantastic home filled with all the latest gadgetry. However, there the reality ends and our play begins...

Helena Gomm

Our play concerns William Gillette, who really did exist and who

TGA_Prog.indd 3

05/11/2017 07:02

• Family run business • Established over 40 years • Large showroom and workshop Telephone: 01962 771800 steve.cann@btconnect.com www.georgecannmachinery.co.uk Laceys Farm, Bramdean, Alresford SO24 0JT

MALCOLM EDWARDS GENERAL BUILDER

T: 01489 894995 mledwards8@gmail.com Extensions The Chapel School Lane Cheriton Hampshire SO24 0QA tel 01962 771828 fax 01962 771442

TGA_Prog.indd 4

Renovations New Build

Est. 1979

05/11/2017 07:02

Cheriton, Nr. Alresford, Hampshire. SO24 0PX Telephone: Bramdean 01962 771 251

Support your local village shop and Post Office.

Call in and see us for * MEAT FROM LOCAL BUTCHERS * GOOD SELECTION OF WINES, LAGERS & SPIRITS * NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES & CONFECTIONERY * FRESH BREAD & CAKES DAILY * LOCAL CHEESES * CHILLED & FROZEN PRODUCE

* DRY CLEANING & SHOE REPAIRS * FAX & PHOTOCOPYING

Forthcoming Productions The next production is A Christmas Carol Reboot, being brought to us by BBV Theatre, a great way to kick start the festive season. Please do come along and support them (and us) on Friday December 1st and Saturday December 2nd at 7.30pm.

Tickets are on sale through our normal box office www.ticketsource.co.uk/ cheritonplayers And don’t forget that you can keep up to date with all of our news on our website www.theceritonplayers.org.uk

www.thecheritonplayers.org/comingsoon

TGA_Prog.indd 5

05/11/2017 07:02

present

Ken Ludwig’s

THE GAME’S AFOOT

or HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays (to give it its full title) was first presented by Cleveland Play House at the Allen Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, US on December 2nd, 2011. Michael Bloom was the Artistic Director. The play won the Edgar Allen Poe Award (The Edgar) awarded by the Mystery Writers of America, as the Best Mystery Play of 2012. This production is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.

The Cast William Gillette Martha Gillette Simon Bright Aggie Wheeler Madge Geisel Felix Geisel Daria Chase Inspector Goring Policeman Director Producers Stage Managers Crew Lighting/sound Special effects Gun Hire Wardrobe Hair and make-up Props Prompts Set design Set build Décor Sound effects Photography Publicity Programme/poster design Front of House

The Production Team

Richard Perkins Pauline Cornter Craig Robb Claire Smith Marilyn Weston David Cradduck Fiona Mackay Katie Hinds Paul McTaggart

Helena Gomm Jan Conway, Pauline Cornter Angela Ledsham, Jan Conway Tim Conway, Paul McTaggart Jamie Herdman, Graham Arnott Jamie Herdman, Graham Arnott History in the Making Pauline Cornter, Jan Conway Julia Kimber Jan Conway, Pauline Cornter, Melissa Simm Rosie Reay, Melissa Simm Paul Hellard Paul Hellard, Peter Reay, Dave Wright Henrietta Hellard www.freesfx.co.uk Craig Robertson, David Robinson David Cradduck Ian Lock Helena Gomm, Sue Herdman and team

The action takes place in the living room of William Gillette’s mansion in Henley-on-Thames in December 1936. There are several gunshots and thunder/lightning effects during the performance. There are two acts, between which refreshments will be served. Total running time approximately 2 hours 50 minutes including a 20 minute interval.

TGA_Prog.indd 6

05/11/2017 07:02

We would like to thank all those who assisted with this production and to those who lent or hired props and furniture, especially Chesil Theatre, Hampshire Wardrobe, WMOS and Caroline Taylor for hair styling.

Please turn off all mobile phones and keep aisles clear at all times.

Please refrain from flash photography and note that video or audio recording of the performance is prohibited.

From the Chair Welcome to our autumn production, The Game’s Afoot. Tonight’s production has both intrigue and mystery in equal measure, with a bit of Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare thrown in. A real whodunnit.

