The New Garrick Gazette Issue 578 August 2020
Garrick Theatre Club (Inc) www.garricktheatre.asn.au 16 Meadow Street, Guildford PO Box 122, Guildford WA 6935 Editor: Douglas Sutherland-Bruce In this issue:
The New Garrick Gazette Published by: Printed by: ISSN (Print edition): ISSN (Online edition)
The Garrick Theatre Club (Inc) Docuprint 2652-4678 2652-4686 Copyright 2020 1
2020 Calendar
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Auditions
3
Editorial
2
Meet the Members
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The Committee
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The Hound of the Baskervilles
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“I believe that in a great city, or even in a small city or a village, a great theatre is the outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture.” – Laurence Olivier
EDITORIAL AS YOU READ THIS, the future of WA Theatre hangs in the balance. If Clive Palmer’s High Court case succeeds and WA is forced to open its borders it is not impossible that we may see the sort of second wave of the Covid-19 virus that had regrettably occurred in Victoria. WA, as at the 30July has three active cases, all in quarantine, while Victoria has 4,839 active cases, many of unknown cause. The WA State Government has very cautiously pushed the introduction of Stage 5, the removal of all internal regulations, back a fortnight to the 15th August, and depending on the outcome of the court case, may push it back even further. The significance of that to theatre is the provision of a two metre between patrons. In Stage 4 we can seat perhaps twenty-five in the audience, in Stage 5, seventy-three. However, the cast and crew of The Hound of The Baskervilles have worked so hard and in such faith, that, subject to legal changes, we will open on the 17th September regardless of the size of the audience. This means that when the bookings open to the public on the 15th August, we may only have very limited seating and we won’t know until rather closer to the time exactly how many seats we will have for sale. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest news. We are doing this because the absolute priority of the President and Executive Committee is the health and well-being of our cast and crew, our audiences and the community at large. Balancing the various demands and wishes of the various branches of our community is tricky and requires a good deal of compromise by all parties and a lot of patience and understanding. But it is vital for the health of our theatre family, our local community and Western Australia at large. Until we next see each other on the green ... Garrick Theatre Club (Inc) proudly presents
Directed by Douglas Sutherland-Bruce
Douglas Sutherland-Bruce, Editor.
Any views expressed in this editorial are those of Dr Sutherland-Bruce alone and may not reflect those of the President and Executive Committee
Oscar Wilde’s Timeless Comedy
The Importance of Being Earnest
Nov/ Dec
Tickets: Adults - $25 Concession - $22 Members - $20 Booking: Elaine: 9378 1990 or www.TryBooking.com bookings@garricktheatre.asn.au
Thu 26 3 10
Fri 27 4 11
Sat 28 5¶ 12
Sun 29* 6*
Curtain Up Evenings: 8:00pm Matinées: 2:00pm ¶ Matinée and Evening * Matinées only
26th November to 12th December, 2020 Earnest Poster2.indd 1
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23/10/19 5:00 pm
AUDITIONS FOLLOWING THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES our next production will be the classic, described and generally agreed as one of the funniest in the English language - The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde. We do not have exact performance dates as yet but it will likely go up in the middle/late of November until the first or second week of December. We may hope for the originally planned dates of 26th November to 12th December.
The roles up for audition are: (Ages are stage ages, not actual ages) Lane, valet to Mr Moncrieff - age flexible, but nominally early 30s. Earnest Worthing, wealthy landowner - age 30-40 Algernon Moncrieff, penurious layabout - age 25-35 Gwendoline Fairfax, Earnest’s love interest - age 22-26 Merriman, Mr Worthing’s butler - age, elderly Milly, Mr Worthing’s maid - age 18 - 25 Tilly, Mr Worthing’s maid - age 18 - 25 Cecily Cardew, Mr Worthing’s ward - age 18 (but admitting to 20 at evening parties) Canon Chasuble, the local divine - age 55 upwards
All roles will require English accents, and Earnest, Algernon, Gwendolene and Cecily will be required to speak Standard English.
The production will be the play as written - set in 1895.
