Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre Summer Garden Party 2010

I am delighted to present here many highlights of The Friends Summer Garden party held at Charleston Manor just outside Eastbourne on 7th August 2010.

On the left is actress Louise Jameson who has not only appeared at the Devonshire Park Theatre many times but is also keen to support the theatre.

She made a surprise appearance at this event to give her support.

I am kicking off the rest of the media with my pics of the wonderful Sea Gypsies, Eastbourne's popular belly dancers.

Next I move on to Richard Curtis and his wonderful K9 Freestyle dancing dogs display. Here is a slideshow of the stills I took on the day.

Part 3 arrives in the shape of the worlds finest ventriloquist (in my view anyway) Steve Hewlett and his wonderful Friends. Hope you enjoy these stills.

OK we move on.... general stills now from the event at beautiful Charleston Manor, Litlington, Eastbourne includes more of Louise Jameson's guest appearance.

OK We move on to video highlights. Here is my offering on the Sea Gypsies. It's a mix of HD and standard definition footage. I made a clips production rather than posting any full track/dance sequence as I think the full performance is best appreciated live and doing this way it is more of a promotional video yet still entertaining.

More video with Richard Curtis and his K9 Freestyle Dancing Dogs. I thought I would be doing just one video. However Richard's presentation is educational for dog owners as well as entertaining. Taking this into account and with the amount of footage we shot I decided to produce individual videos of each dog.

I should point out that on YouTube many videos of Richard have ended up completely silent because users have uploaded video with Richards background music playing. The copyright owners have objected and YouTube have censored accordingly. This has effectively ruined all such videos as dialogue is cut also.

Where the dogs dance to a background track I have substituted the original music with a fully licenced Smartsound track. I have tried to use music of a similar genre and tempo and although I had doubts as to whether this would work I am actually pleased with the end result.

So here is the first video. Please welcome Richard Curtis and Whizzy....

Next up was cute and tiny Betty

Not finished yet..... here's Pogo

Finally from Richard Curtis we had a bit of a Disco

Last but not least I leave you with the amazingly talented Steve Hewlett.

Steve's had a busy year in 2010. Whilst still undertaking performances around the country he has been starring in the long season variety show Hooked On Laughter at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne. At the time of writing this he's still there until early November so don't miss it.

Steve has also been busy supporting the friends of the Devonshire Park Theatre. From my other videos you will know Steve entertained at their Spring Fair and here he is at the Summer Garden Party held at Charleston Manor Litlington, Eastbourne.

We had the whole routine on video but I don't think it benefits the artist duplicating the whole act, especially if you are going to see him live.

So, instead, I've produced a 10 minute highlights video. It's ended up being a nice little Steve Hewlett promo video.

In his routines Steve is always very complimentary about other well known ventriloquists. However I truly believe this guy beats them all hands down both by way of skill and personality.

It's not just the ventriloquism but the spontaneity of his act that makes him stand out. Many artists abide by a script no matter what. Not Mr Hewlett he seems to be able to use things going on around him to benefit the act.

His 'voice throwing' skills are amazing and his variety of 'friends' all makes for an act that always leaves you smiling.

Colin Baker and Louise Jameson Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre

"Together Again"

Louise Jameson and Colin Baker

Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre

Member Event

Winter Garden Theatre, Eastbourne

11 April 2010

To join the Friends Of The Devonshire Park Theatre currently costs £15 for a couple (at the same address). This celebrity talk, which took place in the Winter Garden Theatre, was worth that membership fee on it's own.

This was like a mini Doctor Who cast reunion with the sixth Doctor (1984-1986) chatting to Leela the assistant to the fourth Doctor (Tom Baker - note no relation to Colin).

It was a talk which was not only interesting but very frank, open and honest. These interviews are often better than TV interviews because, with no recording taking place, the artists tend to be more revealing about the not-so-nice people they have worked with and the jobs they wish they hadn't done.

The thousands upon thousands of Doctor Who fans need not fear though. Their roles in the iconic science fiction TV series are at the top of their favourite career highlights for both Colin and Louise. For the Doctor Who fans who attend conventions etc. you are held in very high esteem by both artists.

That is the only content from the interview I will be mentioning though otherwise it not only spoils future talks these actors will do but also makes future speakers less likely to give such honest accounts from their careers.

Baker and Jameson have been friends for many, many years. It is a friendship that made this talk all the more engrossing and friendly.

For the first 30 minutes or so Colin interviewed Louise. Without a single hand written note to refer to this was a 100% off-the-cuff professional interview as he grilled Louise about her childhood, education and acting career. The good times, the bad times, the nice people and the complete bastar nasties!

The tables were then turned for the next half an hour as Louise prised the gossip out of Colin. She claimed not to be as professional as Colin as she had made a couple of notes beforehand. I think she was being a bit harsh on herself here though as she glanced at the sheet of paper at first but then, as the conversation flowed, I don't think it got a second look!

The last few minutes was given to questions from the audience.

The guest speakers and the Friends of The Devonshire Park Theatre then had tea.

