The weather is scary, the news is heart-breaking and prices for almost everything are sky-rocketing. What on earth do any of us have to look forward to?
Well, a trip to your local theatre should put a smile on your face next month.
Rehearsals are well under way at the Boxmoor Playhouse in St John’s Road for Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company’s next production: the hilarious comedy ‘ALLO ‘ALLO, which opens on Wednesday, April 17 and runs until Saturday, April 20. Evening performances are at 7.45 pm with an additional matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30 pm and you can buy tickets at www.hhtheatreco.com.
This is, of course, the stage version of the well-loved television series set in a small bar/restaurant in France during World War 2. The central character is hapless proprietor, Rene’, who spends his time trying to conceal from the Germans a priceless painting of The Madonna With The Big Boobies, while trying to placate his wife Edith, conduct affaires with two waitresses, deal with the Resistance and hide two English airmen. It’s no surprise that he’s just a bit stressed!
In charge of this crazy scenario is director Iain Fowles – who is also HHTC chairman – and trying to keep them all in order is producer Lynda Livsey-Randall. “It’s just great fun at the moment,” she says. “People are recalling watching the show on television – maybe with their parents. There’s a lovely, nostalgic feel and it’s an honour to be re-creating such well-known icons.”
There’s a large backstage crew beavering away on scenery, props, costumes, lighting and sound effects; and the bar will be open before the show and during the interval to make customers even happier!
Meanwhile, whenever France is not being created on stage, HHTC is busy making space for Audrey, the terrifying, man-eating plant. Yes, the musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will be on-stage from Tuesday June 18 to Saturday June 22, with a 2.30 pm Saturday matinee as well as evening performances at 7.45pm. It’s already cast and in rehearsal (but Audrey hasn’t arrived yet!)
And very soon there will be workshops and then auditions taking place for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing which will now be taking place from September 18 – 21 – even sooner than we originally planned.
But more about that show next month….
