For Our Boys: 1939 - 1945
| Director : Deborah Rudkin |
Show Dates : 16th-19th May, 2001
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| Assistant Director : Sheila Evans |
Musical Director : Andy Hall
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Synopsis | Cast | Review | Gallery | Notes
Synopsis
"An evening of Gershwin, Glenn Miller, and a GREAT deal more!"
A selection of songs, music, readings, and dancing, all evoking memories of the Second World War and those who took part in it - both on the front line and back at home.
The first half took us through the War from a mainly English perspective, using Churchill's speeches interspersed with prose written by Virginia Woolfe, Anne Frank, and others, and songs like There'll Always Be An England, Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye, Run Rabbit Run, White Cliffs of Dover, Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer, and I Vow to Thee My Country.
After a light wartime supper - and the chance to win spectacular wartime prizes, such as tins of Spam in the raffle! - the second half began with a moving tribute in readings: I Think of Those Who Were Truly Great, In Flanders Fields, Miss Jones, Remember Me, and The Last Letter Home of Ivor Rowberry. We held a minute's silence to allow us to remember. Songs like Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Come Rain or Come Shine, In The Mood, Stuff Like That, and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy lightened the atmosphere, and we finished in triumphant and happy mood, concluding with England's second national anthem, Land of Hope and Glory.
Having been through a whole range of emotions in one evening - it was not unusual to see a tear in the eye of members of the audience or cast - this was a very fitting celebration and "thank you" For Our Boys: 1939 - 1945.
"I still believe, inspite of everybody, that people are really good at heart" (Anne Frank)
"And the world's a little poorer for a Soldier died today." (Anon)
"Better by far that you should forget and smile, than that you should remember and be sad." (Christina Rossetti)
Cast
Men: Alan Bramley, Andrew Chambers, Geoffrey Cross, John Dickenson, Chris Howland, Vic Hughes, John Kent
Ladies: Catherine Chambers, Jeanne Cook, Yvonne Cross, Alison Dillon, Jackie Doorne, Siobhan Easterling, Sheila Evans, Liz Frost, Sylvia Furney, Kate Glassock, Eileen Leonard, Lucilla Mackay, Ellie Roberts, Debs Rudkin, Sylvia Woodward
Dancers: Lee and Sandra Oliver
Gallery
Click each photo for a larger view
There'll Always Be An England
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The Full Cast
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Adolf, You've Bitten Off More Than You Can Chew
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The Dancers
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Lee and Sandra in action
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Geoffrey and Yvonne
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Alison
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Siobhan and Ellie
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Vic and John
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Catherine and Andrew
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Kate
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The Backdrop
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It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
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Travel Broadens The Mind
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Stage Manager: Trudy Evans
Lighting: Jamie Wallis (operating), Malcolm Pugh
Sound: Tony Buddin (operating), John Wadsworth
Prompt: Sandra Buddin
Set Design: Debs Rudkin
Make-Up: Pam Howland, Annie Houghton, Terry Makin
Costume: Pat Kent and Ladies of The Company
Band: Geoff Bonner, Pauline Fisher, Andy Hall
