Sleeper's Awake by Alan Griffiths

Northern Theatre Studio2
Oct 27-29 1989

The struggle of the Superpowers comes to suburbia as Ron and Jenny Rainbow are courted by both MI5 and the KGB in a bizarre case of mistaken identity.

Cast
Ron Rainbow

Ray Rumkee
Jenny Rainbow

Sharon Rogers
Doreen

Val Howell
Ivan Gromyenko

Dave Barber
George Phipps-Sanderson

David Burton
Sharon Rainbow

Kerrie Goodare

Directed by Ailsa Oliver
Director's Commentary

'Sleepers Awake' was my first attempt at directing, and I vowed I would never do it again. (Hmmmm!) I can't remember how this one came to be chosen! My recollection is that rehearsals were fairly light hearted, Ray and Sharon put on a brave show, and Dave Barber played Dave Barber!! For some reason my outstanding memory is trying to choreograph Sharon and Ray pacing up and down in opposite directions, and trying to time them turning round at the same moment despite having their backs to each other (but I can't remember why) Ailsa
The Audience Won't Notice

On the last night Dave had been humming ‘Mrs Robinson’ to himself all night in the dressing room so, as soon as he got on stage, he enquired if Ray and Sharon were "Mr and Mrs Robinson?" which was unfortunate as THE main plot point of the play was that Ron and Jenny had the rather unusual surname of Rainbow.
The Critics Rave

The Haltemprice Herald did make it to this one but, "pressure on space wiped out the report upon the Chameleon Players 'Sleeper's Awake'". We received an abundance of acclaim from them for the next two years until the paper folded.
"By Jove, it is lovely to see the purple heather on the hills"
Quote, Unquote

Was this the first one Ailsa directed? It's certainly the first one she directed me in. I'll never forget Dave's faux pas with the name. Cue frantic thoughts as to how to get out of that one when he susses it and gets it right. Fright central Sharon
 Ron Rainbow was a boring git in a series of unfortunate cardigans, an experience that made me even more determined NEVER to wear one of the bloody things for the rest of my life. The rest has, somewhat mercifully, faded into early senility, although another show stopping performance by Dave Barber as a dodgy KGB agent made it a very happy occasion Ray
Ron struggles to explain his increasingly bizarre behaviour to Sharon
Was I In That One?

Kerry wouldn’t make another appearance with us until 'House Of Dracula' so she's long overdue another one.