SEE HOW THEY RUN

PRODUCTION DETAILS

TITLE: See How They Run

PLAYWRIGHT: Philip King

PERFORMANCE DATES: 18th - 20th May 2017

DIRECTOR: Barbara Miller

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CAST

Ida, a maid - Linda Baillie

Miss Skillon - Julia Birkett

The Reverend Lionel Toop - Nick Leaf

Penelope Toop, his wife - Nicki Clay

Private Clive Winton - Graeme Parker

Choirboy Willie - Sean Franey

The Man - Andrew Faulkes

The Bishop of Lax - Mike Waters

The Reverend Arthur Humphrey - Alan Rome

Sergeant Towers - Gary Bateson

Click HERE for production programme

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SYNOPSIS

So swift is the action, so involved the situations, so rib tickling the plot in this London hit that at its finish audiences are left as exhausted from laughter as though they had run a foot race.  

See How They Run is set in the idyllic village of Merton-cum-Middlewick, England during the 1940s.  It's World War II, and the village inhabitants are preparing themselves for the imminent threat of Nazi invasion.  Meanwhile, resident spinster, Miss Skillon, becomes convinced that her beloved vicar's actress wife is having an affair and attempts to expose her.  Add an escaped German prisoner of war, a handsome actor, the visiting Bishop of Lax, a rotund locum priest and some meddling neighborus and hilarious confusion and mayhem result.

Galloping in and out of the four doors of an English vicarage are an American actor and actress (he is now stationed with the US Army in England), a cockney maid who has seen too many American movies, an old maid who "touches alcohol for the first time in her life," four men in clergyman suits presenting the problem of which is which, for disguised as one is an escaped prisoner, and a sedate Bishop aghast at all these goings on and the trumped up stories they tell him.

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CHAIR’S PRODUCTION NOTES

Welcome to our spring production of See How They Run… ... another value for money night out! Barbara Miller had suggested this play a few years ago having seen it performed at The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.  Regrettably, and as per usual, she would likely have struggled to cast the six men required from within the group; it was put on the back burner awaiting a future flurry of men!  Barbara, never one to give up, continued to bring this play to our attention. She was adamant she would overcome the obstacle of needing two further men...and indeed she did! We are not sure what persuasive techniques she used (bribery perhaps); whatever the methods, the two men, members of The Tuesday Singers, acquiesced…..! At this juncture, I would like to take the opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to our newest members: Gary Bateson, Julia Birkett, Astrid Croasdale, Alan Rome and June Valentine. Unfortunately, two members have reluctantly left the society this year. Anita Shipley and Ian Bithell, Ian having been a member for many years. We thank them and their partners for their valuable contributions over the years and wish them well. Finally, and sadly, this will be Barbara Miller's swan-song. After being a member of The Monday Players since the beginning, our lovely friend Barbara will be moving south this year to be nearer her family and grandchildren. We will miss Barbara very much. She has shared valuable experience and talent within the group over the last 24 years and has been an asset within her committee role. Any AmDram group she joins will be very lucky to have her. The Monday Players wish you a very happy and exciting time Barbara. It just leaves me to say a big thank you to you, our patrons and sponsors for your continued support. We hope you enjoy our play.

Nicki Clay