You will see that we managed to entice Helena Gomm to direct again, following the enormous success of Cash On Delivery this time last year. Who could forget it?

Thanks to Helena once again for her patience and tenacity. Thanks, too, to everyone who has helped backstage and front of house.

It is with great sadness that we have learnt that our dear friend Barbara Large passed away in October.

Barbara had been ill for some time which unfortunately meant she

could not participate as fully in our productions in recent months as she would have liked. Nevertheless, over the years, Barbara’s contribution to the Players has been invaluable. She directed many of our recent plays, including Ten Times Table, Season’s Greetings and Blithe Spirit. She was a true professional in every sense and I know that everyone who worked with her will echo that sentiment.

We extend our thoughts and best wishes to Reg and the family who have kindly extended an invitation to come and celebrate Barbara’s life in the village hall at 2pm on Monday 27th November. Reg would be delighted to see as many of Barbara’s friends as can make it.

Marilyn Weston

Cheriton Players is a small friendly theatre group always keen to encourage new members to join us onstage, backstage and front of house. If you are interested in joining the Players, please get in touch through the website www.thecheritonplayers.org.uk or by email to thecheritonplayers@gmail.com You can also join our mailing list through the website to receive our regular newsletters and details of future productions. We would love to hear from you!

TGA_Prog.indd 7

05/11/2017 07:02

BIOGRAPHIES

Helena Gomm

Pauline Cornter

(Director)

(Martha Gillette)

Only 12 months ago, Helena directed Michael Cooney’s hilarious Cash on Delivery (who will forget that amazing robotic washing machine?). The Game’s Afoot is Helena’s second full role as director with Cheriton Players, having also directed the ‘drama’ pieces of the last two Variety Shows. She also directed Neville’s Island and Night of January 16th for West Meon Theatre.

She is regularly seen on the Cheriton stage – whenever there is a part for a grumpy old battleaxe, she says. Recent appearances were as Lady Julia in Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, for which she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy in the 2015 Daily Echo Curtain Call awards, Mary in Third Week in August and Louisa Baird, the undercover cop in (Another) Murder in Cheriton!

Richard Perkins

(William Gillette) Richard’s early acting career consisted of semi-scripted New Year Mummers’ Plays (an excuse for a pub-crawl around the New Forest). Early Cheriton roles were in Cat on the Fiddle and as Alastair Spenlow in Move over Mrs Markham. His many characters have included vicars, butlers and doctors! He appeared in the Cheriton 2000 Revue, several parts in Confusions and The Real Inspector Hound. Richard was seen in Out of Order, Table Manners, ’Allo ’Allo, Habeas Corpus, The Ghost Train, Don’t Dress for Dinner. More recently he was Bernard in Seasons Greetings, grumpy old laird Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe in Oh Clarence! and took on the major role of Baines, the butler, in Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime. His most recent appearance was in Cash on Delivery. When not acting or selling/planting trees, Richard can be found on Amazon as co-author of a delightfully witty book about cricket entitled Not Out First Ball.

TGA_Prog.indd 8

Pauline is one of the longest-serving members of Cheriton Players and as well as directing – credits include ’Allo ’Allo, Alice, An Inspector Calls and the award winning Third Week in August – has played a huge number of leading roles at Cheriton, such as Eliza in My Fair Lady and her favourite character of all, Mole in Wind in the Willows. Other appearances include The Importance of Being Earnest, Salad Days, Lock up Your Daughters, Confusions, Oliver!, Jungle Fantasy, Murder in Cheriton!, several Old Tyme Music Halls and Habeus Corpus, for which she was nominated for a Curtain Call award for her portrayal of Mrs Swabb. She was Audrey Evans in Ten Times Table, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit and the super sleuth Miss Maple in Murdered to Death. She appeared in multiple roles in A Bolt from the Blue and sang in The Great Cheriton Variety Show and The Even Greater Cheriton Variety Show. She most recently played Penny Pincher, one of the dubious suspects in (Another) Murder in Cheriton! Pauline is often involved backstage in our productions even when not acting or directing.

