Friday, 4 March 2011
EastEnders
Sally Hughes, the director of Joking Apart at The Mill at Sonning very kindly gave me two days off in the last week of rehearsals to film another episode of Stenders going out in April.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Off to Sonning
Lynette and I are off to back to The Mill at Sonning later this afternoon reading to start rehearsals
tomorrow morning for Aykbourn's "Joking Apart" (playing 3rd March - 16 April).
tomorrow morning for Aykbourn's "Joking Apart" (playing 3rd March - 16 April).
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Scoop, Sonning & 'Stenders
My episode in the second series of Scoop with Shaun Williamson is repeated this Friday at 3.35pm on BBC 1.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vmxj4
Then it's back to The Mill at Sonning to start rehearsals for "Joking Apart" on Monday 7th February.
http://www.millatsonning.com/Joking_Apart.html
And I'm back in EastEnders on March 14th.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vmxj4
Then it's back to The Mill at Sonning to start rehearsals for "Joking Apart" on Monday 7th February.
http://www.millatsonning.com/Joking_Apart.html
And I'm back in EastEnders on March 14th.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
It's Panto Time!
Playing Nurse Nelly in "Sleeping Beauty" in Basingstoke with
Wendy Craig, Andrew Agnew and Abi Titmuss
until 2nd January.
Wendy Craig, Andrew Agnew and Abi Titmuss
until 2nd January.
Here's link for my panto blog -
...Meanwhile...Lynette has just filmed sit-com pilot for the BBC, written by and starring James Corden, which will hopefully go to series next year.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
2 into 1 - Review (6)
Theatrenet review by Clare Brotherwood
With a dumb waiter, played completely deadpan by Brian Godfrey, an ineffectual manager (Harry Gostelow) and the MP’s effervescent wife (Elizabeth Elvin), it is left to the bumbling PPS to try and sort things out, and Nick Wilton deserves a special mention for playing his part with such gay abandonment - achieved only with tremendous skill, and tight directing by Ron Aldridge.
Lynette McMorrough also adds to the fun as the Spanish maid, but the biggest surprise of all is the Mill’s artistic director Sally Hughes’ performance as an Ann Widdicombe-esque Labour MP. In grey wig, flat shoes and northern accent she is completely unrecognisable and makes an impact every time she strides onto the stage.
The opening night’s audience’s roars of uninhibited laughter bodes well for this production with its topical jibes at politicians. Even Douglas Heap’s set won a round of applause as various parts of The Westminster Hotel unfolded as in a pop-up book.
For the perfect antidote to the recession and the cuts to come, you can do no better than see The Mill at Sonning’s latest production.
First performed in 1981, Two Into One has been brought bang up to date by master of mirth Ray Cooney who places a Tory MP in a London hotel, where he is attempting a romantic tryst with one of David Cameron’s secretaries while his wife is in the room next door trying to bed his personal private secretary. With a dumb waiter, played completely deadpan by Brian Godfrey, an ineffectual manager (Harry Gostelow) and the MP’s effervescent wife (Elizabeth Elvin), it is left to the bumbling PPS to try and sort things out, and Nick Wilton deserves a special mention for playing his part with such gay abandonment - achieved only with tremendous skill, and tight directing by Ron Aldridge.
Lynette McMorrough also adds to the fun as the Spanish maid, but the biggest surprise of all is the Mill’s artistic director Sally Hughes’ performance as an Ann Widdicombe-esque Labour MP. In grey wig, flat shoes and northern accent she is completely unrecognisable and makes an impact every time she strides onto the stage.
The opening night’s audience’s roars of uninhibited laughter bodes well for this production with its topical jibes at politicians. Even Douglas Heap’s set won a round of applause as various parts of The Westminster Hotel unfolded as in a pop-up book.
Saturday, 30 October 2010
2 into 1 - Review (5)
Henley Standard Review by Nicky Clarke
SONNING has always held a special place in my heart, I love the quaint village, the beautiful hotels and of course the river. Positioned in the heart of the village is the Mill, and having passed it too many times to mention, I have never had the opportunity to visit until recently. In 20 years of driving past and wondering it was a real treat to sample the whole “dinner theatre experience”. It is rare that somewhere exceeds your expectations, but the Mill at Sonning certainly exceeded mine.
