Our next production is the classic comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace" by Joseph Kesselring 25-28 April 2012. Book early to avoid disappointment! Please note our Murder Mystery "Hell Has Three Gates" (25 Feb) is now sold out.

Recent Plays

Blithe Spirit

by Noel Coward

Directed by Beth Duce

25th to 28th January 2012

In the spring of 1941, returning to England after two years away, Coward was particularly shocked by the grim truth of blitzed London and the fact that the war had brought death to almost every British home. With this in mind and after his own flat had been seriously damaged during an air raid, he started work on a new script which he hoped would lift the spirits of theatre goers up and down the country. He completed the work in just six days and the result, Blithe Spirit, was for thirty years to remain the longest-running comedy in the history of British theatre.

Taking on such a classic would be a brave move for any director, so especial credit must go to Beth Duce who stepped up to the plate and chose this play as her first production for Adel Players in the role of Director. Some 400 people saw the play and Beth's success has been reflected in audience reactions and feedback such as the following:

"Blithe Spirit was a fantastic production. The actors were all superb. We felt it was your best production, in fact the best production of Bithe Spirit we have seen".

Staging Blithe Spirit had particular challenges for both actors and backstage crew but the feedback above shows just how well all concerned rose to the occasion. Mike Andrews (Stage Manager) and Ron Darby (ASM) and their crew deserve a specific mention for all their hard work in ensuring that the set, one of our best ever, lived up to the demanding requirements of our very meticulous (!) director. Our thanks most of all go to Beth, however, for all the hard work we know she has put into this production over the last three months and more. Your reward, Beth, will be the chance to direct for us again some time...

Critical reviews and programme extracts (including full cast and crew) will follow shortly when they are available. Meanwhile here is a selection of production photos that capture the spirit of the occasion.


Is there anybody there?

Did you feel the table move?


Madame Arcati (Carol Crossfield) Mrs Bradman (Pat Riley)


Edith (Vivienne Bate) and Ruth (Caroline Rake)


Elvira (Helen Duce) and Charles (Robert Colbeck)


Ruth and Charles


Not in the best of spirits...


Watch out for that draught!

Edith, Dr Bradman (Owen Carey Jones) and Mrs Bradman


What do you mean, you bungling amateur?


Great Scott, the cucumber sandwiches have dematerialized...

The Set, with top quality Dragon Timber throughout

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When We Are Married

by J.B. Priestley

Directed by Bernard Riley, assisted by Andrew Sneddon

25th to 28th October 2011

Priestley was writing about what he knew when he penned 'When We Are Married'.  The play is set in1908 but the humour is timeless.  Humourless, opinionated Councillor Albert Parker, adulterous Alderman Joseph Helliwell and hen-pecked Herbert Soppitt are gathered to celebrate 25 years since the day they all married their wives.  That is until the celebrations are disrupted by lah-di-dah Southern chapel organist Gerald Forbes who reveals that he has evidence that they were never actually officially married.  With the interference of the press, a drunken photographer, a wayward niece, a painted mistress, a gossiping maid and a charwoman with more attitude than dusters, the three couples find that unexpected feelings come to the surface and secrets sneak out when not stifled by marriage.

Images supplied by Stella Garside and Andrew Sneddon.

Click on images below to enlarge.

  
The Alderman and the Solicitor - Alderman Joseph Helliwell (David Pritchard) and Mr Herbert Sopppitt (Gavin Jones)
   Herbert's Hen Pecker -
Clara Soppitt (Stella Garside)
  
  The Inebriated Photographer -
Henry Ormonroyd (Alan Foale)
   How's Your Father -
Rev Clement Mercer (Andrew Sneddon) and Lottie Grady (Nessa Whitehurst)
 
 The Hen Pecked
   You are stingy -
Councillor Albert Parker (David Lancaster) and wife Annie (Caroline Rake)
 
  He's a lion! -
The Reverend and charwoman Mrs Northrop (Vivienne Bate)		   The celebration is over -
Including Joe Helliwell's wife,
Maria (Carol Crossfield)
 
  The cast    The crew

Cast and crew backstage:

 
   
Lights (Ben) and sound (Mike)

Including the Director (Bernard) and Costumier (Ros)The set
 
Including Jon Holmes  as Gerald Forbes and Chris Andrews as Fred Dyson
Interval refreshments, including Helen Duce as maid Ruby BirtleIncluding Lucy Tanton as Nancy Holmes



Rehearsing in the Eddie Isle room

Ann Lightman's review of When We Are Married 

This review will appear in the parish magazine Adel Bells

The choice this year was “When we are married” by J. B. Priestley. This play is famous for a reason – it is superb! Set in Bradford in its heyday – one of the wealthiest, non-conformist cities in Britain, the play should seem outdated. But it doesn’t – maybe because Priestley was so good at creating totally believable characters. The pompous public figure, the two-timing husband, the shrewish wife, the hen-pecked husband – we all know such people. Add in “Yorkshire” phrases that are still with us today, an unusual situation which isn’t easily resolved and which alters the characters as they live through it, and you have a play that is totally accessible to today’s audience.

