Director's Commentary  I found these plays purely by chance about three years ago whilst flicking through the Joseph Weinberger catalogue.  Reading the blurb made me giggle and reading them made me laugh out loud and I knew that we had to do them - boy, was it a long three years wait but well worth it! Some memories will stay with me forever: three intelligent and sane people (Jenny, Andy and Ray) cavorting all over the stage as monkeys, trying desperately to type Hamlet. Terry with a mountain climbers' axe sticking out the top of his head, trying to be serious and dying frequently as he failed. Mary getting a round of applause for the line "A mountain climbers' axe. Can't you get that through your skull?" Fabulous! A family illness took me away from completing the direction of all the rehearsals and David stepped up and completed them for me. He did a sterling job and I am immensely grateful to him. I have to say I was a bit dubious when I heard he wanted the cast of Glass dressed in black and white. This turned out not to be a problem when you saw the set: a large clock face suspended at the back and all the furniture painted white - everything married together with a theme of only two colours - black and white. It worked a treat Helen
Well, I couldn't resist a play titled Philip Glass Buys A Loaf Of Bread, could I? Being the proud possessor of a copy of Einstein on the Beach (on vinyl, no less). Of six adventurous plays this was the most out-there and quite unlike anything we'd ever done before. Luckily Andy, Neal, Hannah and Sharon were feeling equally adventurous and endured three months of rigorous and repetitious rehearsals for a piece that lasted about six minutes! And then there was my not-so-last-minute rescue act... David

Quote, Unquote  A quirky, challenging, risky choice from Helen - and it paid off! I'm just sorry she wasn't able to see it through to the end but I hope (I'm sure) we did her justice. It was great fun to do, and the sort of thing that I think brings out the best in the Chameleons. The script of Sure Thing was a pig though - the repetition meant that if you make a mistake, you're truly, truly lost (as David and I found out more than once as rehearsals progressed! I've never been so stricken with stage fright! And that includes the time I was in a Camus play, in French, and dried really, really badly). But we did it, virtually word perfect come Sunday night and I was really proud of it! Jane
My favourite part ever. It was great working with Matti again. Helen did an excellent job picking this play. And for a non-native English speaker and professional linguist, learning all that "gobbledegook" was not just a doddle, but a pleasure. (Ding, hets wharf!) Miranda
After the first reading of Universal Language I was quite baffled, it was not too easy to get my head around learning the script with the invented language being quite unusual (and for those who saw the play I am sure they agree). It has a been a joy working with Miranda and getting the support from David and all the group at the right time but I do not think I would have got there without the tireless support from my wife, Anna, during the readings at home Matti
Loved playing Al, a laid back American in Philadelphia. Like doing laid back! Was great playing opposite Ray - very hard keeping a straight face. All six plays were really funny and original, Andy’s monkey in Words was a little too life-like if you ask me! Terry's Trotsky was wonderful, but the highlight for me was Matti’s Unamunda Shakespeare - brilliant!! Simon
How often do you get the chance to play a chimp and an American on the same night? How often do you get to act with your hair gelled AND un-gelled? How often do you get to have such a great time in a show which showcases both our adventurous choice of plays and the huge breadth of talent that we have? Not often. Which is why I can say that All In The Timing was one of the happiest experiences I've had as a Chameleon. Maybe there'll be some more Ives stuff in the future? Here's hoping Ray
A strange and unusual piece! A pity Helen wasn't able to take it through to its conclusion, but once again we pulled together and made it work, with the odd motivational KITA (kick in the a**e!) from David! The first time I saw Philip Glass at rehearsal I was blown away, and that was probably the high spot for me, though the monkeys came a close second Ailsa
Philip Glass. Was good. Philip Glass. Was weird. Hard to learn. Hard to learn. Hard to learn. Breeeaaad Loooaaaf! Not really a lot else left to say! Hannah