For the Love of Mary Conway

Well I thought that went well. And so, judging by the score of 64%, so did you. There were some good comments afterwards too. Phil Philmar, in particular, picked up on the plotting coincidences and contrivances. He had read it of course, which helped. Curiously, I couldn't disagree with the points he raised, but for me they didn't seem to matter. Indeed, the contrast between the improbabilities of the plotting and the naturalism of the dialogue and characterisation was one of the play's strengths.

Many suggestions for different ways to go too. Get rid of the cop? Build up the girl? Change her character? Or make her more pro-active in the storyline? She did seem to be a bit of a commentator, rather than someone who made a difference to things.

Intriguingly too, when I raised the question of the title, a lot of people seemed to agree. You can't do puns in a serious play. On the other hand, nobody, including me, could think of a better one.

Anyway, a rewarding evening.

Get with the Programme

We start again on Monday, with a whole new programme going right through to July 20th, as P-P scales new heights of theatrical excellence, with P-P debuts by no fewer than five newbies. Comedy, tragedy, radio plays and a first ( so far as I know ) an animated tv script for children. And why not?

And we're back with a bang, with Mary Conway's "For the Love of Michael". Okay, it sounds like a Kate Hudson RomCom, but that's the only thing I don't like about it.

This was first planned for February 2nd, but then came the snow.




So it got postponed. Anyway, the cast ought to be word perfect by now. So come along. Monday at 7.45.

Don't Forget

Kim Sheard opened in "Company" last night. It's selling out fast, and I've already booked for next week. Have you?

Also, making a rare stage appearance, P-P treasurer Tony Diggle has taken off his trademark white jumper and put on a suit to play Lane, in the four-act version of "The Importance of Being Earnest", over in Ealing. It starts on Saturday. Go along on Tuesday, and it'll only cost you a fiver.

Happy Easter!

Have a good one! Nothing happening on Monday, of course, but we're back the week after. Stay tuned.

A Kind of Loving

We all remember the movie: Alan Bates, smouldering away among the Yorkshire dales. Well now, here's the play. Or rather the plays. But there's no Alan Bates, no dales, and no connection with Alan Sillitoe. Yes, it's competition time, our usual end of term jamboree where P-P's finest talents engage in an unseemly scramble to be top of the short play tree. It's also a great opportunity to see some of the newer actors treading the boards. It's quite hard for a newbie to prove themselves at P-P. Usually the writers go for the tried and tested. But on Competition Night, this is the chance for the newcomers to shine.

This term, as a one-off experiment, we've extended the length of the plays from 5-10 minutes to 10-15 minutes. Let's see how that works. One inevitable consequence was that more plays than ever wouldn't make the cut. We've seen two of them already by Alison Wilkie and Simon Desborough. There'll be another couple to be shown in May, again out of competition.

But this coming Monday, April 6th it's A Kind of Loving.

Be there.

House on the Hill

Sam South makes her P-P debut on Monday, with two episodes from her proposed sitcom, "House on the Hill".

According to Sam's website it's:

"A six x 30 min high concept sitcom series about five very different characters who live in House, itself a very nervous character. Christine is a very gifted medium but has absolutely no tact or diplomacy; Magda is a basement dwelling agoraphobic jam-making alternative therapist who out of jam making seasons earns money as a Dominatrix, who dismisses Christine's real talent for the fights that inevitably break out after Christine's gigs. Saul is a UFOlogist who lives in the attic and can physically only ever look up, and who brings out the rival protective nature of both lead women. Shelley and Dave could actually appear quite normal, but for the fact they are laid back “have a go at anything” structural engineers from New Zealand. Christine also has a belligerent crystal ball called Kevin, and only Christine can hear House and Kevin speak, though they are usually rowing".

But that was before Mark Crumpler got his greasy mentor's hands on it. What's it like now? Find out on Monday.

Swimming Naked

Alice Josephs has never had a play read at P-P, though she is a member. She has however had a play produced at the Barons Court Theatre, by First Draft entitled "For the Public Good". Well, she's back there again on Tuesday 31st March with the enticingly titled "Swimming Naked", which runs as part of a triple bill until 4 April 2009 at 8pm.

It's directed by Catherine Arden, and is described at a "farce for our financial times". It stars Catherine Potter, Maggie Robson and Mark Shaer, and was written, rehearsed and performed in a month. No wonder we haven't seen much of Alice lately.

The Barons Court Theare is to be found at 28a Comeragh Road London W14 9AR.

Read more about it here .