Marilyn Weston

(Madge Geisel) Marilyn first became involved with amateur dramatics whilst living in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1980s. Her first involvement was sourcing costumes for The Pirates of Penzance and her second sourcing props for Fiddler on the Roof, including live chickens and ducks!

Since 1993 Marilyn has been involved with ACTS, usually back stage as Stage Manager, but did venture on stage for their production of Sandcastles, where she played the cantankerous grandma – thankfully heavily disguised.

This is only her third stage role with Cheriton Players, having been in the audience on many occasions before her first appearance as Rachel in Season’s Greetings. She said at the time that she was a little nervous to be playing

alongside some experienced am drammers! She then went on to play Mrs Baker, the formidable cleaning lady in A Month of Sundays and is the current Players’ Chairman…that’ll teach her to come and see our plays too often (audience, beware!).

David Cradduck

(Felix Geisel) David joined the Players in 1974 at the age of just 20.

Credits here include title/lead roles in Charley’s Aunt, Wind in the Willows, Worzel Gummidge, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime (1994), Pride and Prejudice, Outside Edge, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Inspector Calls, Oh Clarence! and A Month of Sundays.

Other productions include Oliver! (as Fagin), The Real Inspector Hound/Black Comedy, Jungle Fantasy, The Noble Spaniard, Out of Order, A Christmas Carol, Table Manners, Murder in Cheriton!, ’Allo ’Allo, The Ghost Train, Ten Times Table, Alice, Murdered to Death, Season’s Greetings, A Bolt from the Blue and Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime (2015) . He won the 2015 Curtain Call Award for ‘Best Actor in a Comedy’ for Third Week in August. He was the council benefits inspector in Cash on Delivery and took part in the Even Greater Cheriton Variety Show and last appeared as Admiral Redbeard in (Another) Murder in Cheriton! He is also a member of RAODS and Maskers Theatre Co. where credits include Noises Off, Under Milkwood, Mikado, Relative Values, Tom Jones, Shadowlands and Far from the Madding Crowd. He has directed three Cheriton shows, including Alan Ayckbourn’s Confusions.

05/11/2017 07:02

(Simon Bright) Craig is now very much a regular face on the Cheriton stage. He started acting as a teenager in a local company in Weymouth, where he played the lead in Pure and Organic and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol before taking a 20-year break to concentrate on his career. Craig rekindled his love of drama playing the Rev Rupert Bingham in Oh Clarence! at Cheriton. He took part in the Great Cheriton Variety Show (in which he played the hilarious Claude Body in the melodrama) and then went on to play the lead and title role in Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, which he says was his most demanding role so far. He tackled an altogether different character in the form of Cooper’s ‘flat-roofed’ son-in-law, Peter, in A Month of Sundays and was Norman Bassett in the farce Cash on Delivery.

Craig has also written a musical and a one act play – Grave Concerns – which was performed last year as a rehearsed reading. He also coordinated and directed the rehearsed reading of Young Jane in September.

Claire Smith

(Aggie Wheeler) Claire has been involved in theatre in one form or another since the age of five when she started learning to dance.

She soon started joining musical theatre groups. Since returning from university, Claire has been busy with WMOS (Winchester Musicals and Opera Society), mainly taking parts in the chorus and as a dancer. In recent years she has taken roles such as Hebe in HMS Pinafore and Lady Ella in Patience. Claire was involved in the Great Cheriton Variety Show, mostly singing in various roles – as a cat, posh lady and in the chorus.

She also recently appeared as Nellie in Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, her first appearance in a non-musical production since secondary school, and she then took on the challenging role of Julia in A Month of Sundays.

TGA_Prog.indd 9

Claire was part of the hilarious line up for Cash on Delivery and will be remembered for many a year as Mary Poppins in the recent Even Greater Cheriton Variety Show.

Fiona Mackay

(Daria Chase) This is Fiona’s first production with Cheriton Players, but we certainly hope that it won’t be her last. She says she is thoroughly enjoying the role of Daria Chase as it gives her the opportunity to be really bitchy to the other characters, whilst at the same time trying to look glamorous (not a natural look for Fiona, she says, but we disagree). Fiona may be new to the Cheriton stage but she is a very experienced actress – the majority of her past productions have been with RAODS in Romsey, and amongst her favourites were Murdered to Death, Ladies’ Day, Ladies Down Under and A Bedfull of Foreigners.