I am running out of ways to express my admiration for the cast and production team involved in providing these superb local evenings of theatre. The cast here was large – 14. I am not sure if any were making their debut, but it was noticeable that a number of “names” were missing. It says something for the strength of the Adel Players that all these 14 put on a top-class performance...there was no “weak link”. Some performances were visually comedic, some depended more on the situation, others on the witty script...depending to a certain extent on the social class of the person portrayed. But all excellently portrayed the character they had been allotted and it is unfair to mention anyone by name –although I can’t resist mentioning Nessa Whitehurst’s wonderful Irish lilt (she must be Irish?) and lovely singing voice. It’s not the first time I’ve mentioned how lucky we are to have such a range of ages and personalities involved in the company and our thanks must go to Director, Bernard Riley and his team for this superb production.

Personally I can’t wait to for Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” to enliven a no-doubt icy end January (25-28). Tickets from Mike and Anne Andrews on 0113 275 585 or tickets@adelplayers.org. See the website www.adel-players.org.uk for more details.

Tony Wade's review of When We Are Married 

This review will appear in the Ilkley Gazette

In my opinion there is no finer play for an amateur group to put on than When we are Married. Priestley’s comedy is absolutely timeless in its appeal and his characters are written with such absolute joy. Each of the 14 parts has a chance to shine, and no one part dominates any part of the piece.

It is a very simple plot concerning three couples who were all married at the same time and at the same chapel 25 years ago. Each of the couples has “bettered” themselves and now live comfortable, respectable lives in somewhat smug contentment. However, due to a mistake at the time of their marriages by a young minister, it appears they may not be “married” after all, and “are only living together” - a shocking situation, made much worse by the involvement of the press and the local gossip. Everything ends happily of course, but not before many home truths are learned, and several chickens come home to roost.

So that’s the basic plot, but how did Adel Players cope with this delightful comedy? Well, everyone who saw the production cannot fail to have been greatly amused throughout the performance. The three couples, especially the women, Maria Helliwell (Carol Crossfield), Annie Parker (Caroline Rake), and Clara Soppitt (Stella Garside), were excellent throughout. Lines were timed to perfection, and in comedy timing is so important. The men, Joe Helliwell (David Pritchard), Albert Parker (David Lancaster), and Herbert Soppitt (Gavin Jones), backed them up with gutsy performances which got better as the night progressed. I particularly enjoyed the famous line “Alderman Helliwell, Councillor Parker, Mr Soppitt”. I don’t think I have ever heard it delivered better, and I have seen the play dozens of times (and been in it three times!). At the same time I think that the men’s performances could have been even stronger - Helliwell needed to be a bit more short-tempered and pompous; Parker was too likeable, particularly at the start, although his performance grew on me progressively, and his scene with his wife was so funny; and Soppitt needed to smack his wife harder to get the required effect. But these are all very minor criticisms of very good performances.

But as I said earlier there are 14 characters and each has a chance to show what they can do. I loved Mrs Northrop (Vivienne Bate). She looked like a cross between Esme Cannon (the great comedy actress of the fifties )and Mrs Shufflewick (I don’t suppose too many people remember her/him). But looks alone don’t bring the character to life and Ms Bate did just that: she was a scream. Ruby Birtle the maid (Helen Duce) has some of the funniest lines in the whole show and the character has been the launching pad of many a comedy actress’s career - Patricia Hayes, that great performer, started as Ruby in the first production. Helen did extremely well in the part but needs to consider her dialogue a bit as some words were lost in her efforts to deliver the lines in character. I was disappointed in the interpretation of Ormonroyd and Lottie. Their famous scene discussing the antics of Tommy Toothill is usually the funniest part of the whole piece but it fell a little flat. I can’t put my finger on why this was the case: both actors knew what to say and do but it did not work for me. I was pleased, however, to see that Ormonroyd was not too drunk at the start. This is a common failure, as anyone who saw the West Yorkshire Playhouse production a couple of years ago will probably agree.

