Our week’s run of Acorn Antiques, The Musical, came to an end on Saturday night, to huge cheers, plenty of applause and a great many aching jaws from excessive laughing. The South Holland Centre in Spalding had very near full houses most of the week so around 1000 people must have come to see us over five nights. Playing the lovable cleaner, Mrs Overall, seen here in my cracking tap dancing outfit, was probably the best thing I have ever done on stage. Victoria Wood’s script was so gloriously funny, every line I had was a corker. From singing “Could have a custard f**king cream and shut the f**k up” to telling the audience about my “lemon and lime reusable gusset freshener”, this was a dream role which I milked to the nth degree.
Acorn Antiques, The Musical, is a show which parodies 70s sitcoms with wobbly sets, missed cues and absurd plot lines. So many people in the cast were blessed with great lines, songs and dances. This made for a very happy group as we chortled our way through five months of rehearsals and had an absolute blast during show week.
Of course, not everything goes to plan and these will be the things we will remember fondly. The blasted TV which was brought on stage every night to screen the ‘living will’ was beset with gremlins. Cables fell out and the mute button was pressed accidentally, leading to some magnificent ad-libbing from Zack who played Hugh, the pitiful adolescent from the government’s pitiful adolescent training scheme. We also had a night when one of the ‘sisters’ forgot to wear her charm bracelet which was crucial to the ‘triplets identification jewellery scene’ As I rooted down both sleeves looking for it, her eyes were burning into me, willing me to realise that it wasn’t there and we were all going to have to pretend. What larks! On the final night the old-fashioned shop doorbell fell off, with such comic timing it could have been scripted.
What will last with me, however, is the camaraderie amongst the cast and crew. During the week of the show, sharing a dressing room with Miss Babs, Berta, Bonnie and Mimi, there was laughter mixed with nerves. We helped each other out, shared sweets, went through lines, assisted with quick changes. ‘Can you fix my hump?’ was a familiar refrain from me every night. It’s this shared experience which makes AmDram so exhilarating. Each night before we were due to go out on stage we would say, “Why do we do this?”. Each night as we returned to the dressing room, the applause still buzzing in our ears,we would say, “This is why we do it”.
If you would like to read a review of the show written by the editor of our local newspaper, click HERE
Cast waiting for our pep talk in the theatre auditorium. |
Miss Berta with Miss Bonnie seen in the mirror of our dressing room. |
The street scene which was lifted up to reveal the Acorn Antiques shop. |
Gah – I wish I could have seen it. Sounds brilliant.
Next time we have a family get together, it will be my party piece.
If it were up to me to give out the BAFTAs you'd definitely get one.
You're very kind. Deluded but kind.
Sounds like you had a blast
We did, Jen. Have been laughing for months and, because it was a comedy, the nerves were far less of a problem than when I have to sing a ballad and be all serious.
You can hear the happiness in your voice with this Trish….and I imagine you are looking forward to being more 'shoulders back and stand up straight' again!
I do feel happy and enormously proud of what we have achieved. Dougie keeps reminding me to stand up straight now and I have developed fluid on the knee caused by excessive knee-bent bouncing – that pose is a killer on my joints.
Congratulations and a wonderful review. Excellent.
Now will you be able to get back to the making real cups of tea.
The family are pleased I am back home and they can be waited on hand and foot again!! Must admit, it's lovely to be reaquainted with our sofa and the telly!
Brilliant! I'm glad it all went so well. The choice of show was a brainwave because you've all had a blast and gave such a good performance. Well done all.
To think,we very nearly did Jack the Ripper!
It sounds like a complete blast! Well done you! 🙂
Oh it was, Emma, such a joy to be involved in the show.
It sounds like so much fun! When are you going to get in touch with Mr L-W to ramp it up with the entire cast forming a giant antique so you can bring it to New York?
I shall have a word. I'm certainly game for a trip across the pond 😉
It sounds like the best fun! You must be knackered after that (if basking in the glow of success!)
It 's been lovely having half term this week. Dougie has had the week off and, as Rory is revising, we have just pottered. I'm feeling relieved all the pressure is off but very proud of what we did.
5 months of rehearsals. It's so much, it must be so hard when it's all over. How long does it take before you start seeking out the next part?
Twice a week, plus three full day Sundays and extra nights the week before the show. It does take a huge amount of effort. We don't start auditions for next musical until December/January but the society does do an autumn play and we may have our concert group in the next few months too!
So pleased the show was a success and that you had a blast.
I really think you should consider that outfit for Britmums Live… xx
It would go down well, I think, especially if I add the hump 🙂
Sounds fantastic, please re-run the same show as I would love to see it. Jx