images from 2009 copyright Keith Gould
and K.A.T.S. Then, on 11th and 13th, you can see Stoke Fleming Operatic & Dramatic Society, Dit’sum Players, Shiphay ADS and The Inn Theatre Company. You can buy tickets for two nights, at a reduced rate, so you get to see all the plays on offer. And, to help you make up your mind (although I strongly recommend seeing all of them...you’ll see why momentarily) here’s a run-down of who’s doing what, by whom and when. The Dartmouth Players kick the Festival off with
‘Shop for Charity’ by Charles Mander. First published in 1984, this story of charity shops, the nature of giving and conscience-salving, has proven to be a stalwart of the one act play circuit. At times dark, at times comedic, it’s a commentary on charity and giving generally. The Salcombe Players follow, with an extract from
‘Birthday Honours’ by Paul Jones. I’ve scoured the inter- web for some sort of information about the play or its writer, but have found nothing. Suffice to say this appears to be a ‘comedy of manners’ set in 1955. Third on the bill for Wednesday and Friday are a
new group to the Festival. Whatif&Whynot are from Dartington and are presenting an extract from ‘St. Joan’ by George Bernard Shaw. The play was originally published not long after Joan’s canonisation and based mainly on the substantial records, that were kept at the time, of her trial. Shaw wrote in his preface to the play: ‘ There are no villains in the
piece...it is what men do at their best, with good intentions, and what normal men and women find that they must and will do in spite of their intentions, that really concern us.’
Closing the 10th and 12th performances are K.A.T.S who are presenting an extract from ‘When We Are Married’ by J.B. Priestly, who is probably best known for his play ‘An Inspector Calls’ and the novel ‘The Good Companions’. Three couples, all celebrating their silver anniversaries, all married on the same day by the same preacher, gather to have a party. Then there is
a...gasp!... revelation!! The world premiere of this play was in 1938 and was the first play ever to be transmitted live, from the theatre by the B.B.C. in November of that year. Then, with your multi-ticket clutched firmly in your
hand, you can come back on either Thursday or Saturday and enjoy the other four plays in the Festival, the first of which is presented by S.O.D.S. Written by John Goddard
and Ian Phillips and entitled ‘Scenes from the Real History of Stoke Fleming’. I quote from their synopsis – ‘Not many people know that some of the great events of the history of this nation took place in a small village in the South Hams. Some of those mysteries of the past will be revealed.’ The Dit’sum Players bring some shade to the light comedic feel of the Festival thus far, by presenting ‘The Hebrew Lesson’ by Wolf Mankowitz. Written in 1976 and called ‘The Irish Hebrew Lesson’ it is set in 1921 and is a complex allegory of Jewish history. A young man breaks into an elderly Jews house, seeking refuge from the Black and Tans (it is generally accepted that, as this was written at the height of ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland, the young man is an IRA terrorist) and they find common ground in language. They both gain a deeper understanding of each other’s culture and, as the old man says, ‘The hunted are always on the same side.’ Powerful stuff and the players are more than capable of pulling it off after their Strindberg piece last year. Welcome back to Shiphay ADS, who present ‘Sushi and Scones’ by Randall David Cook. Some cross-cultural conflict here, originally written for the Dawlish Arts Festival by the author, at the request of a fellow ex-pat, after they met in Japan, where they were both teaching English. It was produced by Radio Devon in 2005, with Jo Loosemore playing the young lady in Japan, writing to her Grandmother (who was played by Jo’s own mother!). This one-act play went on to form the first act of a critically acclaimed Broadway production ‘Sake with the Haiku Geisha’. It’s won awards too! The Festival closes with The Inn Theatre Company and their production of ‘Spilt Ends’ by D.A. Mullet. It’s a quiet day in the hairdressers, and anything could happen. And it does. I can only find a short mention of the reclusive Mullet, which tells that his only other play, also with a tonsorial theme, is called ‘Hair Today’. But it’s fun. Do not miss this year’s Festival, please. Avril, Daphne
and Jenny and all their various spouses and helpers work incredibly hard to give us the chance to see some outstanding work from the many and varied companies that we’re lucky enough to have in the area. Have a great evening or two. Tickets are available from the Flavel or on-line.
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