On behalf of the Board of Management, I thank you for supporting The 1812 Theatre during 2008 and wish everyone a happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

The VDL Awards were held on Sunday 7^th December and we performed very well with our entrant ‘The Lady in the Van’. Congratulations go to Chris Shaw who won Best Actor in a Comedy for his role as one of the Alan Bennetts. Nominations were also awarded for Best Play, Best Director - Comedy, (Malcolm Sussman), Best Actress in a Comedy, (Anne B. Smith) and Best Actress in a Minor Role (Sarah Allan). The content in ‘The Lady in the Van’ at times polarised the audience but it was a play that was exceptionally well performed and directed. It is always gratifying to have recognition for the hard work and dedication which is the hallmark of all our plays.

The cast and crew of ‘Two and Two Together’ seemingly managed to nullify the current atmosphere of economic gloom and doom and it was wonderful to see the audience exit the theatre with smiles on their faces as a result of their efforts. We all need a few laughs to tide us over until the fiscal cycle reverses, as it inevitably will. We have a great program lined up for next year and we look forward to your continued patronage.

Kevin Doyle.
Chairman

“TWO & TWO TOGETHER” by Derek Benfield

Reviewed by John Gunn, 5/11/2008 for 3CR’s Curtain Up –Sundays at One – 855AM.

My first encounter with Derek Benfield was in the late 1950’s with his play “Running Riot” by a playwright who was at his prime way back then when English farce was a staple theatre diet. This play involves two couples, Frank and Rachel, Victor and Georgina who it appears are trying to have a bit on the side, Rachel with Henry (a man she has met) and Frank with Georgina. Victor is an actor conveniently away at nights in the theatre, which leave Frank and Georgina to have some fun while he is away. Rachel, thinking Georgina is at the movies, goes to her house for her bit of slap and tickle with Henry. If it sounds complicated, well it does become clearer when viewing the play. Other characters are Procter, the neighborhood watch, and Mrs Capstick the daily who does for both houses. These plays don’t require much grey power, just sit back and watch with a few laughs at the situations, double entendres and one-liners along the way.  To my mind the plus with this production was the casting which was very good, as was the timing, excellent set comprising of the living room of two houses and quality props etc.  Director Robin Miller has set a good pace and the comings and goings between the two houses was very well handled.  You do wonder where it is all going and how will the playwright finish it as the plot gets more fantastic as the show goes on. It is just a basic situation of slight infidelity and in out of doors and houses. and it does take a good couple of hours with interval to reach it’s climax which I think with better writing could have got there a lot earlier.  The cast comprises of Ian Johnson as Frank, Sonya Wilson as Rachel, Peter Frid as Victor and Mandy Murray as Georgina and they worked well as a team. I was particularly impressed with Peter Frid. in the role of Henry a rather hapless character, Richard Foster scored well as did James McRae as Procter -  James is a past master with this type of farce and it shows, likewise Judie Morrow-Emmett as the wily and knowing Mrs Capstick.  To sum up, solid direction with a strong cast which in lesser hands could be a disaster. However it sends 1812 out on a bright note for the year giving a lot of pleasure to their audience. 

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