Crusoe's Other Island

Peter McKelvey, one of our most distinguished writers, is back with a new play:

"Our NHS is in a parlous way, terrorists and extremists are on the rampage, social inequality gets worse, the cost of housing, the price of this and that, a dank, gloomy winter. Had enough of it all? You can escape. Return to 1954 to an abandoned RAF camp in Egypt for a couple of hours.  Join John Crusoe on his 'other island'.

Monday, Feb 2nd, 7.30, at the North London Tavern.

Dolly Moxon's Welcome Cafe

Monday January 26th brings us a new play by Joanne Richards entitled Dolly Moxon's Welcome Cafe.

"You get out and think it’s gonna be like the films: a chauffeur turning up in a jag and all the local villains paying their respects. Instead you’re spewed out of this ugly building wi’ a few quid in your pocket”.

When Tommy returns from a stint in the “big house” he finds his world turned upside down – his best mate is getting married, his bird has taken up with the local council housing officer and his mother’s café has been closed down by a gang of criminal bikers …

There is a stellar cast, as well:: Daniel Copeland, Jonathan Hansler, Pete Picton, Elizabeth Trueblood, and Max Warwick.

7.30 at the North London Tavern.

After the Dance

Monday 19th January brings us a stage play by Andy Moseley.

"Fran and Finn met in 1952, seven years after the end of the Second World War. He had just completed his national service, she was living with her overly protective father. They spent one glorious summer together then never saw each other again. Sixty years later they are getting married. But what caused them to split up, and why did their love survived all the years apart?"

7.30 at the North London Tavern.

Competition Play-off

On Monday, 12 January, we have the annual play-off to establish the Competition winner of the year, whose name will be engraved on the Guy McKay shield.  There are six entries from the three 2014 competitions: "Would You Adam n Eve it?", "Brief Encounter" and "Magna Carta". The warning against acting with animals has not been heeded:  look out for the four-legged serpent who was Adam's first wife, the two mice arguing over a pre-nup and the entrance of the Queen of the Elephants, astride a magnificent pachyderm.  And so much more....

Come and enjoy the entertainment at the North London Tavern, from 7.30, and vote.

Theseus and Ariadne

It is not often we have a verse play performed at Player-Playwrights. It hasn't happened since Treasurer Jethro Dykes has been there. Next Monday, January 5th,  he brings us Theseus and Ariadne.
 The play is not only written in iambic pentameter, it deals with ancient tragic themes from the classical world. We all know about Theseus and the minotaur. Less is known about what happened after the minotaur was slain. That is what we will find out..
 No less important is Ariadne, who graduates from being the love interest, to being the central character of the play. Her story is full of pathos, and also full of shocks.
 Please come and enjoy this journey into Greek Mythology...to be honest, as it's Greek, it ought to be in hexameters, not pentameters.....

7.30 at the North London Tavern.

Christmas Party

Peter Thompson writes:

What a swell party it was! There were star turns in the first half: Phil gave us Marlowe’s last case, in which the great detective was brought low by a seductive Natasha Staples.  Many in the audience fell under her spell later on when she gave us a Monroesque I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU.  Even those of us who like it hot were loosening our collars. Non-PC songs by Silas were also in the bill and a sketch about a school teacher (Anthea) turning the tables on a whingeing mum (Caroline) who had to hand over herCartier watch, pearls and Porsche because her precocious daughter was such a CHATTERBOX.  To close the first half Sophie “Thirty Dancing” Steel treated us to some delightful songs, with ukulele.

On came our President, Maurice Gran, to give us some seasonal thoughts and present this years awards, cups and trophies;

Best Play: Mary Conway’s JUDAS, with Mark Jagasia’s CLARION close behind and opening at the Arcola in April.

Best Comedy: Michael Barry’s BACK AGAIN (radio) with Napoleon Ryan’s DADDY’S GIRL in second place

Actor of the year: Silas Hawkins, just a few nominations more than Phil Philmar

Actress of the Year: Sevda Levent with Denise O’Leary the runner-up.

After that we braced ourselves for Tim Gambrell’s scratch pantomime of CINDERELLA in which Silas was everything like a dame, Phil did a whole gamut of Kenneth Williams voices and roles and Natasha and Sophie, as the Well Ugly Sisters did their best to upstage little Cinders with lines like “Party is totes amazeballs. Prince is well buff.  Gonna buss that girl up big time”.  Denise slapped her thighs loudly and often, the audience applauded hysterically and, after extensive socialising with the cast, we proceeded home in dribs and drabs and fairytale coaches to beat the stroke of midnight.

Xmas Party - Come if you dare