Auditions are on the 8th August 10am to 5pm with odd spots and /or call backs on the 9th of August. Please ring and book a spot with the director, Douglas Sutherland-Bruce, on 0418-934-850. There will be a cold reading and you may prepare a short audition piece. 2020 CALENDAR FOR GARRICK THEATRE CLUB (INC): August 8th/9th August 29th September 12th September 12th September 17th October 3rd October 24th October 31st November 13th November 14th November 26th December 12th December 19th
Auditions ~ The Importance of Being Earnest. TAG Workshop 11:00am to 2:00pm TAG Workshop 11:00am to 2:00pm Play Reading Night. Opening of The Hound of the Baskervilles, is a comedy thriller inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Kent R Brown. Directed by Rodney Stickells-Palmer and Gail Lusted. A joint TAG production. Last night of The Hound of the Baskervilles TAG Workshop 11:00am to 2:00pm Halloween Party. Annual General Meeting. TAG Workshop 11:00am to 2:00pm Opening of The Importance of Being Earnest, a trivial comedy for serious people, written by Oscar Wilde, directed by Douglas Sutherland-Bruce. Last night of The Importance of Being Earnest Christmas Party. 3
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, suddenly a blood-curdling scream rang out. It was a scream of laughter yes, that’s right Teens at Garrick were rehearsing their next production, The Hound of the Baskervilles under the direction of Gail Lusted and Rodney Stickells-Palmer. The play is adapted, fairly loosely, on the classic novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Kent R Brown, who has taken the main thread and booted out Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr John H Watson, replacing them with the two, more usual, protagonists’ close relations - Shirley Holmes, Sherlock’s neice (which makes her Mycroft Holmes’ daughter, I guess) and Jennie Watson, who are minding the shop at 221b Baker Street while they’re away. Shirley, studying logic, and Jennie, studying medicine, are busy preparing for upcoming exams when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Dr. Maxine Mortimer and Sir Henry A dramatic moment in rehearsal for the Hound Baskerville, who’ve come to seek the on Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/BHWCY. assistance of the famous Sherlock Holmes. There’s no time to recall Holmes and Watson from their trip. “We’re all you’ve got,” says Shirley. And indeed they are! In this fast-paced adaptation, full of wailing hounds, thundering hooves, and the slithering mists of the moor, Shirley and Jennie follow the trail of evidence and intrigue until, at last, they are confronted by the ravenous Hound itself! Shirley Holmes is played by Victoria Abbott and Jennie Watson by Olivia Fellows plus a large supporting cast of adults and teens. The Hound of the Baskervilles, as a comic thriller opens at Garrick Theatre Club Inc on the 30th April and runs at 8:00pm (and 2:00pm for matinees) at Garrick Theatre, 16 Meadow Street, Guildford until the 16th May. Tickets cost $25 for adults ($22 concession) and $15 for the twelve and under and may be booked by ringing Elaine on 9378 1990, emailing her on bookings@ garricktheatre.asn.au or
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MEET THE MEMBERS ‘DAME’ KERRY GOODE MISS KERRY (NICKNAMED ‘DAME KERRY’, later in life) was introduced to “being on stage” at the tender age of ten at no less a venue than the Fremantle Town Hall when she had to partner Tony Barber (yes, that Tony Barber from Sale of the Century) for school concerts. Kerry, an alto, was taller than Tony, a boy soprano so for the combined Catholic schools end of year pantomime Snow White and Rose Red Kerry was Prince Amatel and Tony was Rose Red. She continued her love of theatre with elocution lessons, classical ballet (with Dame Kira Bousloff) until she was eighteen, and tap dancing lessons with Kevan Johnston many decades later. All of which stood her in good stead later when choreographing nearly all of Garrick’s musicals, beginning with Fiddler on the Roof, followed by Brigadoon, Show Boat, The Boy Friend (twice) plus many revues. In her teens she joined Colleen Clifford’s theatrical troup learning musical theatre. From there it was the Therry Society where at sixteen she was playing forty year old roles on stage. One of the first performances was Quiet Weekend and she remembers Donna Sadka’s (theatre critic for The West Australian) review headline in bold print Weekenders on Stage, make of that what you will. It was at the Therry Society that she met husband Tom Goode, then the president of the club, but dating didn’t occur for quite a few years later. The happy marriage produced four children - Kathryn, Colleen, Matthew and Nathan. Of the four, the only one following in mother’s footsteps is Colleen, who’s not only performing, but also on Garrick’s committee, assisting with Wardrobe. Tom has volunteered to “digitalise” the Garrick archives,a huge endeavour, but he’ll get there.
