Bums On Seats by Michael Snelgrove

Northern Theatre Studio2
June 11-13 1999

The local councillors are fighting in the aisles, the playwright’s a hopeless drunk, the actors are just hopeless and the theatre’s knee deep in suicidal rabbits. Can Estelle’s day get any worse?

Cast
Wendy

Helen Robinson
Petronella

Ailsa Oliver
Jacintha

Val Howell
Estelle Nettlebank

Sharon Burton
Mo

Natalie Marcus-McBride
Benedict Thrush

Andy Hodgson
Zara Roscoff

Jenny Stewart
Hugo Gelt

Jonathan Preston
Roland Luckett

Edgar Harrison
Werner Meister

David Burton
Tanya Steele

Joanne Coates
Lionel Heap

Jonathan Preston
June Heap

Ailsa Oliver
Gerald Bliss Hart

Andy Hodgson
Marcia Bliss Hart

Jenny Stewart
Aaron Zoffany III

Betty Burton

Directed by David Burton
Director's Commentary

It's our Michael Snelgrove season! It was a total coincidence that Helen had chosen 'Hidden Meanings' and I’d picked 'Bums On Seats'. We must have been keeping Mr S in royalties single handedly in 1999.
Unfortunately Trevor dropped out after one week, leaving me to play the thankless part of Werner the suicidal rabbit but I (once again) persuaded Natalie to rejoin after a lengthy absence. This was a riot to rehearse but it wasn't all fun and games - Ailsa claimed she’d never been worked so hard.
But it all paid off in the end - on opening night, after playing her first scene as the bewildered Estelle against Andy's intense and pretentious Benedict Thrush (pronounced 'Throosh'), Sharon got a (well deserved) round of applause. She was embarrassed. I was punching the air! David
Werner the suicidal rabbit
Quote, Unquote

What a lot of strange and sad characters all brought together. Loved my character, an aging wannabe starlet, full of pretension, but prepared to work as an usherette just to be in the theatre, darling! A lovely trio with Val and Helen - the usherette's usherette. Best moment? Jonathan’s bit where he forgets his line, and we hear what’s going through his mind. Been there, felt like that!! Ailsa
"What the bloody hell was that? I didn't understand a word!" Absolutely demented. Where to start? Jonathan's breakdown, Sharon's tour de force under hypnosis, my Nam flashbacks. Huge fun Andy
What a witty play. Loved the Greek chorus of usherettes and another Betty appearance Sharon
Weird Brechtian style signs and bizarre bloody set Joanne
Slapped yet again Jonathan
"It’s a boy". A scene from ‘Fecund’ - the play within the play
"Yes, Michael Jackson" Aaron Zoffany III makes an entrance
Picture This

On all the other pages publicity and rehearsal photos are in black and white but you need to see this one in colour to appreciate all it's gory glory! The questionable stains on Jenny's gown are red and yellow paint and brown sauce!
Was I In That One?

Another rare outing for stage manager Betty as eccentric American religious zillionaire Aaron Zoffany III.