There was excellent support from all the other characters, almost too numerous to mention. The costumes and set were very pleasing, although I would like to have seen one of the “women” in a different colour as they all looked the same, and I always like to see Lottie dressed much more tartily. She remained buttoned up whereas I think she should sport a decolletage which should shock the tight laced ladies.

Altogether a very pleasing performance and something that all concerned should be very proud of.

Audience feedback for
When We Are Married
  • Wonderful minimalist set - great timing, lovely reactions to each other. From what I could see you all enjoy working together. The results are well worth all the efforts. (JW)
  • I thoroughly enjoyed it, very very funny, and perfectly delivered.  (DC)
  • Firstly, let me say a HUGE congratulations to all of the cast, crew, stage manager Ron, lighting by Eric, and of course Bernard for putting together another triumphant show. Having never seen a production of WWAM before I was not sure what to expect. I went in expecting a great show, and left in no way disappointed. The set, whilst minimal, was beautifully set out and as with other Adel Players productions the fact it was in the round really made the audience feel like we were watching the 'action' sat in the room with the characters.
    All of the characters were very well portrayed, believable, and like many a person I know in real life...both good and bad. In short, I loved it.  (AJ)

Have Your Say!

Have you recently seen an Adel Players' performance?  Let us know what you thought about the production and the facilities provided by emailing us at feedback@adel-players.org.uk and maybe see your own comments featured on this page.  We would love to hear from you.

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Beyond The Devil's Field

A Murder Mystery by Pat Riley

Directed by Andrew Sneddon

3rd June 2011

Another of Pat's wonderful murder mystery whodunnits, performed by the Adel Players, along with a quiz, a raffle and some delicious food prepared by the Badminton Club, helped raised funds for the Adel War Memorial Association and provide a fun evening for many.

Footage from the murder mystery can be viewed on You Tube at:

 

Ann Lightman's review of the murder mystery evening for the parish magazine Adel Bells

Mystery Murder but not Mayhem at the Memorial Hall!

On Friday 3rd June, “Beyond the Devil’s Field” by Pat Riley, an Adel resident and published author was performed at and for the Memorial Hall, Adel. A full hall should ensure that, with matched funding from Bibby Factors, Yorkshire Ltd, the 1932 year old flooring will have been replaced for the next production - on12-15 October “When we are Married” by J.B Priestley.

We sat expectantly at our tables chatting to those around us as we tried to complete clues in the Crime Quiz, when the lights dimmed and attention focused on the centre of the room where a domestic lounge had been re-created. Alan Foale was the compere for the evening and built up the tension masterfully – “for those of a nervous disposition, the emergency exits etc.”

The play opened with such a normal everyday scene – a teenage son arriving home from school (Matthew Garside) carelessly abandoning his possessions and his mother (author Pat Riley substituting for Stella Garside who was ill) remonstrating. His elderly grandmother (Vivienne Bate) arrived home and is asked about a field that has been in the family for many generations – the Devil’s field. He wants the information for a history project, but his sister (Lisa Hastings) studying archaeology at Sheffield University, is interested too as a subject for a dissertation. It is this field that is the pivot of the play.

The play kept us captivated right through four scenes until the interval. The references to local and current events –David Wilson Homes were interested in buying the field (boo hiss), a meeting would be held at the Lawnswood Arms, etc. were much appreciated by the audience. But as with all good mysteries there was a dramatic twist just before the interval. When the death occurred, it was not the person I (and most of the audience?) expected! The corpse, stabbed once and burned, turned out to be the son of the house (Owen Carey Jones).

So who had committed the murder? The brother of the dead man (David Cardus), his son (Chris Andrews) and very new & glamorous wife (Nessa Whitehurst) – ex-secretary (and lover) of the dead man all had motives as had his long-suffering family.

Through-out the play there was a clever build up of clues (and some red herrings!) which tables used to solve who had committed the murder. Animated discussion followed on each table as the possible murderer was identified, reasons given, eventually agreement reached and the sheet completed. To fuel “the little grey cells” we had a delicious pie & peas (or quiche and salad) meal prepared and served by the Adel Badminton Club. Our answers were collected – only 5 tables actually identified the correct individual. The outright winner was due to the number of clues identified.

The table received a prize, as did the table winning the quiz. More prizes followed with the raffle, where at last our table got some success! For the record Adel Players have cracked how to run a perfect raffle…plenty of good prizes disposed of with great speed.

