Theatre Days

[Merthyr Imp 729]

In July 1982, Michael Craig was the star. 'We would be most grateful if you would not divulge the plot of 'Deathtrap' to your friends'.

 

I've forgotten it anyway!

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

1982 saw the first appearance of a venture that was to take place every summer for many years (for all I know it's still going). This was the presentation of three or four plays in a season of a few weeks - usually popular thrillers or comedies - presented by companies of actors who, while no-one may have heard of them before or since, were all perfectly competent. The interest, as no doubt with all plays in repertory was in seeing the different actors in a variety of roles. The admission prices were also a lot less than for plays with 'names' in them!

 

This first year the company was billed as 'The Royal Repertory Players', and as well as this Agatha Christie I also saw an adaptation of Rebecca.

 

[LongJohn 20]

I know Merthyr Imp doesn't share my taste in music - but no matter! Did he see the provincial touring version of "Beyond the Fringe"? (I think at the Theatre Royal)

[Merthyr Imp 729]

12 hours ago, LongJohn said:

I know Merthyr Imp doesn't share my taste in music - but no matter! Did he see the provincial touring version of "Beyond the Fringe"? (I think at the Theatre Royal)

 

I don't remember that - when it was it on?  If it was pre-1970 or post the mid-1990s I wouldn't have done.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

A week later saw Leonard Rossiter at the height of his fame. From what little I remember the play was not quite the comedy that probably many of the audience expected given Rossiter's presence in the cast.

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

The Royal Shakespeare Company presented 'Educating Rita', and one memory I have is of the huge laugh it produced when Tom Baker's character said to Rita 'I'm not educating a Dalek!'

 

 

Only £1.40 for a pizza:

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

After the RSC it was the turn of the National Theatre a while later. A notable cast including Nigel Havers and Martin Jarvis as the two male leads, Zoe Wanamaker, Anna Massey (Miss Prism) and Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell.

 

 

Rehearsal photos;

 

 

[LongJohn 20]

Beyond the Fringe: I think it was on about '63 - I was in the U6th

[Merthyr Imp 729]

9 hours ago, LongJohn said:

Beyond the Fringe: I think it was on about '63 - I was in the U6th

 

Usually only went to the theatre on school trips in those days!

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Opera North were back at the end of October 1982.

 

I saw Borodin's 'Prince Igor' and will always remember how it really came alive with the Polovtsian Dances.

 

Also, 'The Marriage of Figaro', with Lesley Garrett in the cast.

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Arguably the biggest star I ever saw at the Theatre Royal was Peter O'Toole.  All I remember is that he seemed half-drunk, but that was no doubt his interpretation of the part he was playing. Don't remember much of the play itself other than, as usual with Shaw, it was mostly people just sitting or standing around talking.

 

Also of interest in the cast were Robert Beatty who always seemed to be in those old Ealing war films, and Joyce Carey who was part of the comic relief in Brief Encounter.

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Into 1983, and in March was another play about which I can remember nothing, but with some familiar faces from TV especially:

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Later in the month was a thriller starring Sylvia Syms and William Franklyn. Something to do with an impersonation of the Prime Minister, but I can't remember anything else about it.

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Into April 1983 and one or two TV names in the classic comedy:

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Opera North then paid their first visit of 1983 with La Boheme and Don Giovanni, which I saw, and a piece by Janacek which I didn't.

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

In May 1983 there was the original non-musical stage adaptation of Gigi. 

 

 

 

[benjamin1945 16,139]

Your theatre progs. are always interesting MI.............and always jog my memory of so many old actors that visited our fair city........thank-you......

[Cliff Ton 10,458]

.....and all the adverts reminding us of places which no longer exist.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

The following week was a play, which if I remember right was billed as being on a 'prior to West End' tour.  It featured Raymond Burr of all people, plus some other well-known names, including Gerald Flood who I'll always associate with the Sunday tea-time TV serial 'Pathfinders in Space' and its sequels. Like Barbara Murray, he seemed to be a regular in touring plays in the 1980s. 

 

I can't remember much of the play except that it was all rather preposterous, and I'm not sure that it ever reached London - or if it did, was not a success.

 

 

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Into June 1983, and a production of The Mikado, and while the comedy of the piece was brought ought OK, the minimal chorus and an updated arrangement of the music - including noises like sawing wood - did not help my enjoyment of it.

 

Notable in the cast were Nicholas Smith of 'Are You Being Served' fame in the title role, and Jimmy Thompson who I'd last seen in 'Saint Joan' as mentioned early on in this thread.

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Opera North were back again at the end of June with (for me) Weber's greatest hit and Donizetti's 'The Elixir of Love'.  

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

There was a summer thriller season again for three weeks in August/September 1983 - two Agatha Christies and the thriller 'Wait Until Dark' about the blind girl who turns the tables on those who would terrorise her (Audrey Hepburn in the film). 

 

 

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Later in September was another thriller, this time a new one by Francis Durbridge. Some well-known TV names in it, plus Barbara Murray back again.

 

As usual, I can remember nothing about it!

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

The next month saw the visit of the National Theatre in a play which was to have featured Sir Ralph Richardson, but sadly he had recently been taken ill, and in fact had died at the beginning of that week. Robert Stephens moved up into his part and John Bennett was brought in in his place in turn. I can remember the two of them in it but not what the play was about.

 

 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Opera North were back at the beginning of November 1983 for their third visit of the year.

 

I only went to see Die Fledermaus which included Bill Maynard in the non-singing part of the jailer, Frosch ('...anything fresh, Frosch?').

 

Despite it being one of my favourites I can remember nothing of the production.