House Guest – Cast and Crew – The Marlow Players

The Crew

Director	Tony Bew
Stage Manager	Gloria Kendrick
Set construction	Tony Bew Graham Evans Chris Porteous
Lighting	Graham Everitt Graham Evans
Sound	Rod Paterson
Prompt	Sara Vaz
Properties	Elena Spisto
Front of house	Olive Smith, Iris Plested, Sylvia Collingwood, Diana Hudson
Posters	Brian Couling
Telephone bookings	Elena Spisto
Advertising	Brian Couling Maura Ross Olive Smith
Programme	Tony Bew
Transport	Alan Samson

	Stage Manager *Gloria Kendrick* Gloria has been with the Players since 1997 where she worked backstage then in “Confusions”. As far as I can remember that was her last experience of backstage work. She last appeared on stage as Lady Bracknell in “The Importance of Being Ernest”. She was, however, our secretary for some time and her organisational skils are well proven. With a bit of luck, we may get to see her directorial debut in the near future.
		Properties *Elena Spisto* Elena is now a seasoned backstage organiser although she started on stage as Phillipa Haymes in “A Murder is Announced” and her last appearance was as Dora Johnson in “Daisy Pulls it Off”, even then she was doing props as well.
		Prompt *Sara Vaz* Sara has been in The Players for 10 years on and off but has rekindled her passion for the stage, appearing in the last four productions, and the last as Gwendolen Fairfax in “The Importance of Being Ernest”. Here she is taking a backstage stint as our prompt.
		Sound *Rod Paterson* Rod first turned his hand to sound effects in 1999 for “The Weekend” after his first and last appearance onstage in “On the Razzle”. Now he is our audio mainstay but will have to work with a new team backstage as his partner in crime Graham will not be around for the production. Look out for the telephone cues.
		Lighting – Set up Graham Everett Graham, our lighting stalwart and scaffold erector, is taking a limited part in this production as he is away for the performance. He will be working with the rest of the build team to set up the lights and select the right shade of blue for the lighting gels, but will handover to Graham Evans for the production
		Lighting – Production Graham Evans Graham is normally our stage manager and set builder, but work commitments have meant ha has been unable to give as much time as he would wish to the job. This will be his first shot at controlling the lights but it does mean he gets to see the production. If it all goes dark he won’t get another go.

The Cast

	Vivienne Norwood *Jennifer Major* This is Jennifer’s fourth outing with the Players having first played the part of Maggie Hobson in the “Hobson’s Choice”. She last appeared in “Accrington Pals” as Maggie. Again she plays independently minded women, but this time an international journalist. For the first time she does not have to disguise her native Kiwi accent and, to be honest, she’s a bit lost not being northern.
	Jane Mercer *Hilary Cox* A longstanding member and officer of the Marlow Players, Hilary’s involvement has spanned roles, serious and comic, leading and supporting, as well as backstage. She last played the part of Annie Boggis in “Accrington Pals”. Here she plays the devoted secretary of Hollywood stars, the Drurys and their son, Mike.
	Stella Drury *Laura Goodband* Laura last played the somewhat simple-minded Bertha in “Accrington Pals” after an absence of some years from performing onstage. Now she takes on what is, I believe, her first lead as Stella Drury. One of the problems with playing the female lead in plays of this era and genre is that they get to ask all the stupid questions, often repeatedly.
	Robert Drury *Dominic Walker* Dominic’s first appearance with the players was as the eponymous Ernest in “The Importance of Being Ernest”. Again he takes the lead, this time as the Oscar winning Hollywood actor Robert Drury. Some say that he was natural choice to play Robert Drury, described by his stage wife, Stella, as “arrogant, conceited and selfcentred”, but there is only room for one of us in a production.
	Major Crozier *Tony Konieczny* Tony has been more of a regular performer for the Players recently, although he joined us over 20 years ago. He last played Canon Chasuble (as Lady Bracknell) in “The Importance of Being Ernest”. As Major Crozier he has to play a baddie and, in the “luvvie” tradition of panto, he wants all you boys and girls to boo and hiss when he comes on stage. You probably will, but not for the reason he thinks.
	Inspector Burford *Brian Couling* Brian is in his 16^th year with the Players and last appeared as Lane, Algernon’s manservant, in “The Importance of Being Ernest”. Brian plays Inspector Burford, who arrives amongst the distraught Drurys, very much like Inspector Goole in Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls”, seemingly knowing everything about them. Brian is a former chairman of the Players and now is our treasurer.
	Sergeant Clayton *Chris Richards* Chris first appeared with the Players as Will Mossop in “Hobson’s Choice” and last Autumn as Rupert in “Kindly leave the Stage”. As Sergeant Clayton, he is taking a much smaller role, although he can’t resist his natural comedic bent to make the most out of the Inspector’s cheeky sergeant. We’ll get him to play a baddie, one day, to see how he copes with a no laugh role.
	Dorothy Medway *Maura Ross* Maura is one of the longest serving members of the Marlow Players. Her first appearance was in Not Now Darling, in 1975 and she has appeared numerous productions ever since. Her recent plays include; When We Are Married, Haywire, Waiting in the Wings, A murder is Announced. and Hay Fever, Cut and Run and Daisy Pulls it Off