Paul McTaggart

(The Policeman) Paul is a keen member of Cheriton Players, having joined a few years ago to help back stage for Blithe Spirit and ‘got the bug’ for all things theatrical. Although normally backstage – his roles have included Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager and Props Manager, Paul appeared as the Red King in the Players’ outdoor production of Alice, as Police Sgt. Evans in Oh Clarence! and Mr Zanussi, the washing machine man in Cash on Delivery (he was also responsible for driving it!). Paul is often called on as a supporting artist in film and TV work and is a keen amateur film cameraman who has been responsible for many of the promotional videos used to advertise our shows.

BIOGRAPHIES

Craig Robb

Katie Hinds

(Inspector Goring) Katie joined the Cheriton Players in 2014, but her first role on stage with them was over a year later as Sybil in Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, playing opposite her real-life husband Craig in the title role. She also appeared in Night of January 16th with the West Meon Theatre, directed by this evening’s director Helena Gomm, and many years prior to this, Katie’s acting credits were with St Anne’s Convent school in Southampton, Rosalie Woollcombe in Winchester and the Liverpool University Drama Society. Her most recent appearances on the Cheriton stage were as Sally Chessington in Cash on Delivery and Chummy Lovegood, one of the suspects in (Another) Murder in Cheriton! She is also an active member of the Cheriton Singers.

05/11/2017 07:02

Past Productions (Another) Murder in Cheriton! June 2017 Cash on Delivery Nov 2016 A Month of Sundays March 2016 Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime Nov 2015 Third Week in August June 2015 The Great Cheriton Variety Show

April 2015 Oh Clarence!

May 2014 An Inspector Calls Dec 2013 A Bolt from the Blue April 2013 Season’s Greetings Nov 2012 Murdered to Death May 2012 Clerical Errors Nov 2011 Alice June 2011 Blithe Spirit Nov 2010 Don’t Dress For Dinner April 2010 Together4Christmas December 2009 Ten Times Table April/May 2009 The Ghost Train November 2008 Habeas Corpus April 2008 ’Allo ’Allo November 2007 Murder in Cheriton!

May 2007 The Champion of Paribanou

January 2007 Parallel Lines November 2006 Table Manners April 2006 A Christmas Carol December 2005 Out of Order April 2005 Idol Talent January 2005 The Noble Spaniard November 2004 Jungle Fantasy May 2004 The Real Inspector Hound & Black Comedy November 2003 Oliver!

January 2003 Don’t Utter a Note May 2002 Forty – Not Out! December 2001 Murder in Play March 2001 Confusions November 2000 An Evening’s Entertainment March 2000 Move over Mrs Markham

November 1999 Party Piece November 1998 After the Ball is Over April 1998 And then there were None

November 1997 Cat on the Fiddle April 1997 Love’s a Luxury November 1996 She Stoops to Conquer April 1996

TGA_Prog.indd 10

Key for Two November 1995 ‘Bless ’em All’ May 1995 Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime Nov 1994 Pardon Me, Prime Minister April 1994 Variety Music Hall November 1993 Murder in Company April 1993 Worzel Gummidge November 1992 Outside Edge April 1992 My Fair Lady November 1991 Two One-Act Plays April 1991 Lock up Your Daughters November 1990 Haul for the Shore May 1990 Best of Old Time Music Hall

February 1990 Tons of Money November 1989 The Late Mr. Larrington April 1989 Merry Christmas Music Hall