I think everyone left the Hall happy, after enjoying a superb evening’s entertainment with friends. Looking back, professionalism is a word that springs to mind. Everyone, actors and helpers did their part without fuss but to excellent effect. A wonderful, value-for money evening - I hope sufficient money was raised.

Have Your Say!

Have you recently seen an Adel Players' performance?  Let us know what you thought about the production and the facilities provided by emailing us at feedback@adel-players.org.uk and maybe see your own comments featured on this page.  We would love to hear from you.

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Someone Waiting

by Emlyn Williams

Directed by Dianne Newby

13th - 16th April 2011

First performed by Adel Players in 1964, Someone Waiting by Emlyn Williams (The Corn is Green and Night Must Fall) is a gripping psychological thriller.  Nothing can be taken for granted in this intriguing murder mystery.  Fenn arrives as tutor to a university student living with his adoptive parents in a fashionable London apartment.  Who is he and what is his real purpose for being there?  The plot of this well crafted play is full of twists and turns.   The ending neither disappointed nor, we suspect, was guessed. 

Click on images below to enlarge.

Nedlow domesticity - Vera Nedlow (Beth Duce) and husband John (Mike Andrews) Anxious anticipation - Fenn (Robert Colbeck) and adopted Nedlow son, Martin (Anthony Josephson)
 Has anybody told you you're not unattractive?


Removing the body
No going back now
 He looked a nervous boy with a temper
 
 Avenging his son's death - Fenn and a drunken John
An unexpected visitor - Mrs Danecourt (Carol Crossfield) drops by
It wasn't me - Neighbours Hunter (Alan Foale) and Thompson (Arthur Duce) rush in at the gunshot

 Entertaining the maid - Fenn and Hilda (Helen Duce)
 Fenn hatches his plan
Jumbo boy!  Are you alright?


 
 The plan comes together
 Martin, don't be such a baby!
That will be all Miss Lennie
  
 The programme
 The cast list
You are before your judge now Vera
   
 The production team
 The director's notes from the programme
You will be here at 11.30

Cast and crew backstage:



Audience feedback for
Someone Waiting
  • Thank you for another wonderful production last night.
  • Just brilliant!
  • Powerful drama had me captivated
  • Great set excellent performances from everyone
  • Great acting of a complicated plot. Excellent!
  • Fantastic entertainment. Worth missing the football for.

Review of Someone Waiting by Ann Lightman for Adels Bells parish magazine

Someone Waiting by Emlyn Williams was chosen by Adel Players for their April 2011 production. Written in 1953, it revolves around an innocent young man hanged for murder – so it was important to recreate the 50’s on screen, which was done brilliantly – the room set, the music, the costumes all recreating the period. All the action takes place in, or just off one room - so the tension is not dissipated by scene changes. But it does require a little work on behalf of the audience to also move backto the 1950’s – a slower, less visual age.

As one has come to expect with an Adel Players production, the acting was superb with several of the cast having mammoth speaking roles. Of these, the young Anthony Josephson played a totally believable, spoilt sullen teenager whose alienation from his adopted parents turned him into an enthusiastic young “lieutenant” (a1950’s – post-war touch) to Robert Colbeck’s complex character. Robert’s superb characterisation of this mercurial figure, contributed in no small measure to the built-up of tension, anticipation and air of uncertainty.

A contrast was provided with the more “normal” figures - Mike Andrews was totally convincing as a successful businessman/public figure. His wife, played by Beth Duce was someone we all knew, a pleasant, feminine society hostess figure providing a contrast to the male-dominated society of the 1950’s. However, we discover it is she who has a back-bone of steel - something that will come as no surprise to today’s audience! The much-needed light relief came from Carol Crossfield’s comedic character – a smaller role, brilliantly executed. These main players were supported by two young women, taking the roles of typist and maid with flair. The three other (male) actors completing the cast had minor, walk-on, voice over, roles.

The play, although one I found disquieting, built up the suspense throughout – one wondered what the outcome would be. The ending, when it came, was a shock – but “poetic justice” had been done. It was a masterly touch. We really are lucky in Adel to have a company able to deliver thought-provoking drama to such a high standard on our doorstep.

Ann Lightman

Have Your Say!

Have you recently seen an Adel Players' performance?  Let us know what you thought about the production and the facilities provided by emailing us at feedback@adel-players.org.uk and maybe see your own comments featured on this page.  We would love to hear from you.

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