Chapel Players proudly presents:
It Runs in the Family a comedy by Ray Cooney
Performances on 18th, 19th, 25th & 26th May 2012
Preparations are well under way for this farcical comedy in a hospital setting. It will have you in stitches!
The play begins with Doctor David Mortimore preparing to deliver a keynote speech which could earn him a knighthood. While putting together the final touches to his speech, an old flame Jane Tate arrives and announces that their liaison resulted in a son... Leslie, who is downstairs and desperate to meet his father. Frantic to hide this catastrophic news from his wife and the hospital authorities, David forced to invent not one, but two non-existent husbands for Jane and enlist the help of his friend Hubert Bonney. Events are further complicated by the presence of a police sergeant, a senile patient, an assortment of matrons (real and otherwise!) and a syringe full of tranquilizer!
Tickets will available at Mica Hardware and The Royal Oak who are doing a special pre-theatre deal. Produce your ticket for that evening's performance when you buy a meal and you will receive a free house drink.
Meet the cast...
It Runs in the Family sees the welcome return of Ian Leach as Mortimore who last trod the boards as the eponymous Hobson in 2010's Hobson's Choice. He is joined by a fellow Ian, the highly comedic Ian Fairley ('Allo 'Allo, Dad's Army and M*A*S*H) as Mortimore's friend Bonney. Ian Leach is teamed again with Nichola Hallows as Mrs Mortimore who played alongside him in Hobson's Choice. His old flame, Jane Tate, is played by Pantomime stalwart Helena Jodrell (Aladdin, Goldilocks, Blythe Spirit) who brings her comedic touch and timing to the role.
Not to be out-shone are the supporting cast played by a wonderfullly talented array of old and new faces. Jean Mowl (Celebration!, Blythe Spirit, M*A*S*H*, Dad's Army) is well cast as the stern matron with a cheeky underside. She grapples, literally, with Players regular Andrew Hearfield-Hogson who moves away from the roles that audiences are used to seeing him in as in the lead in M*A*S*H, Hobson's Choice and Blythe Spirit, to transforming himself into troubled teenage punk Leslie. Watch out for a incredibly funny turn by Panto-producer extraordinaire John Gilbethorpe as senile, wheel-chair bound Bill (though John hopes it is not type casting!). The Mason acting dynasty are also out in force with Chris Mason playing bombastic, pompous Sir Willoughby Drake, Marie Mason as Mother and Dan Mason who follows his authoratitive role as Sergeant Ping in Aladdin as the pant-wetting (again, literally!) Sergeant. Another Panto survivor is Pete Goddard who steps out of the dresses he is known for as the Dame in 2011 and 2012 to bring his comic talent to the role of Dr Connelly; though the dresses have not been totally cast aside! Finally Players are pleased to introduce new-comer Becca Ryan as Sister, who debuted for us in M*A*S*H last year.
The cast, as ever, are well supported by the back stage crew without whose hard work the production could not happen. We are grateful for all their efforts.
It Runs in the Family sees the directoral debut of Stephen Kettle (aka Skettle). Having been initially lured from Tideswell for Dad's Army he has been fully indoctrinated and assimilated by Chapel Players and has performed in several productions in recent years, most recently as the evil Abanazar in Aladdin. He is now taking on a new role as director and is finding it even more nerve-wracking!
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