Show 14

Excalibur, the tale of Arthur and the sword in the stone, or at least, a variation of it.

There are LOTS of parts, so we hope that everyone who wants to strut their stuff will feel they‘ve got the opportunity.

As with BITW last December, we need four juniors to take the parts of Arthur as a youngster, his friend Derek and the two princesses, Vera and Nell Guin.

Then we need their grown-up counterparts with Arthur being, of course, the principal boy. Arthur‘s Mum, Mummy Penny, is the Dame, a double agent for Merlin and the three witches. Three ladies are going to have great fun cackling their way through those parts accompanied by Snowy, their black cat.

And did you know that Merlin has an Australian brother called Nilrew complete with bush hat and bobbing corks? You do now.

He helps our heroes retrieve the five treasures of Britain from the marauding Scots, led by Chief Ali MacRonald. Nevertheless, Nell finally turns the tables and thwarts the battle plan by entering into a trade agreement with her captor, Chief Ali.

As an aside, some of our gentlemen might get a buzz out of leading the battle formations by revealing what lies under their kilts! Who will be Eddie Ball, Jock Strap, Jim Shoose, Sheila Gree and Ben Doon? While Arthur and the knights of the round table are on their quest for The Holey Pail, we meet Auntie Wainwrong, David Hasitoff, Pamela Anderson, Martin the Hooligan and a Horse Dentist.

Horse Dentist? Don‘t think it will be a quiet life in the chorus.

In addition to the villagers, Phyllis Tine, Nervous Rex, Dumb Dom and Jenny Ralmayhem, we also have knights and ladies of the Round Table - Sir Lancelittle, Sir Cumference, Cir Dilla, Sir Prise, Sir Spenders, Lady Table, Lady Munion De Table etc and four Morris dancers: Morris, Morris, Morris and Cedric.

Our linksmen, the traditional comic duo, will be Waiter Mo and Jester Minnit, strumming tunes on a lute. Well, pretending to strum a tune on a lute, while threading the action together and filling in the gaps.

The Holey Pail has a part to play in securing Arthur‘s kingship, when his champions defeat Donald MacRonald fighting on behalf of Chief Ali.

The music is great, verging on karaoke and a bit of trad thrown in. We‘ve got, Sisters are doing it for themselves, I got you Babe, Pinball Wizard, Leader of the Gang and Do you think I‘m Sexy just for starters.

Thursday 1st - Saturday 3rd December 2005 . Be there! Sue

Arthur Penny (ha’penny): (Eilish Cole as child/Nicky Doherty as adult)
Arthur is polite both as child and adult. Wins sword from stone but doesnt tell Merlin when Merlin assumes that it was Derek. When, as adult, he is uncovered as the true king, cant quite believe it, but when he does, vows to fight for justice. He shows commitment.

Derek Stick: (Daisy Johnston as child/Gill Bowness as adult)
Derek is Arthurs friend. Doesnt altogether understand why he is named king of Britain. He likes to party, fools around, fights on behalf of Arthur.

Waiter Mo: - (Sonya Oates)
Waiter Mo affects responsibility; Mo introduces the action and comments on it.

Jester Minnit: - (Kathryn Humphries)
Jester Minnit wears joker outfit, stooge to Waiter Mo. He and Mo are partners.

Witch Hunter: - (Nicky Spencer)
Witch Hunter leads the witches. She toadies up to no-one. She does the planning.

Witch Wayup: - (Celestine Stafford)
Witch Wayup thinks shes beautiful and gets upset and wilful when shes crossed. She toadies up to Merlin.

Witch Hazel: - (Gerry Wilson)
Witch Hazel is not sure that they should boil toads. She worries about consequences if the witches lose their power. She toadies up to Merlin.

Vera Guin: - (Sally Hurst as child/Larissa Oates as adult)
Vera asks Merlin for a love potion to ensnare Arthur.

Nell Guin: - (Emily Beech as child/ Ellie Bowness as adult)
When captured by Chief Ali Nell negotiates a trade agreement rather than wish she could be rescued.

Chief Ali: - (Keith Benedict)
Chief Ali leads the Scots against the English. He doesnt appear to wash much. He takes situations as he finds them. After drinking love potion he enters into a trade negotiation with Nell. He must speak with heavy, false, Scottish accent.

Donald: - (Joe Spencer)
Donald is Chief Alis son and champion. He is a big man of few words.

Merlin: - (Jarrod Makin)
Merlin looks down on the villagers and other mortals. Pays respect to Derek when he thinks he has drawn sword from stone but reverses his attitude when he finds out that Arthur has done it. He treats Mo and Minnit as servants. He has an ambivalent attitude towards Mummy Penny which becomes much more positive when he finds out that she is acting as a double agent.

Nilrew: - (Kevin Spencer)
Nilrew is Merlins Australian brother. He has a very brief appearance. He is the antithesis (opposite) of Merlin and is more than willing to help Arthur.

Mummy Penny: - (Tracey Thomas)
Mummy Penny is Arthur Pennys mother and therefore does what she can to protect him. She is the landlady of the Swordstone Inn, cook to the three witches, she stands up to Merlin, adjusts to the situation she finds herself in, which even calls on her to represent James Bond!

Snowy the cat: - (Sophia Lewis)
Snowy is the witches cat.

Swordstone Villagers: - (just look at the names and think about them!)
Phyllis Tine- Sophie French
Nervous Rex- Matt Billin
Dumb Dom- Joe Spencer
Jenny Ralmayhem- Nadia Oates
Morris- Gisela Petschler
Morris- Elaine Padden
Morris- Emily Bruiners
Cedric- Mike Barclay

Knights of the Round Table: - (Sir Cumference- Jason Billin/ Cir Dilla- Gisela Petschler)
Well, how do YOU imagine Knights of the Round Table? Sir Cumference is probably round and Cir Dilla (a Spanish name) is probably thin and lisps maybe

Scots: - (Again- think about the names!)
Eddie Ball- Mike Barclay
Jim Shoose- Matt Billin
Ben Doon- Nigel Stafford

Cameo parts: -
Auntie Wainwrong - shop assistant (Madeline Lord)
David Hasitoff - Californian lifeguard (Nigel Stafford)
Shopkeeper- (Paul Weston)
Martin the Hooligan - an Irish horse dentist (Paul Weston)

In addition to this large ensemble of cast members there is also a chorus who will be played by: Amy Lewis, Bethan, Bethany, Chloe, Emily Bruiners, Elaine Padden, Graeme Wappett, Lucy Wilson, Patricia Gregory, Rachel Hardiman, Shannon Thomas, Steffan Dodd and Sue Hutton