I do have to add praise to Colin and Louise as they stayed behind to say hello to every "Friend" who wanted to meet them and get an autograph or picture. This sort of informality does go down very well and makes the event more rewarding.

I cannot see that a single attendee could find reason not to have enjoyed this fascinating talk between two very friendly, down to earth, yet incredibly well known, professional actors.

It is the incredible unique events like this and the "First Night" meet-the-cast opportunities which should make being a member of The Friends more appealing to those under 50. I am not, in any way, knocking the garden parties and annual dinner dance events etc. but those events  do appeal more to an older generation.

With the aim of theatre being to reach out and appeal to people of all ages I would like to see more under 50's joining us in The Friends.

The Friends committee arrange some very good speakers at this venue. The previous talk was with actors Peter Egan and Simon Shepherd. As with Colin Baker and Louise Jameson where else could you get to see such a unique event and interview for so little money?

If you wish to join The Friends please see the link on the right. If you wish to know more about Eastbourne's Theatres, including the Devonshire Park, see my main site at http://www.fdpt.org.uk/

As this is a member event I will not be giving it a show rating.

Women On The Verge Of HRT, Devonshire Park Theatre,Eastbourne,Louise Jameson, Janet Dibley

Women On The Verge Of HRT
Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne

16th-20th June 2009
Performance seen
Tuesday, June 16th


Cast

Vera - LOUISE JAMESON
Anna - JANET DIBLEY
Fergal - Aidan O'Neill

2009 must be menopausal year or something in theatreland . Hot on the heels of Menopause The Musical here we have Women On The Verge Of HRT.

With the menopause being the subject of both shows it is easy to draw comparisons between the two productions. But they are very different.

Vera and Anna are friends and also 2 very obsessed Daniel O'Donnell fans staying in his hotel, The Viking House Hotel, in Kincasslagh.

Vera is convinced she has hit the menopause and that basically her whole world has come to an end as a result. No man, no sex, she's convinced she's ugly, unattractive and "past it".

Anna meanwhile is convinced she has the perfect marriage and that everything in her life is rosy and blooming despite the fact she is on the verge of "the change".

Two friends, with very different views on life sharing their womanly experiences.

The ever so helpful, handsome, young, hotel waiter Fergal finds himself in the middle of these hormonal women trying to cater for their every need.

Essentially Women On The Verge Of HRT is a comedy. But it is a much more unusual production than Menopause The Musical which was a sort of continuous light hearted look at the menopause.

This show has two very different acts.

Act 1 takes place in the hotel bedroom. This act is the more light hearted look at how the menopause is affecting the women. All the usual menopausal symptoms are joked about from hot flushes to night sweats - from sleep problems to sexual problems. With Vera (Louise Jameson) practically offering herself to Fergal on a plate whilst Anna (Janet Dibley) actively encourages her - there are laughs-a-plenty.

After this Act 2 comes as a bit of a shock as it is so completely different from the first. The 3 characters have ventured out of the hotel on to the beach of Donegal Bay.

To the sounds of the wind, the waves and the screaming banshee this is a much more soul searching experience as far as the women are concerned. Whilst this is still essentially a comedy this is a much darker, serious, thought provoking look at the effects (and perhaps after-effects) of the menopause.

Fergal undergoes weird but amazing transformations into the nearest and dearest of the two women. Male partners, female friends, he portrays them all. The women both learn more than a few home truths that some of their current menopausal feelings and emotions may be well misplaced.

I have to say (even as a minority bloke in the understandably female dominated audience) I thought Aidan O'Neill was excellent in the role. He has a long theatrical background and has done some TV presenting. But he is not the household name that the two ladies are. But in this show I feel he was the scene-stealer.

In act one his humerous banter with Vera and Anna is hilarious and he even gets the chance to demonstate an impressive singing ability. In act 2 we see Aidan's superb ability to throw himself into so many different acting styles, even playing the opposite sex.

I am fully aware, from mutterings, that some people in the, mainly elderly, audience didn't really understand Act 2 - especially Fergal's character changes.

However, even as a mere man, I think this was a good move on the part of writer Marie Jones.

It would have been easy to continue this look at "the change" in the same light hearted way that Act 1 did (and as did Menopause The Musical). But if this was the case I think it may have become a tad boring as all the menopausal symptoms had been covered in that first half of the show.

I thought Act 2 being deeper and somewhat mysterious does leave you with the feeling at the end of this play that you have seen something a little different from the norm.

I enjoyed Women On The Verge Of HRT, which can't be all bad when understandably it's going to be aimed at women.

The play works because of the very different presentations of the same subject matter across both acts. Also because it is superbly acted by 3 of the friendliest actors we have had the pleasure of meeting this year.

I must add a final note of praise to Jo Cameron Brown who is quoted as being the dialect coach. Louise Jameson and Janet Dibley's ability to hold a perfect and consistent Irish accent was impressive. Irish born Aidan O'Neill didn't have to work at this - for obvious reasons.

So if you're happy to accept a male view on a play which will probably, and somewhat sadly, mainly be seen by women, I thought it was very good - and very different!