December 1988 Man Alive April 1988 The Wind in the Willows

December 1987 I’ll Get My Man May 1987 Music Hall Jan/Feb 1987 Laughter in the Dark December 1986 Salad Days April 1986 The Proof of the Poison December 1985 Gala Music Hall September 1985 Charley’s Aunt May 1985 Music Hall February 1985 Small Hotel November 1984 Beyond a Joke May 1984 Music Hall February 1984 Play On! November 1983 Present Laughter May 1983 Old Time Music Hall February 1983 And So To Bed November 1982 Here We Come Gathering April 1982 Music Hall February 1982 Book of the Month November 1981 Pride and Prejudice May 1981 Music Hall Jan/Feb 1981 The Full Treatment November 1981 Fish Out of Water May 1980 Music Hall February 1980 A Friend Indeed November 1979 Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime April 1979 Music Hall January 1970 Jam Tomorrow November 1978

White Sheep of the Family Old Time Music Hall

April 1978 Jan/Feb 1978

Love Birds

November 1977

Running Riot

May 1977

Jubilee Revue

January 1977

Your Obedient Servant November 1976 Person Unknown

April 1976

Old Time Music Hall

January 1976

The Importance of Being Earnest

November 1975

Wolf’s Clothing

April 1975

Old Time Music Hall

Jan/Feb 1975

Love’s a Luxury

November 1974

Sailor Beware

April 1974

Old Time Music Hall

Jan 1974

See How They Run

November 1973

Doctor in the House

April 1973

Old Time Music Hall

January 1973

Quiet Weekend

November 1972

Who Lies There

April 1972

Old Time Music Hall

January 1972

Pools Paradise

November 1971

Something to Hide

April 1971

Old Time Music Hall

January 1971

Beside the Seaside

November 1970

Trap for a Lonely Man Man Alive

February 1970 November 1969

Busybody

May 1969

Sleeping Partnership Dear Delinquent

February 1969 November 1968

Goodnight, Mrs Puffin

May 1968

A Pig in a Poke

February 1968

Wanted One Bod

November 1967

Still Life & Speaking Terms

July 1967

Flat Spin

May 1967

The Happiest Days of Your Life

February 1967

See How They Run

October 1966

The Bride and the Batchelor April 1966 Breath of Spring

November 1965

Blithe Spirit

November 1964

Pools Paradise

May 1964

One Man Banned

November 1963

Haul for the Shore

November 1962

Friends and Neighbours Here We Come Gathering

March 1962 Nov 1961

05/11/2017 07:02

TGA_Prog.indd 11

05/11/2017 07:02

TGA_Prog.indd 12

05/11/2017 07:02

mill farm trees Hedging Plants .

Broadleaved Trees .

Native Shrubs .

Winchester 01962 862400 07850 947749 rp@mftrees.co.uk www.millfarmtreeswinchester.co.uk

. Box . Buckthorn . Cherry . Crab Apple . Dogwood . Elder . Field Maple . Guelder Rose . Hawthorn . Hazel . Holly . Hornbeam .

. Box . Buckthorn . Cherry . Crab Apple . Dogwood . Elder . Field Maple . Guelder Rose . Hawthorn . Hazel . Holly . Hornbeam .

Alder . Ash . Beech . Birch . Blackthorn

NOW PLAYING THE MUSIC FROM YOUR LIFE

winchestertoday.co.uk/listen

Coming soon ...

A Service and Repair Facility for most makes of motor vehicles. Agents for Castrol Classic lubricants.

Please feel free to contact Mike or Shane for your requirements: Tel: Alresford (01962) 734466

www.servicepointalresford.co.uk

Norway Maple . Lime . Horse Chestnut

TGA_Prog.indd 13

05/11/2017 07:02

3 East Street, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9EE

Tel 01962 736926 tim@gibbonssolicitors.co.uk www.gibbonssolicitors.co.uk

email

A recognised sole practice – Solicitors Regulation Authority No 617854

TGA_Prog.indd 14

05/11/2017 07:02

IVC

IVC

Cars Chosen Chosen With Care Care

Our good name means everything to us FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT SIMON BROWN OR TIM DEBUES ON

TELEPHONE:01962 733097 IVCUK.COM BELMONT HOUSE, THE DEAN, ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE, SO24 9BQ

TGA_Prog.indd 15 PLAY.indd 1 IVC CARS AD_CHER

05/11/2017 07:02 02/11/2016 21:48:59

TGA_Prog.indd 16

05/11/2017 07:02