The ambience and warmth of the building is instantly apparent as you step into this historic mill; the therapeutic noise of the water wheel was the perfect background to enjoy a pre-dinner drink. Watching the wheel rotate under careful lighting was entertainment in itself, but the smell of the food drew us from the bar to the dining room.
Intimate seating amongst the beams was just perfect for my husband to enjoy his pork with crackling while I tucked into chicken supreme with fresh vegetables and all the trimmings. The food was as fine as the setting. After coffee we made our way to the theatre, smaller than I had anticipated — I felt that we were almost part of the set!
The set looked simple, but was later to get applause of its own. Set in the reception area of the Westminster Hotel, the colouring and décor was perfect. My knowledge of the play Two Into One, a comedy by Ray Cooney, was limited so I had no idea of what to expect.
It was fast and furious from the outset, the energy and enthusiasm of the actors took little time to infect the audience as we laughed from one scene to the next. Nick Wilton playing George was amazing, his body posture, expressions and whole stage presence deserve a special mention, and this small stout little fellow became more hilarious and attractive as the play progressed.
With clever use of language and how simple it is to misunderstand and misinterpret situations, Cooney creates a comical situation with just a handful of characters, quick costume changes and superb one-liners. The audience laughed from beginning to end.
The play was set in current political times and was very much up-to-date, with references to Clegg and Cameron.
It also mimics the hotel industry, with the stiff-upper-lipped manager, the foreign housekeeper and the tip-grabbing waiter. The Westminster staff are every bit as funny as the guests.
Applause came when the set was transformed from a reception area into two adjacent bedrooms where much of the action took place. Set designer Douglas Heap created two hotel suites, perfect in every detail down to the bedside lamp. They also played host to a number of doors which were to be slammed on many an occasion.
What a pleasure it was to have an evening just full of laughter!
SONNING has always held a special place in my heart, I love the quaint village, the beautiful hotels and of course the river. Positioned in the heart of the village is the Mill, and having passed it too many times to mention, I have never had the opportunity to visit until recently. In 20 years of driving past and wondering it was a real treat to sample the whole “dinner theatre experience”. It is rare that somewhere exceeds your expectations, but the Mill at Sonning certainly exceeded mine.
The ambience and warmth of the building is instantly apparent as you step into this historic mill; the therapeutic noise of the water wheel was the perfect background to enjoy a pre-dinner drink. Watching the wheel rotate under careful lighting was entertainment in itself, but the smell of the food drew us from the bar to the dining room.
Intimate seating amongst the beams was just perfect for my husband to enjoy his pork with crackling while I tucked into chicken supreme with fresh vegetables and all the trimmings. The food was as fine as the setting. After coffee we made our way to the theatre, smaller than I had anticipated — I felt that we were almost part of the set!
The set looked simple, but was later to get applause of its own. Set in the reception area of the Westminster Hotel, the colouring and décor was perfect. My knowledge of the play Two Into One, a comedy by Ray Cooney, was limited so I had no idea of what to expect.
It was fast and furious from the outset, the energy and enthusiasm of the actors took little time to infect the audience as we laughed from one scene to the next. Nick Wilton playing George was amazing, his body posture, expressions and whole stage presence deserve a special mention, and this small stout little fellow became more hilarious and attractive as the play progressed.
With clever use of language and how simple it is to misunderstand and misinterpret situations, Cooney creates a comical situation with just a handful of characters, quick costume changes and superb one-liners. The audience laughed from beginning to end.
The play was set in current political times and was very much up-to-date, with references to Clegg and Cameron.
It also mimics the hotel industry, with the stiff-upper-lipped manager, the foreign housekeeper and the tip-grabbing waiter. The Westminster staff are every bit as funny as the guests.
Applause came when the set was transformed from a reception area into two adjacent bedrooms where much of the action took place. Set designer Douglas Heap created two hotel suites, perfect in every detail down to the bedside lamp. They also played host to a number of doors which were to be slammed on many an occasion.
What a pleasure it was to have an evening just full of laughter!
Saturday, 23 October 2010
"Stenders" & "Scoop"
Back in EastEnders on Monday 25th at 8.00pm on BBC1
and in the second series of Scoop on Wednesday 27th at 5.15pm on CBBC
and in the second series of Scoop on Wednesday 27th at 5.15pm on CBBC
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