The ‘Dame’ herself
Some wonderful classics have come her way while at the Garrick, such as Ibsen’s The Wild Duck directed by John Hyde and performed in the Guildford Town Hall, The One Day of the Year, Summer of the 17th Doll, Count Dracula...the list goes on. Then came the opportunity to join Oliver’s Olde Time Music Hall, where she stayed for fifteen years, doing seasonal shows throughout the State. Kerry has also performed for Limelight Theatre, KADS, Playlovers (of which she is a Life Member) and Marloo. Last year she played Martha in Arsenic and Old Lace for Marloo winning the Best Actress award . Kerry says: ‘It seems that the older one gets, the more opportunities present for older actors’, including her favourite plays: Quartet (for both Garrick and KADS) and Cranford, Oliver’s Olde Time Music Hall - 1995 L to R: Orrena Elder, then three Life Members of Garrick: Bernie directed by Ailsa Travers, which earned Doyle, Kerry Goode and Chris Holden her the Best Actress Award both at the 5
Finleys and Garrick for her role of Miss Matty. Then came the opportunity to play Lady Wishfort in Ray Omodei’s Garrick production of The Way of the World, now that was a challenge indeed she says – but also rewarding. The following year also directed by Ray Omodei came Salonika. Other memorable successes Kerry remembers with great fondness were Garrick Salutes Gallipoli and Cocky’s Crossing. But the biggest theatrical challenge of all came only last year when Kerry was cast as Katharine Susannah Prichard in Potchnagoola playing the author in a one act play as part of the celebration of her life on the 50th Anniversary of writer’s death. Potchnagoola was written by Louise Helfgott (David Helfgott’s sister) and directed by Douglas Sutherland-Bruce. This two-hander concentrated on a few months in Katharine’s later life when, at eighty-one, she was mentor and only friend to David Helfgott, then eighteen years old, , during David’s struggles with himself and his family whether to accept the offer from London’s Royal College of Music. Katharine and David formed a beautiful friendship which only the two of them could understand and which David dubbed ‘Potchnagoola’. It was an emotional time for Kerry as Potch was performed in Katharine’s own home, The KSP Writers’ Centre Garrick’s Salute to Gallipoli with (standing) Kerry and daughter Colleen Bradford
Kerry with cast members Rhett Clarke and Siobhan Vincent in costume for The Way of the World, with Director Raymond Omedei
Unrecognisable ‘Dame’ Kerry and Dr Barbara Reynolds strut their stuff 6
in Old York Road, Greenmount. David Helfgott, now over seventy, came from Sydney to view the play, along with his wife Gillian. Katharine’s grand-daughter Karen was also present. The tears didn’t stop flowing for quite a few minutes at the conclusion of the play. Last year Kerry was assistant to Douglas for the Pantomime Puss in Boots which she enjoyed very much. Can’t wait for the next one. [Treasure Island, The Panto Advert] What’s next in Kerry’s theatrical career? Who knows...but she is going to stay in there while she can. Kerry in costume for The Way of the World as Lady Wishfort
pppppppppppppppp The Executive Committee President
Dale James
0407 426 957
Dalejames911@iinet.net
Vice President
Rodney Palmer
0478 410 330
Rodpickels@gmail.com
TAG liaison
Rodney Palmer
0478 410 330
Rodpickels@gmail.com
Treasurer
Terry Brown
Secretary Kerry Goode kerrygoode@iinet.net.au Production Manager Rodney Palmer
Production Kerry Goode
0478 410 330
Rodpickels@gmail.com
Siobhan Vincent
Douglas Sutherland-Bruce
Gail Lusted Ray Egan Jordan D’Arcy Archivist Tom Goode kerrygoode@iinet.net.au Bookings
Elaine Gilberthorpe 9378 1990
Bookings@garricktheatre.asn.au
Minute Secretary
Barbara Brown
9275 5281
Bar Manager
Rodney Palmer
0478 410 330
Rodpickels@gmail.com
Wardrobe
Colleen Bradford
0414 579 752
Colleenbradford@iinet.net.au
Technical
Caileb Hombergen-Crute
Front of House
Yvonne Starr
Set Supervisor
James Nailen
Shed Supervisor
Alan Shaw
Publicity
Douglas Sutherland-Bruce 0418 934 850 Publicity@GarrickTheatre.asn.au
Editor
Douglas Sutherland-Bruce 0418 934 850 Publicity@GarrickTheatre.asn.au
Social Convenor
2020 Adjudicators Dee Howells David Young Christopher Churchouse Yvette Wall 7
The New Garrick Gazette Garrick Theatre Club (Inc) P O Box 122, Guildford Western Australia 6935 Print Post Approved 100002309
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SEASON TWO 2020
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES A Comic Thriller starring Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson, Adpted and dramatized by Kent R Brown, directed by Rodney Stickells-Palmer and Gail Lusted September17th to 3rd October 2020 Bookings: Phone Elaine on 9378 1990 or bookings@garricktheatre.asn.au or www.trybooking.com/BHWCY
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